Eastwood's engine done blowed up

Rating: 4/10 (11 February 2009)

I went to see the film on the whim of a friend's invite. I found the film's pacing ponderous, the plot contrived, and the characters portrayed as caricatures or stereotypes.
I don't know if Eastwood's acting or his directing was worse, but his 'old man' character didn't begin to approach the depth, complexity, and compassion of Richard's Farnsworth's crusty portrayal of Alvin Straight in David Lynch's The Straight Story 10 years earlier.
Eastwood constantly seemed to be trying to conjure up a geriatric "Dirty Harry' with his facial contortions and guttural growl. The film, and especially the ending, was such a superficial swipe at serious issues that it came across as a farcical litany of racist slurs and jingoisms.
The only thing that seemed genuine in this film was, what else?...the Gran Torino.
Shame on you, Mr. Eastwood, you can do better than this. Your engine done blowed up on this undertaking. Time to stick with golf carts and retirement communities.
Ben aka Undertoad and toadrunner. "The Road is life." -Jack Kerouac