Gran Torino is a Grand slam 

If you are a fan of Clint Eastwood you need to see Gran Torino. If you are not a fan of Clint Eastwood you need to see Gran Torino, and you will likely become a fan. Rare are the times that a 78 year-old actor can turn in such a powerful and memorable performance; actually rare are the times an actor at any age can turn in such a performance. While the story is great and the supporting cast superb, it is Clint Eastwood's performance that is worth the price of admission, even a non-twilight show.
In Gran Torino Mr. Eastwood play's Walt Kowalski, a retired Ford line-worker, Silver Star award winner, and recent widower. He is left alone in a neighborhood that has seen all his friends move or pass away, and a large Hmong population move in. These are people he refers to as "chinks", or any other racial slur, a Korean War veteran could think to use, and whom he eventually befriends. By today's standards and political correctness it is easy to find a Walt to be an obnoxious, cruel jerk, but through the movie you start to understand Walt, and see that he is far from a jerk, and actually is a hero. In these days of comic book hero's, it is refreshing to see an authentic one, and nobody has ever played that role better than Mr. Clint Eastwood. Even at 78, he still exudes an enormous amount of confidence and strength, but he also finds to away connect emotionally with the audience. Though Walt is strong, Clint Eastwood's rendering reveals the pain that has soiled Walt's soul, and transforms a bigot into a sympathetic character. Walt Kowalski feels real. At times he even feels like your grandpa, uncle or dad. You find yourself rooting for his wrath to be unleashed upon the gang-bangers of the neighborhood, and at the same time for his heart to open, and that he finds peace. This performance was certainly worthy of the Best actor prize from the National Board of Review, and should have lead to his first acting Oscar, it would be well deserved. How could Clint Eastwood die without an acting Oscar, and Roberto Bengini has one, in fact the one Edward Norton should have, but I have digressed. Gran Torino would be a fitting swan song for a legend of Hollywood, for the actor's range and mastery, of his craft are on full display throughout the film. Clint Eastwood himself recognizes there are not many roles for a man his age. In a recent article by Bruce Headlam, in the New York Time's, he is quoted as saying "There's nothing wrong with coming in to play the butler. But unless there's a hurdle to get over, I'd rather just stay behind the camera." Audiences should feel fortunate Gran Torino provided enough hurdles, for Clint Eastwood to get in front of the camera, so he could demonstrate why he is a Hollywood icon, and one of the greatest lead actors of all-time.