Gran Torino Film Review

Rating: 8/10 (17 June 2012)

Movie Name: Gran Torino, (2008) Director: Clint Eastwood Main Cast: Clint Eastwood, Bee Vang, Ahney Her, Doua Moua, Christopher Carley Plot Summary: Clint Eastwood directed and starred in this modern day cultural and gang war as Walt Kowalsksi. Walt is a recently widowed retired auto worker and veteran who is strong minded to say it nicely. The only solid relationship he has is with his Labrador retriever, who maintains his allegiance to his owner as he intoxicates daily on his front porch taking in the sights of his once all-white neighborhood in Detroit. Although Walt has children, the only true love he shows is to his 1972 Gran Torino and his dog.
Tough economic times of Detroit have allowed other cultures to migrate, which has brought the inner city gangs to his once quiet neighborhood. Much to Walt's disliking, a Hmong family moves in next door to him. Among these neighbors are Thao Vang Lor (Bee Vang), his sister Sue (Ahney Her), and their grandmother (Chee Thao). Their arrival also brings their extended family and cousin, Spider (Doua Moua), and his many gang friends. Spider immediately tries to recruit his introvert cousin, Thao, to become part of their gang with an initiation of stealing Walt's Gran Torino. However, Thao is caught in the act and ordered to pay back his dues through community service and handy work to Walt by order of his grandmother.
Although neither character is happy about the community service, Walt becomes close to Thao Vang the father figure that Thao Vang is missing and helps him get his life in order, as well as becomes a good friend to Sue and their grandmother. Not pleased that Thao is not going to join his gang, Spider threatens Thao and his gang friends capture, rape, and beat Sue to make their point. Walt and Thao Vang know they need to make a stand with Spider and his gang friends.
Realizing that Thao Vang is a young boy with a bright future, and he is just a lonely man with little relationships, Walt locks up Thao Vang is his basement to keep him away from gunfire and trouble. Taking matters into his own hands, Walt makes a big entrance and confronts Spider and his gang members and makes them think he has a gun when he was reaching for a lighter. Spider and his gang friends shoot and kill Walt in front of the entire neighborhood. However, Walt and his once quiet neighborhood wins because they have witnesses to shooting him when he was not armed. Spider and his friends are arrested and sent to prison for their crimes.
Theme: Malcolm X said it best when he said, "you have to stand for something, or you'll fall for anything." If a gruff, old Korean War veteran can see past the skin color and open his heart to an Asian family, then anyone can open their heart and eyes to change. Walt knew that the law was not going to protect his neighborhood, so he took a stand and stood up for himself, his newfound family, and the rights of his other neighbors.
Plot Points: Clint Eastwood holds true to his normal gruff character in Gran Torino with a point to prove in unconventional manners, such as Dirty Harry, The Outlaw Josey Wales, and even Million Dollar Baby. However, the point to prove in Gran Torino is to do what is right for the community.
A motif used throughout this movie was Walt's car, the Gran Torino. Walt's Gran Torino is a symbol of how something good can withstand the test of time, even in gang infested city like Detroit. Various camera angle techniques, such as panning were utilized in this movie to shoot from Walt's perspective and from the location of his front porch. Sound effects included various background suspenseful music to add drama to many of the confrontational scenes, such as Walt pulling a gun on the gang when they learn that Thao Vang does not want to join the gang, the return of Sue from her brutal beating, and the scene where Walt takes a stand to the gang.
Conclusion: Gran Torino depicts various cultural and societal issues like racism, crime, relationship issues, and good versus bad. This is a war on what is right and wrong. Walt succumbed to what was right for his community by taking a stand to the gangs of his neighborhood, and he went out with a bang so the neighborhood could be peaceful again.
References: Eastwood, C. (Director). (2008). Gran Torino (Motion Picture). United States. Warner Bros. Pictures.