Walt Kowalski buries his wife and tries to keep to himself. But when Kowalski’s neighbor tries to steal his car, he gets wrapped up in a fight against the neighborhood gang.

Clint Eastwood jumps back into the game of acting and directing with Gran Torino. While Eastwood’s resume is long, it does not vary too much. Although it is comforting to know he will play a hard-nosed character just about better than anyone.

Ahney Her does a pretty good job in her debut in Gran Torino. Her character is not fazed by Kowalski’s racial slurs and is even patient to educate the Korean War vet of her Hmong culture.

Gran Torino runs about two hours. Near the end, some of the bad acting starts to wear thin. But the plot is sound and the ending is pretty good. Gran Torino is a decent pick for the evening if you do not mind Clint Eastwood singing at the ending credits.

Tom Hanks is a congressman prompted by Julia Roberts to help Afghanistan forces fight Russia with the help of Philip Seymour Hoffman. Based on a true story, Americans get a little education and back story on current foreign affairs.

From director Mike Nichols who brought us The Birdcage, Regarding Henry, Working Girls, The Graduate, and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf. Charlie Wilson’s War is a great story sprinkled with the dry humor we have grown to love from Nichols.

Philip Seymour Hoffman gives us a great performance and is magic on screen. He shows us once again he is a chameleon; the definition of a good actor. Tom Hanks gives us a character we love to hate. Julia Roberts makes us believe beauty queens can be devious political motivators.

Charlie Wilson’s War will not disappoint. It has drama, political intrigue, and enough dry humor to keep you entertained. Happy watching.

Extreme Movie
Sex Drive
What Just Happened