A powerful performance from the iconic Eastwood, his character inspires and he proves that anyone can come to terms to an unexpected friendship.

Rating: 9/10 (9 January 2009)

Clint Eastwood the man the tough guy himself certainly is in top form here with his latest "Gran Torino" which perhaps could be his final screen role, considering he's close to approaching the age of 80 years old. And after you watch this you will feel as fresh as ever and happy with Clint's performance as his manner is as gruff and as macho as ever. Only on this journey you see how no matter how gruff that this old man can humble when it comes to the ways of the world and can develop new and unlikely friendships.
Eastwood is Walt Kowalski a Korean war vet who lives in Michigan and after retiring as an auto worker and upon the passing of his wife, the world has certainly darkened for Walt. Yet Walt is a tough natured type of a guy one who's wise with wisdom and he lives with his most prized possession a 1972 "Gran Torino" yet mostly his gruff and tough nature is the eye catcher that most see about him including family. Yet the film theme turns social when it shows the nature of racism. From the start you the viewer see with Walt's actions(tobacco chewing) and tough witty talk(racial slang and jokes)that he's clearly a bigot and has plenty of stubborn blood flowing in him. And when a Hmong family moves in next door this is when Walt's life and character is tested the most.
It is here we see that film takes on a complex and tough grumble journey of a process of character transformation. And the theme of racism is so common as so many of us have dealt with it in our lives in some form. Even though the undercurrent and subplot of the neighborhood gang issues and the violence of the film shows a side of Eastwood's character to be somewhat of a local superhero to the family, it still fails in comparison to the films message of learning to accept a new take on friendship. The development and growth you see in many of the scenes between Eastwood and Bee Vang(good supporting work)grow on your thoughts and emotions. As after seeing this film it leaves everyone with the hope of a better world proving that all of us no matter what racial, ethnic, or cultural background are the same and bleed the same blood. Really it's a hope for a better world showing that unlikely friendships can develop and that even the most stubborn and strongest types of people(Kowalski) can have a change of heart and view the world differently and change before they pass on.
Overall wonderful work from Eastwood maybe one of his strongest, yet his performances are always well done with class and perfection. It's a must see here for the fact that this could be the legends last screen time perhaps. And too for the strong message that this film sends of looking at friendship and growing to change one's ways in such an unblinking way makes it very powerful and certainly a film to be respected. So "Gran Torino" in my view is certainly one film that drove into the winners circle.