Marcia Nasatir and Lorenzo Semple Jr. are a pair of movie reviewers operating as the Reel Geezers giving their opinion on film from the octogenarian perspective. They have been around since 2008 and Jeff Wells at Hollywood Elsewhere and Kris Tapley at In Contention feature their video reviews a lot, but their opinions were never really so exciting that I felt they were worth sharing. However, with their review of Clint Eastwood’s Gran Torino, like Tapley, I felt this was one worth offering up for a look.
Lorenzo liked the film calling it “enjoyable” and says it is “best looked upon as a comedy for most of it” even though he’s “not sure if Clint looks upon it himself that way.” Marcia then offers up her take and says:
The theory that [Clint Eastwood] is a terrific director of actors — I think he was just interested in playing his part and I’m not so sure he was doing an acting class for these other actors. It is a picture that was shot in like 27 days, or 29 days, and it’s been reported that they only took one take — it looks like it.
This is Clint Eastwood’s lesson on how to be a man, an American male. Period. That’s his message Lorenzo… That’s the reason the movie was made. Clint, in his late 70s wants to send a message… I think.
Lorenzo then goes on to talk about the script, says he likes it and adds, “The script, which you have undoubtedly read, was written by a guy that had never written a word before.” Marcia replies, “You can tell.”
It’s an interesting look at the film and opens up a few more doors for conversation. Give it a watch for the full opinion as I am obviously paraphrasing their quotes.
