Gran Torino: Dirty Harry Comes Out of Retirement, Tells You To Get Off His Lawn
Gran Torino Movie Poster
Last night, Cheri and I ventured out to see Clint Eastwood’s new film Gran Torino.
At the center of this movie is Walt Kowalski (played by 78 year-old Eastwood). He is a racist, retired Detroit autoworker who’s just become a widower. He is alienated by his family because he’s just seen as a brutish curmudgeon and he finds himself to be the only American left in his neighborhood filled with Hmong immigrants. After his sheepish teenage neighbor Tao attempts to steal his mint condition 1972 Ford Gran Torino in a forced gang initiation, he slowly begins to befriend the boy and his sister along with the rest of the Hmong community.
Walt is a man that’s always taken care of hostile matters himself. He’s a Korean War veteran who is haunted everyday by decisions he made there. As he begins to confront the hoodlums that are bothering his neighbors, he becomes a community hero. His actions may cause some problems, but he knows to fix them and does so in a very heroic way.
Eastwood’s performance and direction are top notch. I’ve never seen any of the Dirty Harry movies, but I have a feeling that he was channeling some of that performance here. Not only was his dramatic performance outstanding, but his comedic timing was perfect as well — allowing for a number of hilarious comedic relief moments to ease the tensions building in the film.
5 / 5
Clint Eastwood did a great job of using his outward crankiness to come across as mean as well as somehow heroic this newest film of his
coffee
January 15, 2009 at 1:47 am
Fantastic movies, but you should check out the Dirty Harry stuff. Completely different character, not really channeling any of that. He’s perfect in this role, and perfect as Harry… but different characters and attitudes altogether.
jasonbutnotvoorhees
February 3, 2009 at 12:00 pm
I meant movie* btw.
jasonbutnotvoorhees
February 3, 2009 at 12:00 pm