Gran Torino: Review By slysnide

Clint Eastwood's curtain call from acting is one of the best of his that I've ever seen, and seals in concrete his reputation as a silver screen hero.

And in a year with box office smash heroes like "Iron Man" who was the most tech savvy, "Wall-E" who was the most caring, and "The Dark Knight" who was the most noble, Walt Kowalski was certainly the most selfless, and tragically, the most unrecognized.

The moral that Clint Eastwood was really pushing in this story was simply that it's never too late to change. However that change comes through interaction, not suddenly and without reason. But the journey to that point of change makes this my pick for the best picture of the year.

A racist with a dog named Daisy, raised through the depression era who fought in the Korean War, worked as an automobile assembly line employee for the Ford Motor Company, and watched the Civil Rights Movement succeed, Walt Kowalski is now certainly not a happy camper when his all white neighborhood of Highland Park, Michigan has turned Asian over the last couple decades. And with it, the beauty of the neighborhood, and neighborly like atmosphere that you'd expect it to have been like in the fifties, which is the lifestyle that Kowalski would clearly favor over the shut in, multi-culturals who've since overpopulated Walt's suburb, and let their lawns & houses go to rot.

But if there's one thing Walt can't stand more than that, it's gangsters who think they're the sh*t and pointlessly trouble the neighbors whom clearly aren't the same type of people, despite being related. And after cracking to peer pressure, Walt's neighbor Thao (Bee Vang) who's assumed the role of 'man of the house' gets in a minor altercation over Walt's 1972 Gran Torino which proves to be an odd start to a nice friendship and understanding between the two vastly different individuals.

Despite that Clint's character is a racist, we first sympathize for him, and for some of us empathize with him over his spoiled and self absorbed relatives who could careless about the death of Walt's wife, being his two sons Mitch (Brian Haley), Steve (Brian Howe) and their families, who've sunken low enough to the point of trying to put him in a retirement home so they can get his house, playing nice to get his car, and only ever calling him up for free tickets to sporting events that Walt was once privy to receiving from a former co-worker. However, as depressing as Walt's family life is, it strangely starts to turn around on both sides thanks to Walt's kindling friendship with the Vang Lor siblings Thao and Sue (Ahney Her), who's feisty and tries hard to get Walt to interact with his neighbors, while Thao is shy, and a good project for Walt to take on in toughening him up and teaching him valuable life lessons throughout the movie.

Some critics argued that picking a relatively unknown, and dominantly Hmong cast for the film was a bad choice, but on the contrary, it just all the more emphasizes the fact that Walt is alone on this one, not to say that being an unknown cast means they provide less to the story than a known movie star would, but the latter would command more attention and a subplot of their own while the unknown cast chosen leaves the audience to place their faith in Clint, and to identify with his character more than others, as the only other notable star in the film is John Carroll Lynch who has a minimal role as Walt's barber Martin, that's no longer than Lynch's role in David Fincher's "Zodiac" (2007), but leaves you with as much of an impact, in that Martin is really the only person in the story that fully understands Walt's dilemmas, and even enjoys some hilarious racy humor with him. But still, Clint cast the right actor for that role, since anyone more notable would leave you expecting them to have a comeback in the end like some side characters do in films like this, but fortunately, that's not the case here.

And of course, the adversary to Walt's personality would be Father Janovich (Christopher Carley), whose promise to Walt's wife was to get him to confess at church, for what his wife must have considered to be for obvious reasons, is kind of like a running gag in the movie, as Janovich never gives up, and seems to confront Walt at the worst times. But the inner struggle of Walt having to face the fact that his own wife was disapproving of his ways underlines this subplot in the film. The thing that makes it funny of course is the type of result you get from this.

Other comedic occurrences throughout is Walt trying to get the "gooks" to leave him alone as they thank him a thousand times over for scaring off Thao & Sue's Hmong gangster cousin Spider (Doua Moua) with an M1 Garand Rifle, which is probably one of the most badass moments in the movie.

And how can we not like a more aggressive version of Archie Bunker patrolling our neighborhoods? And getting in the faces of low lifes? And using racy language without being hated? And being able to use the "I'm older and more experienced than you" card and make it work? So how can we not like it? Simple: we can't! We love it!!!

The visuals may not be fantastic, but they successfully capture the reality of the small world in which Walt's living in contrast to what we can imagine Highland Park used to be like in the fifties through the seventies. As from the suburbs to the schools to the construction yard, things look a bit dismal...but hey, that's reality, so kudos to Clint for keeping it that way.

Though with Clint's age has also gone the impressive villains, whom have been reduced to ZMG toting gangsters who drive a dented and multicolored '90s Honda Civic with a rear spoiler {can you think of anything less intimidating?} under the leadership of the wannabe badass Doua Moua. Clearly not the Lee Van Cleef that faced off against Clint in '67s "The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly." But this only means that Clint successfully stayed within the barometers of reality by not overplaying the drama of the situation by making the villain more over the top, or more prominent, as this is a story about change, not about Clint yet again being the Lone Ranger, though given his career, the film still carries that undertone with it, but not as a burden, but rather more like the drive for Kowalski to change at all, hence the other great quote: "Thao and Sue are never gonna find peace in this world as long as there's gangs around."

So while the co-stars are mostly first timers, unknown, and not the central focus of the story, then this is a good kick start for them, and will look great on their resumes. ;)

The acting in general was great, as it's totally believable, and doesn't let the characters strain too far from the barometers of reality, such as seeing Clint talk down to black gangsters on a corner may be funny, but at times, seems just a bit off for him, while yanking a Hmong gangster off a porch to the ground and giving him a message complete with a gift wrapped black eye for free is also comical, and the last real badass thing that we are to see Clint Eastwood do in his career. But it's only ever a reminder that this wasn't supposed to be a shoot 'em up bang bang movie titled "Clint vs. the Street Gangsters," but more like "Clint tones it down for a change with equally amazing results."

I myself never thought much of Clint's acting, as he was the stereotypical lone ranger in films like "High Plains Drifter" (1973) and "Pale Rider" (1985). But I always thought more of him as a director, as his back to back hits about Iwo Jima proved. But as far as acting goes, this one certainly takes the cake. And being able to balance that with directing & producing the movie too proves that the effort was even more successful.

Overall, the film is dramatic, comedic, serious, and laid back all at the same time, and leaves you only wishing that it was longer, or that it featured some more badass moves by Clint, or a more competent villain like The Bad. Though don't be fooled by all that wanting, since if a film leaves you wanting more of something that was already there, then it was a pretty good movie. And while it may have been snubbed by critics and moviegoers this season, it will pick up quickly and be remembered as Clint Eastwood's acting career at the peak of its' power, which is pleasing since Clint Eastwood followed that old proverb wisely: Quit while you're ahead.

So goodbye Clint, and thanks for all the memorable moments & characters. We'll miss you.