Gran Torino (2008)

I love talking about dear, good, old guy Clint Eastwood. He is my childhood hero. ‘The good, the bad and the ugly’ (1966) was one of the films my family watched when gathered together. There is no need to talk about Eastwood’s impeccable acting skills. In Gran Torino, he was the same good old lad who you can easily rely on and get on with his grumpiness.

It was Clint’s last acting role perfectly played at the age of 78. It is sad that the world will not have another film with Clint Eastwood featuring in it and nothing can be done about it. He plays Polish-origin, retired American middle class auto worker and Korean War veteran Walt Kowalski. Film starts with his wife’s funerals. I loved the way one of the attendees names his wife a ‘bitch’ and Walt just thanks him for coming.

Another adorable expression is the way he calls Father Janovich a 27-year-old virgin. Walt seems angry at everybody and everything. For every representative of every nation other than white American, he has a nickname. His sons and grandchildren are alienated from him. While Walt leaves the impression of a difficult man, his children seem selfish and uncaring. His son even tries to convince him to move to the retirement community.  He vehemently turns down this suggestion.

Walt becomes a hero when he saves neighbour Hmong family from the gang. When he menacingly declares ‘Get off my lawn’ with gun in his hands, he looks like The Good from 1966 film, only forty years later. Handsome, strong, reliable hero. I loved the way he scares a couple of guys with just a finger and was completely assured by his impeccable acting skills that he can easily kill with a pointed finger. Oh, he can do that.

The film is a huge success also due to Clint’s strong directing skills. Good, old lad knows how to make films. Though it might leave some racist impression, in my opinion, it actually shows that no matter what you are, immigrant, black, white or Hmong, you should just be a good person and do right things. It is even obvious from Walt’s last will. He leaves his 1972 Gran Torino to Thao, Hmong boy, whom he saves from the gang and who actually tries to steal same car in the beginning of the film.

Not only Gran Torino is a great, touching old-school film, also its soundtrack is lovely. You should definitely watch the film and listen to the soundtrack.

Reviewer's rating: 8.5 out of 10