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Clint Eastwood's Gran Torino, an unassuming picture shot during a post-production lull on his elaborate period piece Changeling, was quietly rolled out at Christmastime 2008, whereupon it proceeded to blow away all the Oscar-bait behemoths at the box office and win its 78-year-old star the best reviews of his acting career. Both film and performance are consummately sly--coming on with deceptive simplicity, only to evolve into something complex, powerful, and surprisingly tender. Just as Unforgiven was a tragic reflection on Eastwood's legacy in the Western genre, Gran Torino caps and eloquently critiques the urban heritage of Dirty Harry and his violent brethren. And on top of that, the movie becomes a savvy meditation on America in a particular historical moment, racially, economically, spiritually. Call it a "state of the union" message. But call it that with a wry grin.
The latest Dirty Harry is actually a grumpy Walt: Walt Kowalski (Eastwood playing his own age), widower, Korean War veteran, retired auto worker, and the last white resident of his Detroit side street. It's hard to say who irks him more--his blood kin (a pretty lame bunch) or the Hmong families who are his new neighbors. Kowalski's a racist, because it has never occurred to him he shouldn't be. Besides, that's the flipside of the mutual ethnic baiting that serves as coin of affection for him and his working-class buddies. Circumstances--and two young people next door, the feisty Sue (Ahney Her) and her conflicted brother Thao (Bee Vang)--contrive to involve Walt with a new community, and anoint him as its hero after he turns his big guns on some ruffians. The trajectory of this may surprise you--several times over. Eastwood opted to film in economically blighted Detroit--a shrewd decision, but it's his mapping of Walt's world in that classical style of his that really counts. Every incidental corner of lawn, porch, and basement comes to matter--and by all means the workshop/garage that houses the mint-condition Gran Torino which Walt helped build in a more prosperous era. This is a remarkable movie. --Richard T. Jameson
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Most helpful customer reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I really liked this movie .....,
By JT (RIchmond, BC) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Gran Torino (DVD)
It seems that anything Clint Eastwood is in, or directs is good. This movie is no exception. He plays a harsh, bigoted, tough character who shows he has a very caring side. I think that this is not an easy things for an actor to do. Clint's charisma and acting talent really shine in this movie. Highly enjoyable.
7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love Trumps Fear,
By Ian Gordon Malcomson (Victoria, BC) - See all my reviews (HALL OF FAME) (TOP 10 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)
This review is from: Gran Torino (Widescreen English/French Language Version) (DVD)
Here are ten personal observations as to why "Gran Torino" should be considered a significant movie release this year:
A. It addresses the importance of fathers in raising their children. This is one huge social problem in western society, where boys are being raised exclusively by their mothers. The main character, Walt, an aging disconnected parent himself, is given a second chance to befriend and become a surrogate father for a young Korean boy who has just moved into the neighborhood; B. It highlights the negative things that are happening to suburbia America, what with the rise in crime in socially and economically declining neighborhoods. Gang infestation and drug dealing are the direct result of disaffected youth trying to empower their lives by controlling their environment; C. It points out the need for neighborhoods to come together in order to overcome serious social issues. Learning to live in small communities is often the best way to work through personal problems. Living in isolation is obviously not the answer as it drives people apart; D. It showcases the Gran Torino as a fine example of what Detroit could make if only it recommitted itself to quality; E. It tells a heart-warming story that involves people learning to adjust to each other's needs; F. It has Clint Eastwood as the main star who, with all his crusty, weather-beaten, grizzled features, still manages to win the affection of the audience; G. It brings young and old together in the big game of survival; H. It introduces viewers to a cultural group from the hills of Laos who have some very curious and interesting cultural practices; I. It has a very unique ending; J. There are a lot of funny moments in the movie resulting from two different cultures trying to understand each other.
5.0 out of 5 stars
It's not about the car,
By
This review is from: Gran Torino (Widescreen English/French Language Version) (DVD)
Throughout his illustrious acting career, Clint Eastwood has delivered a series of iconic characters, such as The Man with no name, Dirty Harry, Josie Wales, and Will Munny in Unforgiven.
Throughout his illustrious directing career he has delivered outstanding movies such as Unforgiven, Mystic River, and Million Dollar Baby, for which he has won five Academy Awards, for best Picture, Best Director, and including the Irving Thalberg Life Achievement Award. The actors who have worked with him have been blessed with Oscar: Gene Hackman for Unforgiven, Tim Robbins and Sean Penn for Mystic River, Morgan Freeman and Hilary Swank for Million Dollar Baby. In Gran Torino he both directs and acts, and delivers an acting performance that will be remembered long after the final credits roll, in its unique way, as memorable as any other character he has created. Gran Torino is the second best movie I have seen this year. Not just for the acting, not just for the directing, but for the storytelling, and the emotional journey on which it takes you, the laughter, the feeling of being gripped, and its more surprising moments. In the opening scenes, we have the exposition of the character. We get to know Walt Kowalski, by how people act around him, and his seemingly hateful attitude towards people. More is conveyed through a scowl, and a snarl than with words. When the mischievous grandchildren go through his stuff in the basement, we see the Silver Star he won in Korea. There are three other important symbols in the movie, the lighter, the gun, and the car. We see a hero with a warrior past, a patriot who fought for a cause greater than himself. Clearly, his bigotry stems from those experiences. He's not just mean, he's 'get of my lawn' mean. He's Dirty Harry 'Go ahead punk, make my day!,' mean. His dead wife's priest bugs him to hear his confession, at her request. The priest in a way is his wife's conscience. When he snarls down the barrel of his rifle, at the neighborhood punk: 'I could blow your head off, and sleep like a baby,' you get the sense that he means it. So, with all that happens, we see the change in his decision making, from someone reluctant to be involved in his neighbor's affairs, and a story can turn on something as random as looking at an empty beer cooler. For all his faults, Walt has mature masculine character. Even though he is a difficult father, he has taught his children character. So, when he sees the boy next door lacks character, and a strong male role model, he takes him under his wing, and teaches him how to be a man. The scenes where the boy practises Walt's high octane ball busting banter, are the funniest in the movie. Through knowing Walt, he makes decisions he never would have made by himself. In so doing, Walt finds meaning and purpose, and a chance for redemption, and the boy becomes a man. The Academy's actor awards tend to go to actors in two types of role: 1.Psychopath- No Country for Old Men, The Usual Suspects, There Will Be Blood, Training Day, Silence of the Lambs. 2.Mentally Disabled, Social or Physical Handicap, overcomes great adversity or discrimination- Shine, As Good as It Gets, A Beautiful Mind, Ray, Scent of a Woman, Capote, Philadelphia, The Pianist, A Beautiful Life. Every rule has an exception. Russell Crowe in Gladiator played a character with thematic similarities to Walt. For a 78 year old man to direct and be lead actor in a movie of this caliber is an achievement worthy at the very least of being nominated for the highest award for Acting, Directing or both. I hope you find this review helpful. Amazon USA 2009.
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