Well I hated Gran Torino. The character was over the top I have never met anyone who talked that way.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s a good movie, but I have to wonder what the author of this piece was watching. Maybe he took a bathroom break during those parts.
Grew up in a small town of ~800 and we had a guy very much like the character from Gran Torino. Gruff, irritable acting, annoyed. All the kids were scared to death of him, but if you got up the courage he gave out the best halloween stuff.
Adults were very reserved around - looking back I think it was a very deep respect more than fear.
His wife was a saint - sorta the sunshine piercing his fog. When she passed you could almost watch him crumbling over the last few years of his life.
Clint nailed the typical 60s and 70s era infantryman in that one... a crusty old NCO
You want realism in a movie?
You are sheltered.