If you can make it past the first 20 minutes....

Rating: 8/10 (24 February 2009)

If you can make it past the first 20 minutes, you will be treated to one of the better stories you will have watched in a long time. Starts out with old man Clint Eastwood: He's in his late 70s, just lost his wife, and all his family are out of touch with him because he's a bitter, jaded old man.
Everyone knows someone who's at least a little bit like this, so it's easy to identify with; a 'sour old fart' who's no fun at all and has nothing but negativity to contribute. (This is that first 20 minutes I told you about.)
Usually a movie introduces its "inciting incident" within the first 15 minutes, but Clint holds out. He's earned it. The man is one of the finest Oscar-winning directors AND Oscar-nominated actors Hollywood will likely ever see.
"Get off my lawn", in a deep, rough, angry old man voice, is the soundbyte that will stick with you. It's the essence of a grumpy old man.
It's also the "inciting incident" when a gang battle spills over onto Clint's front lawn and he comes out with a big, menacing rifle and puts an authoritative end to it immediately. After that- all of his neighbors are thanking him nonstop, for being a hero.
But really... he was just angry that people were on his lawn! ..and now he has all this unwanted gratitude from the Asian people he doesn't like. This sets up the awkward but very entertaining integration. Racial boundaries dissolving. It's a beautiful thing.
I won't ruin any of it; there are many more exquisite elements and an extremely bravo finish to this story.