1972 Gran Torino

Rating: 10/10 (29 March 2009)

Two days ago and before I went to see Clint Eastwood's Gran Torino on the big screen I was seeing the bonus material from the DVD of Classic Albums: Pink Floyd - The Making of 'The Dark Side of the Moon'. We have some short videos with Roger Waters and one is titled 'Waters' World View', in it Roger says: "that's something I always had, when a was a teenager, when I was the chairman of the YCND in Cambridge when I was 15 years oldif you've been given the I think gift of having that perspective you don't lose it and I suspecta member of the Ku Klux KlanI think is likely that you go on, wanting to lynch people forever, maybe not, maybe I shouldn't say that, maybe there's an optimistic side of me that feels that not just individuals but authorities are capable of rehabilitation".
In Gran Torino Clint Eastwood did what will be his last performance and he is just terrific as Walt Kowalski, veteran of the Korean War who now is practically the only American, or maybe one of the few, living in the neighborhood, for him is not a trouble to go out with his rifle when his Hmong neighbors are in his lawn. In a South Park episode there's this thing that when a Muslim boy is the new student Eric Cartman is immediately thinking "terrorist" and Cartman goes on certainly without any reason to think that but just because the boy is Muslim. The big thing is that when Cartman alerts the police (and I think even Bush) they actually end avoiding a possible attack so in the end is like "after all it was the racism of Cartman what saved the day". I'm writing this because there's this part in Gran Torino when one of Walt's neighbors, Thao (Bee Vang), is being bothered by his cousin (Doua Moua) and his cousin's gang and the whole problem ends when Walt goes out with a loaded riffle. Walt added another reason to dislike Thao, apart of because Thao is Chinese, when he caught him trying to steal his AMAZING 1972 Gran Torino, Walt dislike Thao's family, and his own family actually, but after the incident when he made that Thao's cousin stop trying to persuade Thao to join his gang Walt became a hero to the neighborhood, certainly Walt just wanted the gooks out of his lawn but he saved Thao.
Gran Torino begins when Walt's wife just died, now he will be alone and that worry his two sons since they know how their father is however and of course that doesn't really worry Walt. You can imagine Walt's relation with Mitch (Brian Haley), one of his sons, if I write that Mitch works for a Japanese automaker (Walt worked for the Ford Motor Company) plus Mitch's daughter has piercings and stuff. In short, when Walt dies his two sons, and their respective families, won't inherit Walt's house and 1972 Gran Torino. Walt never found the way to be a true father and certainly he regrets that as other things from his past as a soldier, from the time when he earned medals for killing. But Walt will feel something new, he will find something and he will find it with the people that he never intended to have any kind of relation with. Thao's sister Sue (Ahney Her) is the one who will take Walt with her family, a new culture for Walt and is all part of an extremely entertaining film, now with Walt and Thao doing stuff together, a feel good part of the film (just hilarious how Walt talks with his Italian American pal and that part when Walt brings Thao to the barbershop just like when Thao presents himself with his future boss are just fantastic!).
Despite rating Gran Torino with a full 10 and Changeling with 9.5/10 I actually think Changeling is a superior film yet Gran Torino is now for me a new personal favourite. Actually if you see both Changeling and Gran Torino it does feel like we have two complete opposite films from Eastwood, Gran Torino for most of its time is a feel good movie with a lot of fun. Anyway, 2008 was a terrific year for Clint, his last performance is very memorable, his 1972 Gran Torino is a beauty (and will be in good hands), do yourself a favor and see both Changeling and Gran Torino.