HE SAID
A Gran Torino is a car. I did not know that going into this film. Anyway, on to the review….
Walt Kowlaski (Clint Eastwood) is an elderly and recently widowed Korean War veteran, who, after the death of his wife, resists the urgings of his estranged adult children to move out of his home in the Detroit slums, despite his own less-than-tolerant opinion of the family of Hmong who live next door. At the urging of a local gang, Thao (Bee Vang), the youngest Hmong son attempts to steal Walt's prized Gran Torino. Walt catches him in the act, and Thoa is punished for "disgracing his family" by having to go to work for Walt. Walt slowly warms to the boy, while the gang intimidation increases, and the story unfolds as Walt becomes increasingly involved in the lives of the Hmong family.
There are a number of different story-arcs going on throughout the film. One involves a young priest attempting to fulfill the dying wish of Walt's wife to convince Walt to go to confession. Another involves Walt's deteriorating health and his strained relationship with his adult children who want him to move to a retirement home. All the characters and their stories are believable and relevant, and the storyline flow smoothly to an ending that is climactic, yet subtle.
Walt is very much a character living in the past. His is the only house that has been kept up over the years. He is a Korean War veteran with a bloody past. He is a racist. He is quite simply a mean old man with little tact and even less tolerance of the minorities that populate his neighborhood. Walt may not be a likeable man, but he is a good man, and his character is hauntingly familiar. I think everyone at one time or another has known or has met a man like Walt.
Surprisingly, the best part about Gran Torino is that it is funny. Eastwood perfectly embodies the character of Walt. He is so mean and ornery that you can't help but to laugh at his tendencies. He is a racist, but he is an equal opportunity racist. He may dislike the Hmong, Italians, blacks, and any other ethnic group other than his own, but he dislikes his "spoiled" children even more. Gran Torino is not supposed to be a comedy, but I found myself laughing out loud at multiple points during the film, which is more than I can say for some of the more obvious comedic attempts that we have recently reviewed (Burn After Reading, anyone?).
Gran Torino is a great move, but it is not perfect. I have a few issues with the motivations of some of the characters, specifically with the gang of Korean youths that terrorize the Hmong family (and eventually Walt). The reason for the harassment is because Thao does not want to join their gang. This is a huge plot point, one around which the entire film revolves…but it doesn't really fit. Seriously, this has to be the worst gang ever. They act like a bunch of bad girlfriends. I mean, why are they so obsessed with Thao? Why won't they take no for an answer? Do gangs go on drive-by-shootings when they get their feelings hurt? These are questions I'd like to have answered.
Also, some of the Hmong actors' performances (especially Bee Vang) seemed a bit stilted and forced. I don't know if there is a lack of demand for Hmong roles in Hollywood, and perhaps the actors found themselves a bit out of their element; or maybe I'm just not familiar enough with their culture to recognize the nuances. Either way, it took me out of the moment at times.
All in all, Gran Torino is a fantastic film and is a perfect example of why Hollywood could still be relevant if it wanted to, but unfortunately it never will be. Let me explain:
You see, Gran Torino is a film with everything going for it. It has an original story, razor-sharp writing, believable characters, passable acting, smart humor, and a modern relativity.
Yet, Paul Blart: Mall Cop is the #1 movie in the country. Go figure.
He Said: Gran Torino is a film with everything going for it: an original story, razor-sharp writing, believable characters, passable acting, smart humor, and a modern relativity. A must see.
SHE SAID
It can't be mere coincidence that the main character of Gran Torino is named Walt Kowalski (Clint Eastwood). Or it shouldn't be, anyway. (If I knew the deceased wife's name was Stella, it would clinch it for me.) Eastwood's performance is a cross between that most famous of Kowalskis (Marlon Brando's Stanley Kowalski in Streetcar Named Desire) and any of Eastwood's Dirty Harry roles. Most impressively, Eastwood is 78 now, and the performance still rings true.
The Eskimo chose this for his first pick in our month of firsts, and the movie boasts many. It was the film debut of much of the Hmong cast, including Thao (Bee Vang) and Sue (Ahney Her), in the first Hollywood film to incorporate the Hmong community. It's the first movie ever made from one of Nick Schenk's screenplays (not bad for a former fruit truck driver). Fittingly, Schenck wrote the screenplay about Eastwood's grumpy Korean war vet with a friend, Dave Johannson, by hand at Grumpy's, a neighborhood bar. Clint Eastwood, who produced, directed and stars in the movie, did not change one word.
Eastwood does gives a stellar performance, but what struck me most about this film was the writing. It's damn near perfect - never preachy, never heavyhanded, perfect timing throughout. It even delivers what no screenwriter seems capable of these days: a surprise ending that's actually a surprise.
Second only to the writing is Eastwood's performance of a curmudgeonly retired Korean War vet, the lone white man left in a Detroit neighborhood that has become the center of the Hmong community. (The screenplay was originally set in St. Paul, MN, which has a Ford plant and a large Hmong community, but Detroit lured the moviemakers with enough incentives to change the locale.) Despite the houses slowly decaying around him, Walt's yard is spotless (and he is often lamenting what this or that deceased neighbor would think of their lawn if they could see it now).
Walt's neighbor, Thao, a young Hmong teenager, half-heartedly attempts to steal Walt's prized 1972 Gran Torino (hand-picked while he worked at the Ford plant) as initiation into a gang he doesn't want to join. This attempted robbery (and the car) sets into motion the main conflict of the movie, earning it the title spot. The movie touches on many themes, including honor, redemption, change, forgiveness, love, and sacrifice.
It is a great pick for a film of firsts and it deserves another first too. Even though Eastwood has four Academy Awards under his belt, he has never won for acting. Eastwood definitely earned that first now with this role.
She Said: It's the best movie I've seen in a long time. Great acting, great writing. Go see it!
THEY SAID
After reading each other's reviews, The Eskimo and Shawn always discuss the reviews (and the film, too, of course). Listen to the Gran Torino audio commentary below (or download it here) - and find out which film Shawn picked to review next.
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