I saw Gran Torino over the weekend with my parents and we were all stunned at how much about Clint Eastwood's character resembled my grandfather. My dad just kept saying over and over, it made him wonder if someone in town wrote that movie. Which of corse wasn't the case, but so many coincidences. Especially in the scenes at the barber shop.
Also, watching this movie made me infuriated that the Oscars ignored this, the Wrestler, and Changeling. In fact the only one I think they got right was the Dark Knight.
I want to see that movie too sometime. There have been many times I've seen a person in a film or TV who looked like, or even acted like someone I know. Oh, don't think too much about the silly Oscars - they have very little to do with what the majority of people seem to like anymore.
Aside from finding the main character so familiar and being entertained with a very enjoyable story, It had the feel to it like Johnny Cash's Hurt. That final crowning achievement as a performer that makes it a very good note if it is the last one he makes.