Review of Gran Torino (2008) by Goose H — 01 Aug 2015

Clint Eastwood's brilliant, moving film concerns an aging, racist Korean War veteran named Walt Kowalski, played magnificently by Clint Eastwood, in a career-crowning performance. Walt is a stubborn man who is set in his ways, he is recently widowed and is somewhat estranger from his self-centered grown children.

Walt sets out to teach a teenage neighbor a thing or two after he attempts to steal Walt's pride and joy, his badass 1972 Gran Torino muscle car. The tension arises as Walt slowly builds an friendship with the boy of Hmong ethnicity, both of them whom live in a crumbling urban neighborhood.

Walt sees the world around him falling apart in his eyes, but eventually comes to terms with his own prejudice through his actions towards the teenage boy's benefit. He becomes the boy's unlikely gun-toting protector, when the boy and his family are threaten by a brutal Korean gang of young thugs.

Eastwood plays the crotchety curmudgeon with a natural ease, drawing a bit from Dirty Harry's own sense of charm and manners. It's great to see Eastwood expanding his storytelling craft into more meaningful films, while also embracing his advance age, which gives this film a stronger resonance.

Beautifully directed by Clint Eastwood, who also composed the film's effective musical score. A hugely satisfying human drama. Highly Recommended.