Studio/Production Company:
Director: Clint Eastwood
Written by: Nick Schenk (screenplay, story), Dave Johannson (story)
Rating: R for language throughout, and some violence.
Release Date: January 9, 2008 (theatrical)
Genre: Drama/Comedy
Strong Points: Eastwood can still act and direct with the best of them; the story is beautiful
Weak Points: Generally poor acting from the ensemble cast; Eastwood's glares and growls get somewhat repetitive at times
Technical Score: B-
Artistic Score: B
Final Score (not an average): B
Moral Warnings: Lots of swearing, including numerous F-words and many racial slurs; some brief sexual dialogue; a woman is cut up and bruised (we see her afterward) and it is revealed that she was raped.
Walt Kowalski (Eastwood) is a retired autoworker and a veteran of the Korean War. His wife, a good Catholic, has just recently passed away, leaving him with only two things to love in life - his dog and his 1972 Gran Torino, a classic car if there ever was one. He looks down upon his sons and grandchildren, who don't meet his expectations, and while they have some sympathy for the old man, they don't particularly like him, either. So, with no one to love, Walt spends his days polishing his car, mowing his lawn with a motorless mower, and drinking beer on his front porch where he can glare judgmentally at the Korean community that has taken upon residence in his town over the years.
Clint Eastwood has returned, ladies and gentleman. His acting hiatus is over with his first role in film since 2004's Million Dollar Baby, and I must say, seeing his face back on the big screen is pretty sweet. To those that have seen any of his many, many performances, Eastwood's portrayal of Walt Kowalski will be familiar. He squints, he growls, he frowns, he glares disapprovingly, but the familiarity of the role can't take away the fact that Eastwood can still hold his own with the rest of them. Indeed, the film thrives off his performance.
That is not to say, however, that it relies on it. No. There is much more draw to this film than a return-performance by Clint Eastwood.
Nick Schenk has put together a script so good that it's no wonder Eastwood would want to play Kowalski. It is ripe with humor and feeling, causing laughter and thought simultaneously. Watching Kowalski's heart slowly begin to warm to his Korean neighbors is a beautiful experience, one that pulls you in and makes you care.
Mostly, the film focuses on the developing relationship between Walt and a young Korean teenager, Thao (played by Bee Vang), who is forced by the community to help him out for a week after attempting to steal the Gran Torino. Walt, however, insistently does not need help. He knows how to take of himself and his things. So, he sends the boy directly across the street to fix up an abandoned house that he's had the misfortune of having to stare at for years. A friendship forms between the two in the process, one that lasts and continues developing through the rest of the film. This development feels natural and is often hilarious. It's just a shame that most of the actors representing the Korean community, including Bee Vang, are several large steps behind the caliber of Eastwood's acting, which makes it difficult to become attached to their characters. It's a small blight on what is otherwise an excellent film, but a blight nonetheless, and is what ultimately keeps the film from becoming great.
As far as moral content goes, Kowalski and many other characters aren't afraid to cuss. The F-word is thrown around often, including many racial slurs, particularly for Koreans. There is also one scene later on when a girl is shown bruised and very bloodied after being cut up and raped. Some may furthermore be concerned of Walt, a character who's very racist and who thinks church is for idiots, and his anti-hero role.
Gran Torino is a beautiful story met with humor and a return to the screen from one of the most legendary actors of our time. It may not be the best of Eastwood's films, but that's really not saying much. There is a good movie here. No doubt about it.
-Zak Mellgren (zak@revolve21.com)
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