Attaboy...what a film! Simple yet Powerful; Eastwood rocks!

Rating: Null/10 (27 July 2011)

Firstly,before I talk about the film I would like to make a mention on why is it that a film as Gran Torino failed to make a cut at the Oscars held that year...it simply amazes me on how a good film as this was even left out from the list of nominations!
When you watch Gran Torino you realize that the film is all about love, forgiveness,friendship and sacrifice for a greater good. But when you scratch the surface and you begin to study the psyche of Walt Kowalski's (Clint Eastwood) character, a veteran war hero you find that Gran Torino is also about a man's triumph over his inner demons of being perceived as tough, incapable of loving,cold and unforgiving which may have been a direct impact on the horrors of war he had been a witness to and how along the way he becomes a saviour to a newly migrated family in the neighborhood and also ends up finding his spiritual moorings.
I particularly liked the treatment in the film on the unusual friendship forged between Walt and the young Thao, their interactions, the bonhomie bonding between the two communities in the neighborhood, the one last time Walt goes to confession and the ending which was definitely worthy of mention.Now, if the climax had been "bam bam" it would have been straight from Eastwood's early films, 'ala the cowboy' ending and that's something I was anticipating after seeing Walt prepare for the final assault. It is also interesting to note that while today's film end on a violent note where the hero returns home glorified; Gran Torino is subtle, powerful and yet it has the same impact on you.
Gran Torino in some shades also reminded me of Robert Pattinson starrer Remember Me which also dealt with a man's inner and external conflicts except that the latter dealt with sacrifice for the family's better good while Gran Torino transformed an indifferent,indignant underdog into becoming the hero of his neighborhood. But the underlying message in both the films demanded sacrifice whether it took the path of spirituality in Gran Torino or even if took a Gandhian philosophy in Remember Me to transcend the lives of the protagonists. In Gran Torino you find a good neighbor in Mr Kowalski!
Clint Eastwood, an actor or a director? Though he was and is our much loved 'Dirty Harry' but over the years...he has definitely come to be our 'Million Dollar Baby'!!
Definitely...a must watch!
Sonyaa, www.sonyaa-random-musings.blogspot.com