Gran Torino

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He’s an American classic, but does he still have any gas left in the tank? That’s the subtext in the new Clint Eastwood movie, the first for a while that he’s starring in as well as directing. Clint has been getting respectable in his old age, but not with this film he’s not; it’s intentionally crude and distinctly low-brow… Despite what some US critics seemed to assume, it’s not Oscar bait, but a popcorn movie aimed at the fans. For a while it seems almost laughably crude – then you see Clint being out-spat by the old granny who lives next door, and you do laugh – and you realise that’s fine by him.

Other films around right now tackle “important” themes – the Holocaust, Righteousness, Mortality – but Gran Torino is all about Clint: the suspicious squint, granite composure and bad-ass attitude. Is Eastwood important? If you’ve grown up with this enduring American icon, there’s no question about it. Apparently Nick Schenk’s screenplay wasn’t written specifically for him, but after seeing the film it’s impossible to imagine it with anyone else.

Walt Kowalski is a Korean War veteran and retired auto-worker (he made that 1972 Gran Torino in his garage – and thousands like it). Those days are gone, of course. Now he’s a grumpy old man and the last white guy holding on to his property in an inner-city neighbourhood that’s been taken over by Asian-Americans. Do the old values mean nothing any more? This guy’s a walking anachronism – or he would be, if did much in the way of walking.

A widower, still raw from his wife’s passing, Walt growls when his kids come near him, which isn’t often. The grandchildren are (almost) beneath contempt. As for his wife’s priest, Father Janovich (freckle-faced Christopher Carley), he’s no reason to be coming round anymore. Walt sits on a deckchair out on his front porch, a cooler of beer beside him, the Stars & Stripes hanging limp over his square patch of lawn.

It’s a portrait of arrogant, angry American isolationism – until the teenage son of his next-door neighbor encroaches on Walt’s turf. Thao (Bee Vang) nearly gets his head blown off trying to steal Walt’s prized car. To apologize, and to thank the white guy for saving him from the gangbangers who put him up to the stunt, Thao reluctantly reports for a week of whatever chores Walt might ask of him.

The grudging mutual respect that develops between them is entirely predictable, but in Eastwood’s clean, unfussy but discreetly patient direction even a banal task – like wrestling an old fridge out of the basement – assumes the bonding power Alan Ladd and Van Heflin found in digging out a stubborn tree stump in Shane. Not for the first time, Clint is drawn to take on a positive role in his community despite his ornery exterior. He doesn’t say much, but what he does say shouldn’t be taken at face value.

If you’re feeling indulgent, the film has almost as many laughs as a comedy. But if you’re easily offended, then you probably won’t sit still for it. The older man introduces Thao to his barber (John Carroll Lynch) for a lesson in guy talk, which turns out to be the art of barking invective with impunity. Meanwhile Walt’s own racist mentality thaws when Thao’s self-assured sister Sue (Ahney Her) introduces him to the pleasures of Thai food.

All the while the neighborhood punks hover in the background, waiting for the right moment to test if Dirty Old Harry is firing anything more than blanks these days.

Schenk’s screenplay isn’t subtle, and some of the young cast struggle to make it real, but Eastwood revels in the pragmatic design and roughneck humor of the piece. Walt may be a dinosaur but he carries a big footprint. In a similar way, Gran Torino is no classic, but at least it’s a star vehicle worthy of a living legend.

Tom Charity
tom.charity@lovefilm.com

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Critics' Reviews

Rating of 4
stars out of 5 Geoff Andrew, Time Out

When Eastwoods follow-up to Changeling was announced in May, he quickly refuted rumours that he was making,... read more on www.timeout.com

Members' Reviews

Reviews Voted Most Helpful

Clint's last as an actor?

gyl gyl from Paisley [Highly rated reviewer] , 14/02/2009

This is billed as Clint's last outing in front of the camera and if it is, then it's a great swansong. Admittedly i'm a huge Eastwood fan, so this might not be for everyone but if you liked Dirty Harry, Unforgiven and Heartbreak Ridge then you'll like enjoy this and his character will ring some bells.

