Eastwood's supposed Final Act is one of tribute and triumph!

Rating: 8/10 (31 January 2009)

Clint Eastwood! The name itself just sounds ... well ... bad ass is the only word I find appropriate and when one thinks of this wonderfully talented man they think of the many bad ass characters he has played, they think of Dirty Harry Callahan, they think of The Man With No Name, they think of William Munny and now they'll think of Walt Kowalski who in my mind is one of his finest performances to date and hopefully will become one of his most memorable characters in the future.
Eastwood directs, produces and of course stars in his latest film appropriately titled Gran Torino, named after that beautiful 1972 car that even non-car lovers should have the respect to admire and drool over. Eastwood's Walt Kowalski could be summed up basically as an amalgamation of some of his previous characters I've mentioned above earlier but the character isn't without his own unique aspects, including by communicating with a growl that would and should scare away in the bravest of men. The character comes out with some truly terrific one-liners that remain stuck in my head including: (note: The following first line is edited for prohibited reasons) "Ever notice how you come across somebody once in a while you shouldn't have messed with? That's me." and "How many swamp rats can you get in one room?" or "I used to stack ***** likes you, five feet high in Korea, use ya for sand bags." and its brilliant one-liners like these that only an actor like Clint Eastwood can deliver to perfection.
The story follows retired Korean War Veteran who is recently widowed and is a man who keeps a iron-fisted grip onto his prejudices despite the ever-changing world around him. The tough-minded and incredibly unhappy old man sets out to wage a one-man war against the Hmong gang members of the neighborhood whilst attempting to reform a youth who was forced into the gang and attempting to steal Walt's prized 1972 Gran Torino.
Eastwood makes an effective decision in casting actual Hmong actors in the film and it comes off as very authentic and makes for a more authentic story. This decision also gives us two very young wonderful talents to watch on the screen Bee Vang as the shy Thao and his feisty sister Sue Vang Lor.
The film is a take-no prisoners thrill ride and I don't mean that in action terms for this is definitely not a high-octane action blockbuster, but a beautifully told story of life and death through the eyes of a man who has seen more than his fair share of it.