"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

Man on Wire: A documentary that will keep you on your toes

Ever dreamed of taking a walk in the clouds? Well Philip Petit certainly did. It was this dream that drove him to performing the world's highest tight rope walk, and possibly also the most dangerous.

It was this dream that led Petit to spend his entire life with only one goal in mind; to walk between the towers.

"Man on Wire" is a documentary that brings Philip Petit's 1974 high-wire stroll to life.

Filmed in 2008 by James Marsh, Petit's journey to full fill his goal to walk between the twin towers is chronicled. There is real footage of Petit and his accomplices while he prepares for the feat, and also during the actual tight rope walk from one tower to the next.

The title comes from a security guard on the roof of the towers shouting, "Man on wire!"
When interviewed later in the movie the guard claims that even he thought the chance to view Petit's high-rope walk was a once in a lifetime experience.

I was captivated by the photographs taken of Petit during his 45 minute walk across the wire. Most are in black and white, but this only empowers the omniscient feeling of awe they reflect. It is like time has stood still as all of New York gazed into the sky, at the two World Trade Center Towers, and the man who walked between them.

However, I was disappointed that the film did not make one reference to the highly acclaimed children's book by Mordicai Gerstein, "The Man who Walked Between the Towers."

Also if you are looking for Petit to hold the spirited image of the children's book hero, you will not see it. Petit is shown in the documentary as a spirited individual who follows his dream, and also concedes to the shortcomings of humanity. Instead of going to celebrate with his long-time supporter and girlfriend, he sleeps with a beautiful women who approaches him and praises him after his walk. And with that, alas...A man is again changed by the power of fame.

The power in this documentary is not within the traditional aspects of film critique, but in the amazing once in a life time content. No one has repeated what Petit has accomplished and no one may ever match it. That is the beautiful and amazing power of this film.

I would recommend this documentary to anyone who has an interest for the unusual. The combination of interviews with Petit and his friends and also the photographs and original film make this documentary a collage of an amazing moment in history, and also one, as noted in the film, that will never repeat itself.

Petit's book, "To Reach the Clouds" was a great influence on the film.

To view the trailer which is temporarily unavailable on our blog, go here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIawNRm9NWM