But until “Gran Torino” starts rumbling headlong toward its tone-deaf, self-serious ending — the script is by Nick Schenk — it’s often enjoyable, satisfying and funny.

He must find a way to right the wrongs in his life. The ending of the movie might be a bit hokey, but it is uplifting in its own bizarre way. “Gran Torino” touches the heart from every angle.

But lest you expect a rousing, heroic bloodbath ending, remember: this is Eastwood in Million Dollar Baby mode. It’s not Dirty Harry. Gran Torino is a Clint Eastwood film in the strictest sense.

Michael Korda on Gran Torino, Clint Eastwood’s powerful new film, and what may be the actor’s last. Michael Korda Published Jan. 4 2009 5:05AM EST ©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection ...

Gran Torino could have gone a completely different way, including its ending, but decided to take the road less traveled. Rating: 9 /10 ...

And while that was quickly and correctly denied, you can’t help but see traces of Harry Callahan in the end result. It’s effectively what happened when some of the characters Clint played in ...

According to at least two prominent journalists (and one regular joe), Gran Torino is on par with Million Dollar Baby (which won Best Picture in 2005) and potentially one of Eastwood's greatest ...

Walt Kowalski, the protagonist of Gran Torino, should be an impossible man to like. A racist, judgmental, foul-tempered loner and recent widower, Walt seems to hate everything about the world (and ...

Word has it that "Gran Torino" is Clint Eastwood's last turn on the big screen; he plans to stay behind the camera from here on out. Assuming that's true, it's hard to imagine a better final note ...

They smile as if he were joking, but nothing on Eastwood's face indicates an attempt at humor. It's things like this that make "Gran Torino" either a bad drama or a brilliantly subtle comedy. Or both.