Finding His Place In Today's World

Rating: 10/10 (12 March 2017)

I think that anyone who has ever seen a Clint Eastwood film would agree that he is a terrific actor. Whether as a lone cowboy (The Man With No Name Trilogy), a gritty cop (Dirty Harry), or a boxing manager (Million Dollar Baby), Eastwood is able to provide just the right emotions and actions for the part.
However, just as important as his acting is the way he progresses his characters in each film he makes. Unlike, say, Sylvester Stallone, who tries to play Rocky Balboa and John Rambo at 60 years old, Eastwood takes on roles suitable for a man his age (78). That is the reason why Gran Torino is such a great film.
As the movie begins, Eastwood's character--Walt--is a man who no longer fits into today's world. Being a veteran of the Korean War and a longtime employee at a Ford Motor plant, Walt is a throwback to a different generation. Thus, when a Hmong family moves in next door to him and a gang of young Mexicans begin terrorizing the neighborhood, Walt withdraws even further into the shell of his past (as we all fear what we do not understand). The only time we ever see him happy during the film is while swapping old war stories and tell racist jokes with his old pals down at the local bar. Otherwise, he just bickers with or downright insults everyone else around him, whether it be his Catholic priest, his new neighbors, or even his own family.
Due to a completely uncontrollable set of circumstances, however, Walt is drawn into the conflict between the Hmong and Mexican cultures. At first, he resists all attempts to lend a helping hand or accept a little bit of gratitude, but eventually he begins to form some friendships. As the film builds towards and finally reaches its climax, Walt finally begins to understand that the conflicts of today's world are really not that much different those played out on the killing fields of Korea. They may even require the supreme sacrifice in order to make things right.
So, while advertised as a story about a Dirty Harry-type character ("Get off my lawn"), this film is really about so much more. In typical Eastwood fashion, not only does he deliver a spot-on acting performance filled with his usual grit balanced by some dry humor, but he also advances the "aura" of his filmography in a way that no other current Hollywood star can match. Suffice it to say that no chronological context is ever needed for an Eastwood film...he is who he is.
Thus, I recommend this film to pretty much everyone (although be warned that the high use of profanity may rule out the tweens). Relative youngsters (those not yet old enough to get the Senior Citizens discount) will likely enjoy the film because they will be able to better understand the actions/attitudes of their own parent/grandparent. Seniors will obviously be intrigued as the story is told from "their" point of view and Walt struggles with the same emotions they themselves may be grappling with.
Of course, also in typical Eastwood fashion, so many other themes are hinted at during the film that one could write a review about completely different subject matter and still be spot-on in their analysis. I can't say for certain that Gran Torino deserved an Oscar nomination in any category (as I haven't seen its competition), but those would have to be some spectacular films to beat this masterpiece.