A brief plot summary: recently widowed, Walt Kowalski (Mr Eastwood) has to adjust to life without his wife who, i'd imagine, kept his vulture kids from the door and his racist views in check. The latter come to the fore when a gang of hmong (oriental immigrants) harass his neighbours but make the mistake of encroaching on his lawn. Without giving much away, the plot (grumpy old man takes lonesome teenage outcast under his wing) treads familiar territory but Eastwoods screen prescence raises the standard a couple of notches. Some of his lines are deliberately hilarious and the banter he strikes up with his young hmong neighbours is a joy. The irony of his initial hatred (of immigrants) due to his surname isn't lost, but isn't shoved down your throat either.

To sum up, if you're an Eastwood fan then you'll love this movie. If not, you'll probably still enjoy his performance.

213 out of 214 people found this review helpful

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Grandad Torino

mrholmes from Egham , 21/03/2009

After many good reviews we had high hopes for this film, but ended up leaving after about an hour. Quite simply it was awful. Clint became a caricature of himself, the supporting cast's acting was very poor, the story line predictable, the racist jokes (which many of the audience seemed to enjoy rather too much - 'he said 'gook' again - tee hee') tiresome. The film simply didn't know what it was trying to be, swinging from near slapstick comedy to worthy melodrama. Maybe the last third of the film was better, maybe the ending wasn't as predictable as expected, but somehow I doubt it. And even if it was it would most certainly not have been worth the wait.

40 out of 58 people found this review helpful

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Gran Torino

Burtonbach from Abertawe [Highly rated reviewer] , 04/03/2009

Eastwood at almost 79 years old should get the plaudits for just turning up on set these days, however there's no room for sentimentality here, as though it may not be perceived in years to come as his best offering it is pure gold nonetheless. Walt Kowolski (Eastwood) is a recently widowed Korean Veteran and a real hard nose son of a bitch. The neighbourhood he has lived in for years is swamped by a melting pot of nationalities, much to his irritation and the relationship he has with his two sons and their families is almost non existent as his high moral standards and ideals means they never quite match up to his expectations.

During a dust up at his neighbours a young Hmong teenager Thao ( Bee Vang) is 'roughed up' outside his property by a local street gang and Walt takes the law into his own hands and scares them off. Eternally grateful the Hmong community bombard Walt with gifts of food and flowers and an hilarious situation unfolds as the more he pushes them away the more they come back with gifts. However underneath it all there is suspicion on both sides, but slowly and surely through Thao's older sister Sue Lor (Ahney Her) Walt begins to warm to their community, a community that still gives respect to their elders and where family life (something Walt has always found difficult) is of paramount importance. In a crucial episode when Thoa is pressurized into trying to steal Walt's beloved 1972 Ford Gran Turino, despite his anger and outrage, the tide turns and Walt begins to appreciate how difficult it is for kids like Thao to avoid getting sucked into the street gangs.

A real friendship develops between Walt and the family as one by one the barriers come tumbling down, until one night Sue is subjected to a vicious attack, and Walt who is full of rage is forced to make a life changing decision in order to get retribution.There are some geuinely funny moments in this film , but it's also tinged with sadness, and I suppose the cynical among us might just see it as a Geriatric Dirty Harry, but somehow it works , from the verbal tussles Walt has with the young catholic priest Father Janovich (Christopher Carley) to the wise cracking tongue in cheek diatribes he has with his Barber (John Carroll Lynch) it's cinematic dynamite. The younger actors are blown off the screen by Eastwood's seasoned presence, but it really doesn't matter as the main message of this film is how we live side but side on this planet with our fellow human beings. This is not a film for the easily offended political correct brigade, as it pulls no punches with a script that is peppered with racial insults but they are there for a very good reason and speak volumes about our society, in fact I found the whole experience refreshing. It's a gem of a movie .....In a word ........ Dynamite!

29 out of 30 people found this review helpful

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Grandad Torino

mrholmes from Egham , 21/03/2009

40 out of 58 people found this review helpful

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