Gram Torino.
116 Mins. Starring: Clint Eastwood, Bradley Cooper, Michael Pena, Laurence Fishburne, Dianne Wiest, Alison Eastwood, Taissa Farmiga, Ignacio Serricchio, Clifton Collins Jr. & Andy Garcia. Director: Clint Eastwood.
"This is the last one. So help me God. This is the last one". In the same year iconic movie legend and generational great in front and behind the camera, Robert Redford hung up his Stetson and six shooter with the classic 'The Old Man And The Gun'. 'The Man With No Name' (yeah right), Western to Eastwood, Hollywood director's chair legacy maker Clint looked to go for one last 'Logan' ride through the neo Wild West, with more in the trunk than a few prescription pills popping. 'Green Book' this is not. Sure it may not be a gravel sing about it worthy 'Gran Torino' of a vintage decade ago he's driving across State. But clocking up the mileage Harry is getting Dirty once again. Missing only a Magnum in the glove compartment with all that brown paper bag cash. Punks...he must be feeling lucky. Because in the scope sights of his own reunited, directed star, this actor/director here has an 'American Sniper' on his trail in the form of the award season laden Bradley Cooper (although how about an Academy Award nom for the direction of the all writing, singing and playing superstar Oscar?). Rookie to vet learning from his mentorship with all the 'A Star Is Born' whiskey slicked back hair and facial fuzz cleaned up to a cop role. But it's going to take more than a 'Hangover' to stop this 91 year old. Retirement? "I love my job" he's told press...and don't worry he's not talking about moving that white...I hope. He's not heading for the Redford hills yet. And in the same year he made the master moving move of having the real heroes of 'The 15:17 To Paris' playing themselves, Eastwood shows he may just be the hardest working "old" man in the industry by the gun. And you know he's still got it critics. Did you not see how he landed one of still in his prime Tom Hanks' with 'Sully' for a 'Miracle On The Hudson' and a long awaited collaboration of greats? That was only a few flights ago. This guy less than a decade close to a century is taking off with this drive. Nothing is in park here. Torino torque with plenty of horse power for this mule.
Pecans? Those aren't pecans! As American as Apple Pie, this is the Republican Eastwood like you've never seen him before. Becoming 'American Made' like fellow bright lights, big Hollywood name Tom Cruise and smuggling that 'Narcos' in the Netflix age of the dark side of the American dream in the same week we are stuck with the weight of being trapped in Christian Bale's baffling Don Cheney 'Vice'. But just be glad 'The Mule' is moving the contraband under bags of nuts and not up a different kind of trunk. As Clint doesn't make an a## of himself here. Good? Bad? Ugly? Clint Eastwood's 'Rawhide' beginnings saw him in more spaghetti westerns than you could twirl a fork around. But in the second-wind, later years of his Hollywood life the man turned out to be a 'Million Dollar' director in hiding. The 'Fistful Of Dollars' to 'Unforgiven' Hollywood(land) icon hasn't acted since 2012's big swinging, Baseball Sunday afternoon family drama 'Trouble With The Curve' with Amy Adams and Justin Timberlake. But he hasn't missed a step, keeping up with his definitive direction. 'Mystic River', 'Changeling', 'Invictus'. Some of the aforementioned in this article. Even a musical number showstopper in the off-Broadway, 'Jersey Boys' revival. And both side of the war in the double header of 'Flags From Our Fathers' and 'Letters From Iwo Jima' (tell me now he really discriminates) being amongst some of his formidable filmography's favourites. Add this 'Mule' to those variations too. As the Tom Waits of acting (wait...isn't that Waits?!) gives us another great for the album collection. And by all these decades long time you know just what to expect from this model of classic consistency in his growling signature. More than a "splash" of racism, but that more traditional trademark of subtle, kindly poignancy. Both in the beauty of his direction and the acclaim of his acting. Which old dog here learns some new charisma to go with that old world fashioned charm. As he makes fast, fond and funny friends with the cartels he carjoles. No matter how under the gun he looks, like 'Lost In Space', out of this world talent, Ignacio Serricchio. Heartfelt and warming, Eastwood is hallmark Hollywood in what dresses up as more than an all-American car commercial, rusted pick-up to Chevrolet highway of this great land. All the way to the end of the line in a 'Dirty Harry' homage suit, with a knowing fourth wall break look to us, riding shotgun.
