Review: Gran Torino (2008)

Gran Torino is equal parts hilarious and poignant. It's a story about a grouchy old bastard, about the only white man left in his Detroit neighborhood, who gradually warms up to his Hmong neighbors and makes his peace with his past. I'll tell you what, though. This grouchy old bastard surely does know how to make a movie.

Clint Eastwood produced, directed, and leads a cast of mostly veteran TV actors, with the exception of talented newcomers Bee Vang and Ahney Her as the brother and sister next door. Oh, and Eastwood also co-wrote the song that plays over the end credits. Is there nothing this man can't do? It runs in the family, too: one of his sons scored the picture, and another has a small role in it.

Eastwood brings an Archie Bunker-meets-Harry Callahan vibe to the character of Korean war veteran/curmudgeon Walt Kowalski. He's definitely chewing up the scenery with some of the most outrageous growling and scowling ever committed to film. He verbally abuses family, friends and strangers alike with a remarkable range of racial slurs and insults. Despite his despicable manner, he manages to make the character lovable--and hilarious! I found myself almost embarrassed to be laughing at Walt's decidedly un-PC epithets, but the whole theater was laughing right along with me. Kowalski's bark is worse than his bite. His bite, though, is formidable, as local gang members and street thugs who cause trouble for his next door neighbors soon learn.

After Kowalski shuts down a tussle on his lawn involving her brother, Sue Lor persists in thanking the man, even though he doesn't want her thanks. Played by Ahney Her, this character was a standout feature of Gran Torino for me. Sue is sassy and smart, mature beyond her years, resigned to, but enjoying the burden of heading up her multi-generational household. I'm looking forward to seeing this actress again in future films.

Gradually Walt succumbs to the charity of Sue and their neighbors, partly due to their determination, and partly due to his own loneliness. Things start to get out of hand when Kowalski takes it upon himself to send a message to the gang that has been harassing the Lor family. There is some offscreen violence, but the brutal aftermath is shown, as Sue returns home, battered and broken after a drive-by shooting at the Lor house. Kowalski is so full of rage, he must make a terrible decision.

Gran Torino is at its best when Eastwood lets himself dominate the scenes. His presence and personality are so overpowering anyway, it just seems more natural when he gives himself free rein. The Lor siblings can definitely keep up with him, though. The timid Thao comes out of his shell, and Sue gives as good as she gets when Walt tries his schtick on her.

This is perhaps not the best date film, as the brutal aftermath of the gang's assault on Sue is shown. This is a Clint Eastwood film, so you can imagine what happens to the perpetrators. Overall, though, the movie is a rather mild R, with very little graphic violence and no sexual content. It probably earned the rating mainly for Walt Kowalski's unparalleled command of racial slurs.

Funny, touching, and educational to boot (I learned of an Asian people I knew nothing about), Gran Torino is a moving portrait of cultural transformation in urban Detroit.