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Gran Torino

After somewhat of a hiatus from acting over the past four years, Clint Eastwood ventures back in front of the camera in "Gran Torino." He doesn’t abandon his directorial craft either but tackles both roles in the film with great finesse. Eastwood shows us that he still has the screen presence and acting chops to carry a film. "Gran Torino" is an interesting and complex journey through the isolation of one miserable war vet and the relationship he forms with an estranged boy with all of the odds against him.

Walt Kowalski, played by Clint Eastwood, has recently lost his beloved wife, the only person he really cared about. His kids are grown up with families of their own and there really isn’t any type of genuine love between them anymore. He is just left with his memories of the war in Korea and his 1972 mint condition Gran Torino. The world and even his very neighborhood is changing around him, but his prejudice mind can’t accept these changes. He tries to simply ignore them, but his teenage Hmong neighbors seem to keep coming around. He saves the older girl, Sue, played by Ahney Her, when she is nearly raped by a local gang. Walt has a bit more sympathy for her and even accepts an invitation to her barbecue. Sue’s younger brother, Thao, played by Bee Vang, seems to rub him the wrong way though. Walt sees him as a stupid and awkward kid. He is forced to spend more time with him though when Thao admits that he tried to steal Walt’s Gran Torino. Their mother insists that Thao work off attempted theft to make it up to him, insisting that it would be a terrible insult if Walt didn’t allow this. Regretfully, Walt accepts and puts Thao to work.

In time, Walt takes Thao under his wing, teaching him how to be a man. He gives him advice on how to talk to girls as well as racially insensitive ways to talk to men. Walt even vouches for him and gets him a job on a construction job. He wants to see Thao do something with his life rather than ruining his life by succumbing to gang pressures that surround him daily. A Vietnamese gang that his older cousin is a part of terrorize him constantly, making it clear that they won’t stop as long as they are alive. Walt is successful in scaring them off with his shotgun several times but they keep on coming back for Thao when he is alone. Thao is thirsty for revenge, but Walt refuses to let him get hurt, putting Walt’s own life on the line to protect Thao’s and to get rid of the gang members once and for all.

As I mentioned, Clint Eastwood does an incredible job as Walt. He brings out the angry, bitter, racist, and very far removed old man in a very realistic way. Walt seemed very familiar to me. Eastwood not only hit on this character’s actions and views, but shed more light on many similar men you might know in real life. Eastwood delivers a completely intriguing and heartwarming transformation from the bitter and lonely man who pushed everyone away to the man who opened up to this young Hmong boy and put his life before his when he previously felt nothing but hate for him. Every minute feels completely honest, giving the film a heart amongst all of the violence and racial slurs. Bee Vang also gives a great performance as Thao. There is less range, but he shows his timid curious personality with a youthful and innocent approach. Vang does also hit on the scared, frustrated, and completely enraged side of him that comes out all at once. Walt welcomes him in to a world that is completely different from the one he is used to and tries to live up to the expectations. Vang also displays his need for Walt as the film progresses. Walt begins to represent protection, but furthermore, hope. Vang wears this vulnerability on his sleeve. Ahney Her is also very charismatic, strong, and thoughtful as Sue. She seems to be the glue that holds her family together.

"Gran Torino" surprised me, seeming far more genuine and affectionate than I expected. The relationship as well as the examination of the main characters is completely intriguing. The characters are extremely real and the dialogue is quite truthful as well. As the film went on, I just became more and more engaged as it was constantly surprising me with the direction it was going in.

The end was perfect, not over the top or nearly as unrealistic as it could have been. The typical vengeance ending would be entertaining, but the way it ended was much more true to the honest approach "Gran Torino" embodied from the beginning. We are left with a true testament to how the relationship we have witnessed form has drastically changed both parties. Those last moments are completely freeing to both of our main characters even if it is a somewhat tragic and bittersweet departure.

Written by: Kelsey Zukowski

Reviewers Rating: 8
Reader's Rating: 10.00
Reader's Votes: 1

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