Gran Torino

Rating: Null/10 (24 September 2013)

Although Clint Eastwood has appeared in dozens of movies, Gran Torino is his best work yet. Eastwood produced, directed, and starred in this bittersweet film. Gran Torino prospers in multiple scenes because it has the courage to show real-life prejudice situations that most modern films don't have. Through a series of events, Gran Torino confronts the deep-rooted problems of prejudice in America. Eastwood makes this possible due to the authentic plot and the direction the movie takes due to the exceptional acting on Eastwood's part.
There's no holding back with the well-known, credible Clint Eastwood. He gives it his all when being the star of the film. Eastwood portrays himself as a grumpy, bitter, and hateful old man. The way he grunts, squints his eyes, and wrinkles his forehead when talking with somebody is very persuasive. He has a consistent sourness to him that makes his acting that much more believable. Because he was a Korean War veteran, he sees the world through a dark lens.
Eastwood's character, Walt, lives next to a Korean family that he ultimately cannot tolerate being around. He constantly comes outside with a gun and threatens them to stay off his property. The viewer can tell that Walt isn't at peace with his life and has no happiness based off of the way he sluggishly walks around. Although many viewers will find his personality disgusting and hateful because of the constant racial slurs that come out of his mouth, such as "gooks" and "zipper heads", he does, believe it or not, have a tender side to him. He's more pleasant and charming than he appears. When an Asian gang begins to cause uproar in his community, he begins to take action and protect his Asian neighbors. He's constantly on look out, making sure him and his neighbors won't be harmed. Because he wants to defeat the gang, he finds allies in his Asian neighbors. His allies eventually turn into long-term friends as the movie progresses.
There's almost no comic relief due to the seriousness of the plot. Eastwood did a phenomenal job directing such a nauseating, yet undeniable issue in the United States: prejudice. Many people may not like the obscene language or the use of drug paraphernalia but they need to understand the touching theme of the film; America is a prime example of the "melting pot."
As Walt begins to accept the Asians as friends and demonstrates small acts of kindness towards Tao, the Asian boy next door, like letting him borrow the 1972 Gran Torino, the viewer really starts to understand how Eastwood's character begins to see the world through a brighter lens. He finally lets go of his past and begins to accept the world.
Walt, at the beginning of the film, was so proud to be a Korean War veteran. What's ironic is the fact that he befriends his Asian neighbors who he once despised. If any viewer doesn't connect and truly enjoy the unexpected yet inspirational ending to the film, then he or she is not a true American who understands the harshness of racism in this country.