Clint Eastwood's latest, Gran Torino, goes into wide release this week, telling the story of a reactionary vet who forms an unlikely bond with a neighborhood kid. Thus, we at Rotten Tomatoes thought it would be a perfect time to compile a list of some of the stodgiest, crabbiest, most curmudgeonly old codgers ever to grace the silver screen. Plus, reading this list means you might learn to stay off some crusty old guy's lawn -- making the neighborhood a happier place for all.
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Miracle Max, The Princess BrideFired from his royal post years ago, magic man Miracle Max (Billy Crystal) has retired to wallow in bitterness and contempt until Inigo Montoya (Mandy Patinkin) comes calling, a miracle to request: would Max save the mostly-dead Westley (Cary Elwes) from all-deadness, for the sake of revenge, true love, or even $65? Not likely. Could the shrill badgering of his wife Valerie (Carol Kane) convince Max to help in the name of love? Not a chance. Thankfully, there's one noble cause that could persuade Max to operate: vengeance against Prince Humperdinck! One chocolate-covered miracle pill later, and Max is a much happier grumpy old man: "Have fun storming the castle!" |
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Royal Tenenbaum, The Royal TenenbaumsCruelly manipulative, casually racist, and capable of remarkably cold put-downs, Royal Tenenbaum (Gene Hackman) is the little-loved patriarch of a family of eccentrics. He's left a wide swath of pain in his wake -- from his brisk dismissal of step-daughter Margot's precocious theater work to blasting son Chas in the hand with a BB gun. As he attempts to re-ingratiate himself with his estranged clan, Royal shows a softer side -- even if he can't help but be a mean old codger much of the time. |
(1-10 of 10 posts) | Reply
on Jan 07 2009 05:58 PM STATLER AND WALDORF ARE IMMORTAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Reply to this) |
on Jan 07 2009 06:37 PM hahaha! Gotta love Statler & Waldorf! Great clip! (Reply to this) |
on Jan 07 2009 07:47 PM "Wake up you old fool! You slept through the entire Total Recall!" "Who's the fool? You read it." (Reply to this) |
on Jan 07 2009 08:39 PM Wouldn't change a pick. Though I feel a clip from Return of the Jedi would have worked better than Revenge of the Sith. (Reply to this) |
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on Jan 08 2009 10:41 AM This list is good but I think Harvey Pekar from American Splendor should be added. Also, one memorable curmudgeon was the cantankerous judge in My Cousin in Vinny. He was pretty hilarious. (Reply to this) |
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on Jan 08 2009 01:28 PM Statler and Waldorf are gods. Simply brilliant. Good list guys. :) (Reply to this) |
on Jan 08 2009 02:54 PM Oscar from 'Corner Gas'. Yes, I know it's not a movie, but he's still an absolutely gut-busting character. Jackass! (Reply to this) |
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on Jan 09 2009 07:53 AM not gonna click through all of these until you webmaster morons learn to put all your picks on one page, greedy morons (Reply to this) |
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on Jan 09 2009 09:41 AM ah, the battle of wits truly made my day however, while the Seventh Seal is a fantastic movie, when I see Max Von Sydow, I'm reminded of Emperor Ming the Merciless!! (Reply to this) |
on Jan 13 2009 08:38 AM Great collection and a perfect ending with Milton Berle on the Muppet Show. They just wouldn't make anything like The Muppet Show now, but it was fun. (Reply to this) |
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