"Dirty Harry 6: The Golden Years"

Rating: 9/10 (10 March 2014)

Clint Eastwood stars as Korean War veteran and retired automaker Walt Kowalski, still living in the old Michigan neighborhood that's falling apart around him (which reminds me of my late grandfather in New Haven). Kowalski's wife has just passed away and he's as cantankerous as ever -- scowling and growling at everyone and everything, including his Hmong neighbors who hail from Laos. Something happens that warms his relations with this family and he slowly becomes closer to them than his own kids and grandchildren. He naturally takes on the father-figure role with the two Hmong teens, in particular mentoring Thao (Bee Vang) on how to be manly and productive. Unfortunately there's a brutal Asian gang that preys on the teens and serious tensions rise. A showdown is inevitable.
If you can imagine Dirty Harry in the role as the Asian mentor in "The Karate Kid" and the teen as Asian instead of white you'd have a pretty good idea of "Gran Torino," except that the violence is darker and there's profuse cussing throughout.
"Gran Torino" is greatly entertaining throughout its runtime. Although it's a serious drama it's also consistently hilarious without being a comedy, if that makes any sense.
Some describe Walt Kowalski (Eastwood) as racist but this isn't really so. His many racist remarks throughout the film are dispersed evenhanded across the board, whether the recipients are white, Asian, Black or Hispanic. I think he realizes we're all human beings and we all have our strengths and weaknesses, potential for good or bad, regardless of race. His sharp remarks are simply his way of breaking the ice with people and relating to them. He dishes it out but also takes it. I'm not saying it's right, just that it's the way he is. The fact that he isn't really racist is proved by the close relationship he develops with his Hmong neighbors -- closer than his own flesh and blood. Would a real racist be open to such a relationship?
A lot of themes are addressed, including second chances -- it's never too late to make up for past mistakes even if you're almost 80 years old. Walt obviously failed to develop close relationships with his two sons but a new "son" is thrown into his lap as if a gift from above. This time's he's intent on doing it right.
I liked the way the "generation gap" is blown to smithereens in the story. Walt and Thao aren't just father/son figures they're friends. I can't help but think of God and Moses (Exodus 33:11) and Jesus and his "friends" (John 15:14-15), but I digress.
I also liked how the film addresses blood v.s. spirit. The story shows that spirit is thicker than blood. I'm not saying blood relations aren't important but truly precious souls are able to see and walk beyond kin or race parameters. Despite his gruff exterior, Kowalski is such a soul, which explains why he is able to BE Thao's spiritual father and friend. Blood doesn't prevent him from discerning his granddaughter as the spoiled brat she is and seeing Thao's humility and goodness despite his mistakes.
There are many other important themes -- love, courage, sacrifice and redemption.
Lastly, "Gran Torino" addresses some of the same issues as "Crash" but does it more effectively, not to mention humorously.
GRADE: A