An Eastwood Film With A Truly Human Touch

Rating: 10/10 (9 August 2010)

The Location of Gran Torino is Highland Park, Michigan. It is ground zero for both the rise and fall of the American automotive industry. Once the home of the world's first assembly line, built by Ford and the Headquarters of the Chrysler Corporation, it now stands as a symbol of the decaying rust belt. Clint Eastwood couldn't have picked a better location on a bet. It's adjacent neighborhood still contains individuals who are the spitting image of Eastwood's main character, a retired auto worker named Walt Kowalski. All Mr. Eastwood had to do was inhale deeply and the essence of the main character flowed into him from his very surroundings. Indeed in the background of some shots you can see Oakland Avenue, a street crossed by thousands of Walts on their way to put in another day at the plant.
I must say that those who were disappointed in the film seemed to be looking for qualities that Mr. Eastwood did not intend to give them in this film. And even those who loved it missed the true nature of the main character, at least in part, calling him "a crusty old racist" and such like. The portrayal of Walt gives you plenty of clues to the reality of the situation, such as the hilarious scene where Walt tries to teach a young man how real men talk to each other. The racially tinged banter is indeed how many of the tough old autoworkers talked to each other, usually with the same degree of humor and affection portrayed in that and a few other scenes. Real men made sport of the racial stereotypes, I know, I grew up there.
I'd been avoiding telling too much of the story by design but to support my assertion that Mr. Eastwood tells a tale with a true human touch I must at least point out some of the more compelling aspects of the portrayal of his characters: Walt is an old man, the world has changed right before his eyes. To a PC and selfish "Me" generation he appears as racist old stick in the mud, an impediment to their narrow ambitions... and this is his family I'm talking about. An old school stoic, Walt isn't much for using feeling words but at the same time he knows who he is. He's a guy who'll look you over pretty good and if you appear to be a decent sort he's still capable of being a friend. It's just that in Walt's world he hasn't seem much to be friendly about lately.
It's no surprise that Walt warms up to his immigrant neighbors, even though before he gets to know them he does harbor some racial bias, likely gleaned from hard experience. The Sister of the young fella he eventually takes under his wing sees that Walt can be charmed and she does so brilliantly, thus opening the door for him to know her family. I felt that Walt, being the stand up guy that he is, couldn't help becoming what he does to the young man and his family. I think that attentive viewers of Mr. Eastwood's story come to see that Walt is something of a rare commodity these days, a real man - a man's man, capable of dealing with life on life's terms and making the hard choices that real men have to make. Up to this point it meant being a hardworking breadwinner, husband and father. Not too many frills and flourishes, just reliability and steadfastness. But as we meet Walt in the beginning of the story all that is fading into the past was he buries his beloved Wife and tries to figure out how he ended up with such selfish and ungrateful children and grandchildren. He thinks they're lacking in character and they think he's an asshole.
So, here we are with a aging man's man looking to stay useful in a world that's increasingly unfamiliar as a series of man-sized situations seem to make their way to his door. And here's what I appreciated about what Mr. Eastwood did with his story; He had Walt meet these situations head on, sometimes uncomfortably awkward and sometimes in puzzlement, but head on nonetheless. And we find a man who'd never really opened up his heart to others, not because he didn't want to but because he was just too busy taking care of business to learn how. A seemingly immovable object who meets the irresistible force of some young people in need of those things that young people need.
This time, unlike with his children, life has prepared his heart to open wide and the force of his genuineness is, in my opinion, one of the strong points of this tale. This story of the unfolding of warm and lasting human relationships is filled with humor, a bit of conflict and complexity and backed by the stronger forces of loyalty and sacrifice. This last giving shape to the arc of on old man's life and an example to the eyes of a young man with most of life before him. You'll have to somehow forgive yourself for laughing and crying at some sappy old movie... Well, maybe not, if you remember that you're in the hands of a Master Cinematic Craftsman.
I had the pleasure of watching Mr. Eastwood's production company at work, as Walt's house is at 238 Rhode Island Street and my Mom still lives at 150, a block away. I grew up there and so upon viewing this film for the first time the feeling of familiarity was so profound as to be slightly unnerving. According to my former neighbors, Mr. Eastwood and staff were most gracious guests and were fully aware of the authenticity of their choice of locations.