Gran Torino

Rating: 10/10 (18 January 2009)

Gran Torino is about a recently widowed elderly man named Walt Kowalski who lives in a more run down area of town and Walt is personally haunted by demons of his past and is a very conservative and bigoted person in his old age. He disapproves of a lot of the things the younger generation is now doing, can not relate to his sons, or grandsons or granddaughters and particularly has a problem with the new Oriental neighbours that moved just next door to him. The film eventually deals with Walt getting over some of his prejudices and making friends with the two neighbour children and bonding with them and also doing whatever he can to protect them from a gang that is targeting the two of them. The trailers and advertisements for Gran Torino make it look like an action film, or very much like one of the Dirty Harry films star and director Clint Eastwood would have done in the 70's, but this is actually quite different than what the trailers and advertisements would lead you to believe. The gang violence and dealing with them is a large enough part of this story, but I would say that the relationship that grows between the two neighbour children and Walt is the real story here and the one that is mostly focused on. Walt's own problems from past experiences to his current state of life are also a big burden on his life and we get to know more about Walt as the film goes on. What once looked like a cantankerous, bitter and racist old man actually through good storytelling is transformed into a really human and complex character with many deep layers that would need to be unraveled in order to help him and for him to be at peace. I personally really liked how the film's screenplay developed the Walt character and the others as well and there was a good mix of character study, drama, some amusing moments and even some action in the film and they all worked really well together in telling a powerful and thought provoking study of our own selves and the things we must change, or forget to move on in life. The screenplay is top notch allowing for some great one liners from Walt and an interesting and compelling story that is sure to interest most viewers who would give the film a chance. Clint Eastwood's direction also suit's the film well and more than anything one thing that really carries this film is Clint Eastwood's performance as Walt. Like I mentioned earlier at first Walt comes off as a grouchy and bigoted old man saying racist and bigoted things like he didn't care who heard them and then he almost becomes like a father figure to these kids living next door and we see the things he has continually struggled with in his life and how he sets to personally get rid of them. Overall a very powerful performance and one of Clint Eastwood's best that is definitely Best Actor worthy material. I also give Clint and the film's screenwriter a lot of credit for making a film that is so edgy at times and I think people who are worried about being offended, or turned off by the film should give it a chance and see that there is so much more to the film than just Walt's racist language. Overall a surprisingly moving, compelling and a great character study movie with an excellent performance makes Gran Torino one of 2008's best films.