Clint's Finest Hour

Rating: 8/10 (29 January 2009)

The movie has been described as "Classic Eastwood" and in a sense this is true. Even the previews show Eastwood's character (Walt Kowalski) aiming an M1 Garand and telling the trespassers "get off my lawn." There were a couple of times I wanted (nay, expected) him to utter that classic line "go ahead, make my day" (but he didn't).
Still there were times I laughed so hard it hurt, and then I cringed and braced myself as the drama unfolded. I laughed at the relationship between Clint's character and the neighbor lady on the front porch. Then, I cheered quietly about the same relationship. I went to see the show with my teenage granddaughter and as we left the theater she said "I haven't cried at a movie since I was 11." This movie really has something to evoke every emotion, and the audience seemed to feel it too.
But, I'll tell you who stole the show, and who has seemingly been ignored in this movie -- that's Ahney Her, the young actress who plays Sue. From every indication, this is her first acting role before the camera. Yet, here she is, co-staring with Clint Eastwood, working under him while he directs the movie, and while she's got to be perhaps only one third his age, she goes toe to toe with him throughout the movie. In the yard, in the house, among family, at intersections on public streets, in his truck, she's right there with him giving a performance I'll never forget (and I doubt she will either).
The building relationship between an older white male, recently widowed, living as the last remnant of his class and culture in a neighborhood suffering from "white flight" and the newer residents is outstanding. Having served in the military, along the Pacific rim, having grown up in a white, middle class, blue collar neighborhood, I could easily relate to Walt Kowalski and many of the issues he struggled to deal with.
I don't know if this is going to be Clint's swansong, I hope not. But, even if it is, he couldn't end on a brighter note.