Why I loved this movie:

Rating: 10/10 (15 March 2009)

If you, like me, love watching Clint Eastwood walking around being rude to people, laying the verbal smackdown with that gravelly voice and a hardass monologue and then kicking all the butts, you will love this movie.
Think back to Hearbreak Ridge. This movie is basically Gunny Highway in retirement.
I can see a few people hate this film and to a degree, I can perhaps see why. To a lot of people the performances of the underexperienced (compared to Eastwood) actors may show through very plainly. However, in those characters and their slightly insincere mannerisms I recognised aspects of people I know - people who are awkward and don't talk like they're part of a Hollywood blockbuster. In fact, when I think about it further, despite being undeniably the best acted, Clint's performance was probably the least realistic portrayal of a real human being in the entire film.
That's part of the magic of this film for me, it's like taking a step back to the good ol' days of his cartoonish spaghetti westerns full of dastarly villains and stoic heroes. Clint's proved he can do depth of character and stone cold realism with his other movies: Mystic River, Flags of Our Fathers/Iwo Jima etc. But with Gran Torino its all about another old fashioned slice of sweet Eastwood pie that ya love so much.
Looking back on all the Clint Eastwood movies I've ever watched I think the main aspect of why I (and probably many other people) enjoy them is that they're full of satisfying moments. When the gunslinger shoots 10 guys in 5 seconds, or shows another guy how far away he can shoot a hat. Or when Dirty Harry points a fatass pistol at a bloke and tells him to "make my day". Or when Gunny Highway bitchslaps a 250lb marine to the ground. All very satisfying and memorable moments that make you feel good to watch.
Gran Torino was just full of these satisfying moments and for his last movie, I think that's just what was called for to sum up his career. I loved it.