Gran Torino
There’s no school quite like the old school. That’s the message that comes through strongly in Gran Torino, the latest drama from actor-turned-filmmaker Clint Eastwood.
Eastwood stars as recently widowed Walt Kowalski, a Korean war veteran and retired Ford assembly line worker who spends most of his time snarling in disgust at the changing world around him, where respect, good manners and hard work seem to have no place – not even within his own family.
A shamelessly vocal racist and stubborn smoker, Walt is the product of long-gone era. Nonetheless he is a man of action that the audience easily rallies behind, especially once he stands up to the vicious local gang terrorising his Hmong immigrant neighbours.
Channelling the many gruff antiheroes he’s played over the decades, and introducing just enough softness to his performance to make Walt a credible real world hero, Eastwood is outstanding. He’s in turn ably supported by the two movie newcomers who play Walt’s young neighbours.
Bee Vang is convincing as the hopelessly timid Thao, who Walt teaches to embrace his masculine sense of self. Meanwhile Ahney Her brings a lot of relaxed confidence to the character of Sue, Thao’s older sister, who quickly disarms Walt with her mix of friendliness and feistiness.
Gran Torino is a simple story of redemption, simply told, but this straightforwardness gives the film a great deal of its strength. In fact Gran Torino has much the same raw emotional power as Eastwood’s 2004 Oscar triumph Million Dollar Baby. A thoughtful film for adult audiences, Gran Torino is involving, deeply moving and definitely worth checking out.
Eastwood stars as recently widowed Walt Kowalski, a Korean war veteran and retired Ford assembly line worker who spends most of his time snarling in disgust at the changing world around him, where respect, good manners and hard work seem to have no place – not even within his own family.
A shamelessly vocal racist and stubborn smoker, Walt is the product of long-gone era. Nonetheless he is a man of action that the audience easily rallies behind, especially once he stands up to the vicious local gang terrorising his Hmong immigrant neighbours.
Channelling the many gruff antiheroes he’s played over the decades, and introducing just enough softness to his performance to make Walt a credible real world hero, Eastwood is outstanding. He’s in turn ably supported by the two movie newcomers who play Walt’s young neighbours.
Bee Vang is convincing as the hopelessly timid Thao, who Walt teaches to embrace his masculine sense of self. Meanwhile Ahney Her brings a lot of relaxed confidence to the character of Sue, Thao’s older sister, who quickly disarms Walt with her mix of friendliness and feistiness.
Gran Torino is a simple story of redemption, simply told, but this straightforwardness gives the film a great deal of its strength. In fact Gran Torino has much the same raw emotional power as Eastwood’s 2004 Oscar triumph Million Dollar Baby. A thoughtful film for adult audiences, Gran Torino is involving, deeply moving and definitely worth checking out.
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