Release Date: December 12, 2008
Studio: Malpaso,/Villiage Roadshow/Warner Bros.
Genre: Drama
Rated: R      1 hr 56 mins

CAST:

Clint Eastood:  Walt Kowalski
Bee Vang:  Thao Lor
Ahney Her:  Sue Lor
Brian Haley:  Mitch Kowalski
Geraldine Hughes:
                            Karen Kowaski
Christopher Carley:
                            Father Janovich

Clint Eastwood never fails to deliver.  For his first film in some time to feature him both in front of and behind the camera, Eastwood somehow manages to capture the ghost of past roles, inject heaps of Midwestern gloom, racism, redemption and hit a home run.

Gran Torinio focuses on Walt Kowalski (Eastwood) and his Hmong neighbors in a worn-out suburb of Detroit.  Kowalski, in mourning after the death of his wife and the antics of his yuppie children is even further dismayed that some minorities are moving in next door.  When the neighbor boy, Thao, tries to steal Kowalski’s cherry 1972 Gran Torino, both the codger and the misguided boy start a most unusual relationship that pits them against gangbanger territorial crappola.

Eastwood fills Kowalski with elements of the Harry Callahan and Man With No Name characters.  Kowalski, a Korean War-veteran and retired autoworker, does not like minorities, nor is he a fan of disorder.  Kowalski likes things the way they should be - the old fashioned way.  This also leaves him at odds with his yuppie, suburbanite children and grandchildren who don’t like Kowalski any more then he likes them.  This also makes Kowalski’s relationship with Thao (whom he calls “Toad”) and his sister Sue all the more rewarding.  Kowalski manages to barely forgive Thao for his offense and winds up being the father figure and guardian of the Hmong family.

Sue (Ahney Her) is a charming girl who somehow breaks down Kowalski’s wall of hate with almost identical behavior.  This gains his respect and allows him, probably for the first time, to develop a meaningful relationship with someone other than his fellow racist, retired autoworkers down at the VFW.  Thao plays the dopey and wimpy boy perfectly.  This allows for Kowalski to bully him into being a man and thus earning his respect.  The substitution of Kowalski’s real family for the new one is both heartwarming and comical.  Kowalski never stops the racist banter and the Hmongs still regard him as the cranky old white guy next door. 

Gran Torino is a very simple and classic redemption story.  Redemption has been seen before, rarely has it been this good or this believable.  Eastwood and Her chew up the screen.  The gangbangers are not overplayed and easily could be seen prowling any urban area.  Even the relationship between the Kowalski and the Hmongs is honest and real.  Those looking for a charming story with gut-wrenching realism will not be disappointed with Gran Torino.

Gran Torino

January 19, 2009

Reviewer: Rottenbucher

DIRECTOR:

Clint Eastwood

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