A Minor Clint Eastwood Film Powered By His Badass Performance

Rating: Null/10 (22 March 2018)

Packing an old-school toughness beneath its contemporary setting, Gran Torino is another sleek, sound & sophisticated work from Clint Eastwood who this time not only impresses as a director but also leads the show from the front with a sturdy input that towers above all else.
The story of Gran Torino follows a recently widowed Korean war veteran who has trouble getting along with everyone. When one of his neighbours tries to steal his car for his initiation into a gang, the grumpy old man sets out to reform him, and ends up doing more than he intended to.
Directed by Clint Eastwood (best known for Unforgiven & Million Dollar Baby), the film finds the veteran actor exhibiting no loss in form, and still more than capable of carrying the entire film on his shoulders. His work behind the camera is just as polished though the story doesn't pack a strong emotional punch.
Eastwood's old-school attitude & badass charisma is on full display here but it's delightful to watch him play a role he does better than anyone else. Though the rest of the cast play their part rather well, not one of them commands the screen like Eastwood does. As for the present Hmong culture, it is treated with respect.
On an overall scale, Gran Torino is a small-scale production of a small-scale story that's skilfully crafted & steadily paced, and finds Eastwood in control of his craft, both in front & behind the camera. The story isn't memorable by any means nor does it deviate from the archetypical white saviour trope but the cinematic ride it offers is interesting, engaging & mostly satisfying. Watch it for Clint Eastwood.