This Excellent Film possesses a Cornucopia of multifaceted levels - but is it also flawed by Racism & Bigotry ?

Rating: 10/10 (22 February 2009)

Eastwoods alleged last movie as an actor is rich in wit, humour, reflective thought,and social comment - It is a must see film!
Clint's character Walt Kowalski is a retired Korean War Vetran, a widower, a man of few words, possessed of a black & white code of moral certainties, unsympathetic with the urban 21st century and possessing a strong dislike of his extended family.
Is the Film Racist / Ageist ?
When an [ extended 'Gook' family ] move in next door in his once all white American neighbourhood we start the tour of politically incorrect words & phrases so hated by the usual thought police.
It is undeniably true that Walt [ A Polack ] and his barber manage between them in one scene to fit in about every abusive racial tag for Mexicans, Italians, Irish & most other races that exist. [ Oddly they miss out the English!] In fact the whole film is littered with racial slurs and prejudices to an extent that would make the average South Park episode look like a training films on being politically correct.
BUT THE KEY ISSUE BEING PUT OVER IN THIS MOVIE IS: WHAT WE ARTICULATE, IS RACIST OR NOT - ONLY WHEN DEFINED / VIEWED IN THE CONTEXT OF OUR DEEDS, OUR ACTIONS, & OUR PERSONAL GROWTH.
Once this is understood the film presents a heart warming and optimistic message on how different communities must and can grow to tolerate, respect, learn from each other and then enjoy the social mix that results. In short - Racism can never be simply calculated by listening to the sum of our words but only by the sum of our intent, actions & personal development. Eastwood leaves you to decide whether this is true or not!
Yes the films imagery & dialogue can at times both be and appear simplistic but that is because Eastwood expects us to be cerebral enough to intuit all the other levels ourselves. If you can't then congratulations - the irony is you are one of the films excellent targets.
By inference [ the age of many of the leading characters is very young or very old ] the film also suggests that far from being useless the old have a role to play in the mentoring of the young, and in the dissolution of prejudices whether racial, social or cultural. Equally as strongly the film suggests that the young can both learn from & contribute much to the elderly. The overall message is again optimistic. Namely being elderly need not be a barrier to new achievement and personal growth. Being old is not an useless state to be dreaded but one that can endow you with the wisdom of years and the capability of passing that on in many useful and practical ways.
Other issues include sexism, violence, alcoholism all of which though not the main thrust of the film are raised for thought. On these issues we can conclude .... but hey if you have got this far I have to leave something for you to work out yourselves!
Lastly [ and unmentioned in most reviews ] he also conspires to broadly parody his best known movie role as the 'man with no name' Like the 'Dollar' films cowboy - Walt is apparently unafraid of gun touting outlaws. [ here represented by well armed inner city gang members ] Similarly he deals out the odd beating and looks impassively threatening when both armed and unarmed. Here too is a loner out of step with his fellows, a man short on verbage but long on articulated prejudices. But the ending & how this all might relate? ..... well see the film and judge for yourself! [ NB - being a Brit my spelling is English & some of the words maybe spelt differently ! ]