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GRAN TORINO

Starring: Clint Eastwood, Bee Vang, Ahney Her and Cory Hardrict

Directed by: Clint Eastwood

Rated R for language throughout and some violence

Genre: Drama

By John Delia

Clint Eastwood does it again with Gran Torino, a very good film that deals with life and it’s stumbling blocks. Eastwood shows his mastery for portraying subjects that are interesting and imaginative and he doesn’t fail here. If you like dramatic films that give you a view of society that you don’t readily see, than watch Gran Torino now on DVD.

Eastwood portrays Walt Kowalski, an iron-willed and inflexible Korean War veteran living in a changing world, who is forced by his Hmong immigrant neighbors to confront his own long-held prejudices. A retired autoworker Kowalski fills his days with home repair, beer and monthly trips to the barber. Though his late wife's final wish was for him to take confession and ask for forgiveness for his past deeds, for the bitter Walt there's nothing to confess.

Things are getting worse, gangs are starting to take over the neighborhood and his next-door neighbor boy Tao has been encouraged to join one, but has tried to resist. During a confrontation in the boy’s front yard by the gang, Walt chases the teens away. The family rewards Walt with food and friendship, which he refuses. Eventually Tao’s resistance breaks down and the gang orders him to steal Walt’s prized possession. Walt catches Tao in the act and takes aim at killing him, but allows him to run away. So starts a series of life challenges for both Walt and Tao.

Eastwood is at his best when his films involve a life struggle. As Walt, a cantankerous old codger who has pushed away his children and makes war on his new neighbors, Eastwood commands the screen. He is very convincing here with his crass and no holds barred racist attitude that touches almost every ethnic group. I enjoyed his banter between his son’s who seem to want the best for him, but more than likely want to move on from the years of not being loved.

As a director Eastwood brings out some very good performances in the young teens that are the antagonists and antithesis within the storyline. Vang does a great job as Tao, the Hmong boy who is the target of the gang. And Ahney Her gives a touching performance as his sister who sees the good side of Walt and tries to release him from his haunts.

The bonus features are few and concentrate on the Gran Torino while weaving in some of the making of. The first one Manning the Wheel: The meaning of Manhood As Reflected in American Car Culture is the better of the two as Eastwood does most of the talking. The second feature is called Gran Torino: More Than a Car where the filmmakers visit Detroit during an auto buffs event and try to show how men have bonded with their vehicles. But, the best DVD bonus is the fact that you can use the captions feature that helps to make the film better understood. Since Eastwood talks with a raspy voice and the Hmongs talk very fast, I enjoyed the film better with the captions running.

The film does contain a lot of racial slurs and is Rated R for language throughout and some graphic violence, so be cautioned.

FINAL ANALYSIS: Gran Torino is a very good film that has great acting by Eastwood. (3.5 of 5 Palm Trees)