How well does Gran Torino portray Highland Park? (Detroit, Warren: for sale, houses)

[GPguy]

I have seen this movie probably ten times. As for its accuracy, it's off on the idea that the area is filled with asians, but is spot on in regards to the dacaying neighborhoods. A few residents remain similar to Eastwood's character, but not many. But you have to understand that Eastwood really didn't have the option of making the film entirely accurate. Every race has its bad people, but it just so happens that bad areas in detroit are typically black (the city is over 90% af.am.). Subsistue the asians for african americans in Gran Torino and the movie will be quite accurate. I am not trying to be racist. I live nearby and have been through the neigborhood many times going downtown. What I have stated is not a matter of my opinion, it is fact. So plese don't respond with hate posts claiming I am some biggot that has fabricated this statement from nothig. Look at the demographics of the city (in 2000 NOT 1920) then come and tell me I'm wrong. As for Eastwood not being able to portray this, it is society in general. We jump at the chance to identify anything and everythig as being racist whether it is or is not to make ourselves feel as if we have righted a wrong. Had the director shown this neighborhood truthfully he would have been denounced as a racist by countless people. Thus, asians were subsituted to take the blow since there was less likely to be backlash from the community.

[fallingwater]

Originally Posted by GPguy

I have seen this movie probably ten times. As for its accuracy, it's off on the idea that the area is filled with asians, but is spot on in regards to the dacaying neighborhoods. A few residents remain similar to Eastwood's character, but not many. But you have to understand that Eastwood really didn't have the option of making the film entirely accurate. Every race has its bad people, but it just so happens that bad areas in detroit are typically black (the city is over 90% af.am.). Subsistue the asians for african americans in Gran Torino and the movie will be quite accurate. I am not trying to be racist. I live nearby and have been through the neigborhood many times going downtown. What I have stated is not a matter of my opinion, it is fact. So plese don't respond with hate posts claiming I am some biggot that has fabricated this statement from nothig. Look at the demographics of the city (in 2000 NOT 1920) then come and tell me I'm wrong. As for Eastwood not being able to portray this, it is society in general. We jump at the chance to identify anything and everythig as being racist whether it is or is not to make ourselves feel as if we have righted a wrong. Had the director shown this neighborhood truthfully he would have been denounced as a racist by countless people. Thus, asians were subsituted to take the blow since there was less likely to be backlash from the community.

Exactly.

[unclejake21]

Yup, couldn't agree with you more.

[Vicman]

Actually this was supposed to be set in Minnesota. The setting was changed to Detroit, but all along the idea was to feature the Hmong community.

Also, the Hmong seem to like this movie.

Originally Posted by GPguy

I have seen this movie probably ten times. As for its accuracy, it's off on the idea that the area is filled with asians, but is spot on in regards to the dacaying neighborhoods. A few residents remain similar to Eastwood's character, but not many. But you have to understand that Eastwood really didn't have the option of making the film entirely accurate. Every race has its bad people, but it just so happens that bad areas in detroit are typically black (the city is over 90% af.am.). Subsistue the asians for african americans in Gran Torino and the movie will be quite accurate. I am not trying to be racist. I live nearby and have been through the neigborhood many times going downtown. What I have stated is not a matter of my opinion, it is fact. So plese don't respond with hate posts claiming I am some biggot that has fabricated this statement from nothig. Look at the demographics of the city (in 2000 NOT 1920) then come and tell me I'm wrong. As for Eastwood not being able to portray this, it is society in general. We jump at the chance to identify anything and everythig as being racist whether it is or is not to make ourselves feel as if we have righted a wrong. Had the director shown this neighborhood truthfully he would have been denounced as a racist by countless people. Thus, asians were subsituted to take the blow since there was less likely to be backlash from the community.

[YoungKevCash]

Originally Posted by Vicman

Actually this was supposed to be set in Minnesota. The setting was changed to Detroit, but all along the idea was to feature the Hmong community.

Also, the Hmong seem to like this movie.

Yes, this film was supposed to highlight the problems of the Hmong community, who I'm pretty sure are the MOST impoverished ethnic group in America, with a poverty rate of something like 20% and unemployment rate upwards of 40%.

The real Hmong community is on the east side, with the majority of Hmong teens going to Osborn High. There's something like 4,000 Hmong in Detroit, second only to I think The Twin Cities area and Milwaukee.

My friend's sister worked on the movie and I was contacted to be an extra in it, but Clint and the other heads really wanted to help put some money in the pockets of the real Hmong, so I wasn't chosen

[Vicman]

According to this map this is the Osborn HS attendance zone relative to Highland Park and Hamtramck: http://www.detroit.k12.mi.us/schools...lLocations.pdf

Osborn is about 5.8 miles from Detroit City Hall

Do the police appear at all in any other scene other than the complex where the shooters are? If not, there's a possibility that Kowalski was in Highland Park when he confronted the shooters, but other than that scenes were in Detroit. I'd have to read the literature.

Originally Posted by YoungKevCash

The real Hmong community is on the east side, with the majority of Hmong teens going to Osborn High. There's something like 4,000 Hmong in Detroit, second only to I think The Twin Cities area and Milwaukee.

[Hamtown]

Yeah, Walt's house is located on Rhode Island Street Highland Park, Mi.

see the address on this YouTube trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ecW-d-CBPc

Use google maps / street view to see a close up of the house

[and the]

Other than the words on the police car and a street sign, I don't think there were any references to where they were. Could have been "anytown" USA. The drive along Lakeshore in the Pointes certainly didn't have anything to do with Highland Park and may as well have been Lake Superior to anyone who didn't know better. Also, it's not impossible, but very unlikely that Clint's character commuted to work from Highland Park OR Minnesota when he was building Torinos. Ford built the Torinos at the Lorain, OH assembly plant. I think it's the same plant where they made the Cougars.

[almira]

The movie, actually was filmed in many locations throughout the city. Actually... there is a point in the movie that I recognized the street signs and it's near where I live, not anywhere near highland park. Doesn't really portray it well.

Also, loved the final scene on Lakeshore... one of the nicest areas ever... and I see one of my dads companies vehicles driving down the road.

[YAZ]

Originally Posted by and the

Other than the words on the police car and a street sign, I don't think there were any references to where they were. Could have been "anytown" USA. The drive along Lakeshore in the Pointes certainly didn't have anything to do with Highland Park and may as well have been Lake Superior to anyone who didn't know better. Also, it's not impossible, but very unlikely that Clint's character commuted to work from Highland Park OR Minnesota when he was building Torinos. Ford built the Torinos at the Lorain, OH assembly plant. I think it's the same plant where they made the Cougars.

But Kowalski could very well have put together the F-150 he drove.

They build 'em at the Wayne Assembly Plant.

Did anyone catch young Kyle Eastwood in the film?