Gran Torino - #83

IMDB rating: 8.3
My rating: 9.2

I was really impressed with Gran Torino. It didn't get as much publicity as The Wrestler or Slumdog Millionaire, but in my opinion, this was the best movie of 2008.

Clint Eastwood plays a Korean War veteran living in a changing neighborhood dominated by Asian immigrants. The story revolves around his relationship with his next door neighbors.

The thing that really struck me about this movie was how believable the characters were. I wouldn't be surprised to run into one of them on the street. Clint Eastwood has proved that he is still one of the best actors in Hollywood. The other two stars, Bee Vang and Ahney Her, were first time actors, and judging by their performance, will probably be back for more movies in the future. All of these factors made the drama way more realistic and engaging.

Gran Torino is under just 2 hours, short compared to other movies in the top 100 list. There is a lot of adult language, and some mild violence, but nothing too bad. If you want to see an enjoyable and intense movie, give this one a shot.