Walter. You are my hero.

Rating: 9/10 (23 November 2015)

I HATE cowboy films. I don't know why. Coincidentally the ONLY memory I have of one is "The Legend of Josey Wales", and the fact that he's always spitting on the poor dog.
So I'm told someone got "Gran Torino" one night and I was thinking "Pblt. Clint Eastwood. Western. Noooo thanks". For whatever reason, I watched it anyway. I'll never forget - as the credits rolled, I was totally speechless. And not because I was shocked it WASN'T a Western. I could not believe what a fantastic movie I'd just seen. I mean just sat there! "WHAT did I just see?!" "WHAT?? He WROTE that too?! How much talent is one person allowed!" I was NOT expecting the premise, the storyline, the characters, the humor, (the bad-a** car), holding my breath, or tears for that matter. You fall in love with a grumpy, hateful old man without realizing it, and the fact that he hates everyone and everything strangely makes you love him more.
Honestly, if you're easily offended; rather - you can't see a movie for what it's worth - I suggest watching Finding Nemo instead. The main character Walter is racist and hateful and brash, swears and is not exactly lovable to say the least, but it's part of what makes this movie - it wouldn't be what it is otherwise. Without realizing this, you'll be too distracted by the language to really appreciate what's really going on.
It's why he goes through what he goes through - and even what gives him the human quality that makes you want to hug him (knowing he'd throw you off his porch if you did hug him) - which is just how you wind up loving his neighbors and the humor that they bring to the movie because of their "love us because this is how we are, otherwise - well, love us. You have no choice. Eat some food."
Walter is simply being who he is - which is a war veteran - and live out his life, he does what he sees as this the right thing, and never backs down - is what makes you cheer for him. He is, in my opinion, what every man needs to be - as far as knowing what the right thing is, and NEVER straying from doing it. He deals with life as it comes. Even when it would have been easy for most to say "not my problem".
This movie just blew me away. So worth seeing! (Oh, and apparently that's even Clint Eastwood at the end as the credits roll, singing. I'm sitting here trying to think of something he CAN'T do ....)