Roadside dining, starting trouble in the Waffle House gives us a Pacino/Dr Niro first-meet 'Heat', sedate, subtle and beautiful homage by the menu with Eastwood and his 'Sniper' reunited Bradley Cooper by the syrup. For a DEA agent who along with his 'Narcos: Mexico' prequel partner-the ever 'End Of Watch' more than watchable, Michael Pena-need more busts for 'Matrix' legend Laurence Fishburne on 'Man Of Steel' Perry boss desk duty than front store mannequins. But it's also a down the scope look at living this life versus living for the loves of your life (which isn't that one and the same?), with the multi-faceted Cooper who threatens to steal it all (ironically from the thief he's trying to cop) in a role that would have looked good on Clint's soaring son Scott too. But it's his daughter, Alison Eastwood who comes out of a retirement pops don't consider to play the hurt heart of an actor's character who was a terrible father, a terrible husband (to 'Edward Scissorhands' Avon lady Dianne Wiest...simply beautiful) and will be a terrible grandfather to a standout Taissa Farmiga (Vera's 'Conjuring' sister and new 'Nun' star) if he doesn't clean up his act. An act that sees him Wild West mix it up with the '187' likes of 'Westworld' character actor great Clifton Collins Jr. And the man with the golden shotgun, the 'Untouchable' legend Andy Garcia, having the yellow tinted shades, mob-fun of his life. It's an all-star cast past and future, for the century making star of stars in a city of them. Which on the Redford surface looks like Clint's joining the Jack Nicholson, Sean Connery and Gene Hackman retirement ranks, fat lady song. But I don't hear any swans. I just hear him singing along to the Willie Nelson radio soundtrack of 'On The Road Again', as he collects more vintage postcards to adorn his adored grandaughters fridge like magnets. Looks like this man more interested in working-like his character who love planting flowers more than sleeping with them-is locked and loaded for another run. And what a ride it will be. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Filming: 'Gran Torino', 'American Sniper', 'The Old Man And The Gun'.
Roadside dining, starting trouble in the Waffle House gives us a Pacino/Dr Niro first-meet 'Heat', sedate, subtle and beautiful homage by the menu with Eastwood and his 'Sniper' reunited Bradley Cooper by the syrup. For a DEA agent who along with his 'Narcos: Mexico' prequel partner-the ever 'End Of Watch' more than watchable, Michael Pena-need more busts for 'Matrix' legend Laurence Fishburne on 'Man Of Steel' Perry boss desk duty than front store mannequins. But it's also a down the scope look at living this life versus living for the loves of your life (which isn't that one and the same?), with the multi-faceted Cooper who threatens to steal it all (ironically from the thief he's trying to cop) in a role that would have looked good on Clint's soaring son Scott too. But it's his daughter, Alison Eastwood who comes out of a retirement pops don't consider to play the hurt heart of an actor's character who was a terrible father, a terrible husband (to 'Edward Scissorhands' Avon lady Dianne Wiest...simply beautiful) and will be a terrible grandfather to a standout Taissa Farmiga (Vera's 'Conjuring' sister and new 'Nun' star) if he doesn't clean up his act. An act that sees him Wild West mix it up with the '187' likes of 'Westworld' character actor great Clifton Collins Jr. And the man with the golden shotgun, the 'Untouchable' legend Andy Garcia, having the yellow tinted shades, mob-fun of his life. It's an all-star cast past and future, for the century making star of stars in a city of them. Which on the Redford surface looks like Clint's joining the Jack Nicholson, Sean Connery and Gene Hackman retirement ranks, fat lady song. But I don't hear any swans. I just hear him singing along to the Willie Nelson radio soundtrack of 'On The Road Again', as he collects more vintage postcards to adorn his adored grandaughters fridge like magnets. Looks like this man more interested in working-like his character who love planting flowers more than sleeping with them-is locked and loaded for another run. And what a ride it will be. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
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