Clint took frequent breaks on set from playing a poor, miserable old man to remind himself that he drives an Audi.

Since there's nothing but endless soul-sucking crap coming out in January, I decided to catch up on some Oscar-contenders over the weekend. I had heard good things about Gran Torino, so I went to check it out:

(upon leaving)

The Midwest: Well that was...something.

Enthusiastic Friend: Dude, that was hilarious! 

MW: I really don't think it was supposed to be...

EF: Come on, Clint Eastwood calling every race every racial slur ever invented?

MW: Based on shock value alone sure, but the "crochity old man" routine kind of wears on you.

EF: Eastwood's a badass.

MW: No doubt, but we know that, there's no need to hold a constipated facial expression for the duration of the film. That must have gotten painful actually.

EF: Nah I think that's the way he always looks.

MW: How many times did he sigh in that movie anyways?

EF: Thirty-seven by my count.

MW: And what was with the tone change? It was all just fun and racial slurs and then it turned into rape, murder and mayhem in like five minutes?

EF: It's to show a juxtaposition between....

MW: Shut up, and don't say "juxtaposition." You know that it was jarring.

EF: Don't say "jarring."

MW: What's wrong with "jarring"?

EF: What's wrong with YOU?

MW: (sigh) Whatever, I just thought it would be better, the movie is in like the IMDB top 250 already.

EF: Yeah, well so is Crash.

MW: That also won an Oscar.

EF: Touché

If you can find Gran Torino is some random art theater (although I think wide release is soon) you might as well see it to see what people are talking about.