Saturday, January 17, 2009

"Gran Torino" provokes ... everyone


Possibly one of Clint Eastwood's best performances yet, "Gran Torino" is not one to miss at the box office.

Eastwood's character, Walt Kowalski is a retired war vet, who has never quite forgotten the horrific events in his past. It is his experiences in the Korean war that have left him somewhat "scarred" from the audiences' standpoint.

Eastwood introduces Kowalski at his wife's funeral, as a hardened, cynical, white-haired racist that seems distant at best, from his two grown sons and their families. They urge him to join a retirement community, but Kowalski insists on staying in the home and neighborhood he has known his entire adult life.

The neighborhood is evolving. It is becoming a multicultural community, which only fuels Kowalski's prejudices. Next door, a family of Hmong immigrants strive to make their way in this Michigan neighborhood.

Thao, Bee Vang, the oldest male of the family, is pressured into joining his cousin's gang. As an initiation, he must steel Kowalski's prized possession, his 1972 Gran Torino. His unsuccessful attempt saves him from the gang lifestyle, and ironically throws him into an unexpected relationship with his next door neighbor, that changes the both of them forever.

Eastwood spares no empathy in expressing every racial slur in the book. Some may be offended by this language, however it is his language and demeanor that give his character depth, and also show the dynamism of human nature. It is the very people he has stereotyped so harshly in the past that understand him better than his own family.

Be prepared to experience a range of emotions is this amazingly written screen play. At times you will be laughing, then crying, then holding your breath. However, with the reoccurring theme of life and death throughout the movie, it is no surprise that each of these emotions plays a significant role in the plot.

If you liked: "American History X"
"Unforgiven"
"Babylon"
"Million Dollar Baby" (Although this was not one of my favorite movies, many themes can be compared in both flicks."

What's similar at the box office:
"Doubt"

In one line: With red carpet quality performances, look for "Gran Torino" to scoop up nominations in categories across the board.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

For trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuJjTyEnKFA

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