Gran Torino (2009) - Quotes

Courage and Sacrifice in Uncertain Times

Walt: [opens a chest; pulls it out] In 1952, we were sent up to take out a Chinese machine gun nest. It shredded us up pretty good. I was the only one who came back that day. Not long after, they gave me a silver star... Here, I want you to have it.

Thao: Why?

Walt: Well, because we all knew the dangers that night, but we went in anyway. That's the way it might be tonight. There's always a chance you don't come back.

Thao: The hell we won't. We gonna roll up there and test the mags.

Walt: [Walks to the door] Yeah, that's foolish. That's the exact reaction they're waiting for. Go ahead, close this up.

Thao: How many?

Walt: [stops] How many what?

Thao: How many men did you kill in Korea?

Walt: Thirteen, maybe more.

Thao: What was it like to kill a man?

Walt: You don't wanna know. Now close it up.

Thao: Walt! Walt! What're you doing? What're you doing, huh?

Walt: Relax. You can't get out of there.

Thao: You let me out right now. You fucking let me out or I'll fucking kill you!

Walt: [kicks the door to silence him; walks off] Shut the fuck up! You want to know what it's like to kill a man? Well it's goddamn awful, that's what it is. The only thing worse is getting a medal of valour for killing some poor kid that wanted to just give up, that's all. Yeah, some scared little gook just like you. I shot him right in the face with that rifle you were holding in there a while ago. There's not a day goes by that I don't think about it. You don't want that on your soul. Now I got blood on my hands. I'm soiled. That's why I'm going it alone tonight.

Thao: [hammering on the door again] Walt! You take me with you right now! Let me out!

Walt: [returning; leaves] Look, you've come a long way. And I'm proud to say that you're my friend. But you've got your whole life ahead of you. But me, I finish things. That's what I do, and I'm doing it alone.

Thao: [hysterical] No! Wait! Walt! WALT! WALT! WALT!

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Misunderstanding of Identity and Respect

Walt Kowalski: Relax, zipperhead. I'm not gonna shoot you. I'd look down too, if I was you. You know, I knew you were a dipshit the first time I ever saw you, but I never thought you were worse with women than you are at stealing cars... Toad.

Thao Vang Lor: Thao.

Walt Kowalski: What?

Thao Vang Lor: It's not Toad, it's Thao. My name is Thao.

Walt Kowalski: Yeah, well you're blowing it with that girl who was there. Not that I give two shits about a toad like you.

Thao Vang Lor: You don't know what you are talking about.

Walt Kowalski: You're wrong, eggroll, I know exactly what I'm talking about. I may not be the most pleasant person to be around, but I got the best woman who was ever on this planet to marry me. I worked at it. It was the best thing ever happened to me, hands down. But you, you know, you're letting Click-Clack, Ding-Dong and Charlie Chan just walk out with Miss "What's her face." She likes you, you know? Though I don't know why.

Thao Vang Lor: Who?

Walt Kowalski: Yum Yum. You know, the girl in the purple sweater. She's been looking at you all day, stupid!

Thao Vang Lor: You mean Youa?

Walt Kowalski: Yeah... Yum Yum... yeah... nice girl... nice girl, very charming girl... I talked with her... yeah. But you, you just let her walk out right out with the Three Stooges. And you know why? Cause you're a big fat pussy. Well, I gotta go. Good day, pusscake.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

A Reflection on Unlikely Bonds and Goodness

Walt Kowalski: [about Thao] I don't care about him.

Sue Lor: You hang out with him, you teach him to fix things, you saved him from that fucked cousin of ours.

Walt Kowalski: Watch your language, lady.

Sue Lor: And you're a better man to him than our own father was. You're a good man.

Walt Kowalski: I'm not a good man. Get me another beer, Dragon Lady. This one's empty.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Confronting Choices: Health and Gang Life

Thao Vang Lor: [Walt's smoking] You should quit. Those things are bad for you.

Walt Kowalski: Yeah? So's being in a gang, dipshit.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Confrontation Over Boundaries and Respect

Walt Kowalski: What the hell is this?

Gangster: Get up.

Walt Kowalski: Get off my lawn.

Smokie: Listen old man you don't wanna fuck with me.

