1. Clint Eastwood’s Gran Torino is a 2008 American drama film directed and produced by Eastwood, who also stars in the film.
2. The film tells the story of Walt Kowalski, a recently widowed Korean War veteran alienated from his family and community, who sets out to reform his neighbor, a young Hmong teenager, from a life of gangs and violence.
3. Gran Torino was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $269 million worldwide.
4. Clint Eastwood’s performance in the film was widely praised, earning him several awards, including his third Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama and his fourth Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.
5. In addition to being the oldest actor ever to be nominated for a Best Actor Oscar, at age 82, Eastwood was also the first actor to receive a nomination for a film he directed himself.
6. The film was chosen by the National Board of Review as the best film of 2008.
7. The American Film Institute selected Gran Torino as one of the Top 10 Movies of the Year.
8. The film was also nominated for two BAFTAs, for Best Actor and Best Film.
9. The screenplay was written by Nick Schenk, who was inspired by the true story of a Hmong neighbor of his from Detroit.
10. The character of Walt Kowalski was originally written as a Polish American, but Eastwood decided to make him a Korean War veteran instead.
11. The film’s production was delayed when Eastwood suffered a heart attack in early 2007.
12. The film’s score was composed by Eastwood’s longtime collaborator, Lennie Niehaus.
13. The Gran Torino that Eastwood drives in the film is his own personal car.
14. In preparation for the role, Eastwood studied the Hmong culture and language.
