"Gran Torino"

At a time of year when we're surrounded by ambitious, glossy movies based on much-lauded books and lavish tent-pole releases that promise more dazzle than they deliver, it's maybe too easy to be grateful for a movie -- plain-spoken almost to the point of gruffness -- like "Gran Torino." Clint Eastwood is both director and star here, and he succeeds only haltingly in both roles: The picture chugs… » Full Story on Salon.com