Eastwood's Final Performance is Vintage Clint

Rating: 10/10 (16 January 2009)

I've seen this movie twice already and I'm sure I'll see it again. I think it's going to be one of those movies, like "Full Metal Jacket" or "Apocalypse Now" that people will want to see again and again, based solely on Eastwood's unforgettable performance as Walt Kowalski, a retired auto worker living in a bad neighborhood in Detroit. Walt's character is a composite of Eastwood's many different screen personas he's portrayed throughout his long career: "Dirty" Harry Callahan, William "Bill" Munney, and the boxing trainer Frankie Dunn from "Million Dollar Baby" come to mind.
The plot is Walt's wife has recently died and he is alone in his home, coming to grips with what's left of his life. He doesn't get along with his sons, who live in the distant suburbs. He has a contentious relationship with his parish priest, who won't take no for an answer when it comes to getting Walt to attend confession. He doesn't get along with his neighbors, who happen to be Hmong immigrants. However, when the neighbors are harassed by Asian gangs, Walt springs to their defense and an unlikely friendship develops between Walt, his neighbors, and the Hmong community, who view Walt as a hero. The rest of the film develops the friendship between Walt, and his neighbors Thao, and Sue, both Hmong teenagers, while protecting them from the predations of the marauding Asian gang.
It's an incredible story with a fitting ending. Eastwood has gone on record as saying this is his last film as a lead actor. It's seems only right and proper that his last film was his best.