A sweeping look at ageism, cultural clash, shell shock, and more

Rating: 10/10 (16 January 2009)

Gran Torino, directed by and starring Clint Eastwood, might very well be the best film I've seen all year (either that or Slumdog Millionaire). It was truly an amazing and profoundly moving experience. The story is about a grumpy, foul-mouthed, and somewhat bigoted old Korean War vet in a rundown neighborhood who is at first resistant to the change he sees his community taken over by the Hmoung (ethnic group from Southeast Asia). In most films, the cinematography is designed to glamorize what's in front of the camera, but Clint's (or should I say Walt, his character's) neighborhood is starkly unpleasant to look at. It's one of those rundown industrial towns that has seen its glory days pass it by, just like Walt.
The neighbors are threatened by gang violence and when Walt saves them from being harassed by pointing a gun at the gang, he becomes a reluctant hero. Not wanting any special attention, he refuses all the gifts, but he gradually softens up as his neighbors keep tugging away at his heartstrings and starts to mentor the two kids next door, Sue and Tao. The film is a sweeping look at faith (Clint's conversations with a priest are one of the high points of the film and serve as a thematic counterpoint to the action), shell shock, urban decay, culture clash, and especially ageism.
Clint does battle and proves his worth to teenagers who are essentially writing him off because he's old. Maybe that's what every teenager does these days. This is the first picture I've seen to confront ageism so well. The film features Clint Eastwood's best performance.