Gran Torino (2008)

A good storyline showcasing racism and humanity. Good acting, well directed.

This movie is indeed about human relations the bad and the good ones in the American mid-west and among ethnic different people. The story is a simply one rather well shown and told but not particularly deep in psychological terms. A widower Korean War veteran lives alone in a neighbourhood that is now inhabited only by Asians. In the house next to him there is a family whose young boy Thao is harassed and bullyed by a gang of other youg Asians. Walt Kowalski, our war veteran begins to react rudely and uncongenially to these neighbours but after an unhappy incident created by the young Thao he changes his attitude and starts a friendly relationship with Thao and his family and tries even to protect them against the gang above and takes revenge against them. His relations with his two sons are not good and he has got a cancer which puts him in a poor health state. All this will end in a dramatic and tragic way in the end.

There may not be any native Californian Indians chasing Clint in this film but if this story line were played to the backdrop western theme score "Tombstone" you would swear you were watching Clint playing the character Joe from his 1964 western For A Few Dollars More. Clint plays a grouchy old Polish descent Korean war vet named Walt Kowalski, who with each passing decade has seen his neighborhood gentrified which is difficult for an old war vet like Walt to adjust to being surrounded by the people he shot at decades ago when he was shipped overseas.When one of his next door neighbours teenage kid attempts to steal his priceless Gran Torino you think there would be hell to pay? Instead Walt Kowalski sees in this young man named Thao (played by Bee Vang) a lost soul who needs his help to stay on the right path and to stay as far away from the neighborhood criminal elements.We learn through time that as the old western saying goes...."Walt's bark is a lot worse than his bite." Walt Kowalsky is a widower who is a foul mouthed (appears to be) racist old Korean war vet who happens to be estranged from his adult sons and his grandchildren so Walt develops an inner fondness for his foreign born neighbors and we see his heart shine through when trouble comes a calling in Walt Kowalsky's neighbourhood. Clint Eastwood directed himself in Gran Torino and he is more than prepared to share the limelight with his co-stars which is an admirable quality in the (then) 78 year old actor/director who is still going strong today ten (10) years later.We love you Clint, so don't go riding/driving out in to the sunset just yet. I believe you have a few more songs to sing before the sun goes down for the last time even at your current age of 88.I give Gran Torino an 8 out of 10 rating.

Gran Torino came out in 2008, with Clint Eastwood directing, producing and starring in it.Walt Kowalski, played by Clint Eastwood is a Korean War veteran. He has recently lost his wife and doesn't have a close relationship to his sons. An Asian family moves next to Walt. At first he doesn't want anything to do with them. One night he sees Thao stealing his Gran Torino. He then chases Thao and the gang, who made Thao do it, of his lawn, thus earning the respect from his Asian neighbors. He then starts building up a relationship to his neighbors, even taking Thao under his wing. But the peace does not last long, as the gang seeks revenge.I like the movie very much. Clint Eastwood gives a wonderful performance, with also the supporting cast being brilliant. The story was excellent, showing how much a person can chance, when the prejudices are put aside. The screenplay was also surprisingly funny, especially Kowalski and Thao having On-Screen chemistry. The movie was directed very Eastwood-esk, often just taking two or three shots like in "Mystic River" or "Million Dollar Baby". The only downside of the movie is that some characters are a little bit clichéd. Overall I would recommend this movie to pretty much everyone, as the themes of racism and overcoming your prejudices affect all of us.