Walt Kowalski: Did you hear me? I said get off my lawn now.

Smokie: Are you fucking crazy? Go back in the house.

Walt Kowalski: Yeah? I blow a hole in your face and then I go in the house... and I sleep like a baby. You can count on that. We used to stack fucks like you five feet high in Korea... use you for sandbags.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Cultural Tensions and Protective Concerns

Walt Kowalski: [picked up Sue from a confrontation from a gang of young black males and giving her a ride home''] What's the matter with you? You trying to get yourself killed? I thought you Asian girls were supposed to be smart. Hangin around places like that's an easy way to get you into the obituaries!

Sue Lor: I know, I know! Take it easy.

Walt Kowalski: And who was that goofball you were with, is he a date or something?

Sue Lor: Yeah...well, kind of. His name is Trey.

Walt Kowalski: Well, you shouldn't be hangin out with him! You should be hangin out with your own people, with all the other Humongs!

Sue Lor: [[w:Hmong American|Hmong] You mean "]?" No no, it's not "Humong," it's "Hmong.

Walt Kowalski: Whatever.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Tension Between Generations and Cultures

Monk: What the fuck are you looking at, old man? Huh?

Walt: What the hell are you spooks up to?

Monk: You better get your ass on, honkey, while I still let you. That's what you better do.

Duke: That's right, bitch.

Monk: What the fuck you at?

Walt: [approaches and faces them; Spits] Ever notices how you come across somebody once in a while that you shouldn't have fucked with? That's me.

Monk: Man, you fuckin crazy, man. Get outta here, man.

Third youth: Why don't you get your ass up outta here before I kick your ol wrinkly white ass?

Monk: Crazy motherfucker, man. What's wrong with him, man?

Monk: What the fuck? This motherfucker's crazy, man.

Third youth: What's wrong with this nigga, man?

Duke: What the hell?

Walt: [To Sue] Get in the truck.

Monk: [laughs] This crazy motherfucker, man. What's wrong with him, man? He put his finger on us.

Monk: [raising his palms] Oh shit. Come on, now. Hey, pops. Come on, now.

Walt: [to Sue] Shut your fucking face! You fuckin don't listen, do you? Now get in the truck.

Monk: [lowers his hands] Go on, get in the truck now. Shit.

Trey: Way to go, old man!

Walt: [turns his gun on him] Shut up, pussy. What is all this "bro" shit, anyway? Want to be Super Spade or something? These guys don't want to be your bro, and I don't blame em. Now get your ofay Paddy ass on down the road.

Walt: [To the youths; Gets in his truck] Take care, now.

Monk: [respectfully] Yeah, you too.

Haircuts and Unfiltered Conversations

Barber Martin: There. You finally look like a human being again. You shouldn't wait so long between haircuts, you cheap son of a bitch.

Walt Kowalski: Yeah. I'm surprised you're still around. I was always hoping you'd die off and they'd get someone in here that knew what the hell they were doing. Instead, you just keep hanging around like the doo-wop dago you are.

Barber Martin: That'll be ten bucks, Walt.

Walt Kowalski: Ten bucks? Jesus Christ. What are you, half Jew or somethin'? You keep raising the prices all the time.

Barber Martin: It's been ten bucks for the last five years, you hard-nosed Polack son of a bitch.

Walt Kowalski: Yeah, well keep the change.

Barber Martin: See you in three weeks, prick.

Walt Kowalski: Not if I see you first, dipshit.

Confrontation with Unexpected Consequences

Duke: The fuck you lookin at old man?

Walt Kowalski: Ever notice how you come across somebody once in a while you shouldn't have fucked with? (spits on the ground) That's me.

Confrontation with Unfamiliarity and Judgment

Walt Kowalski: What are all you fish heads looking at anyway?

A Warning for the Gangster

Walt Kowalski: (While holding a gangster he had just badly beaten at gunpoint) Alright, here's the deal: You stay away from Thao, understand? You tell your friends to stay away from Thao. And if they don't listen to you, you tell em you don't wanna see them anymore. That's it. Got it? (The gangster doesn't respond) I'll take that as a yes, cause if I have to come back here, it's gonna get fucking ugly.