GRAN TORINO

Did you know Clint Eastwood can sing? Well, he can't really. But during the end credits of this film, he does sing a verse from a song he co-penned, naturally named "Gran Torino." His voice is as harsh and gravelly as a pair of beat up, old sneakers grinding a used cigarette into the pavement of a children's playground; it's this same voice that typifies his character in the film.

Eastwood's character, the permanently rough-edged Walt Kowalski (not to be confused with the permanently lovable Mike Wazowski, or even the permanent nerd crush John Krasinski), is presented first as all grit, all judgment. With an acidic look in his eye and a disdainful turn of his lip, he grinds everyone he meets into the pavement. And I must admit, having not seen many Clint Eastwood movies (for shame!), I wasn't sure if he was acting or not--is he really this bitter, used up, hard to work with? After seeing this interview between Eastwood, Ron Howard and some too-ugly-to-be-shown-on-camera reporter from The Hollywood Reporter, I came to the conclusion, whether true or not, that he isn't. He seems like a really sweet old man. I'd want him to buy me a sucker, pat me on the shoulder. In fact, if I could have a beer with any famous person, right now--it would be Barack Obama. But second would be Mr. Eastwood for sure.

In GRAN TORINO however, Eastwood is not that guy. He may nurture the things he loves most--his dog, his wife, his 1972 Gran Torino--but everyone else to him is moot. And when he easily lays labels on everyone he crosses, not only is it exceedingly telling about his character--but it's also pretty hilarious. Is there anyone that racist? That insultingly intolerant? Well, of course there are! They just usually keep their mouths shut. Watching Walt Kowalski befriend his Hmong neighbors (who he lovingly refers to as "gooks" and "zipper heads" without cease) is like watching an old dog try to learn a new trick--he completes the task at hand but not necessarily in the way you expected. And that's pretty realistic. Kowalski doesn't become a saint overnight--in fact, he never becomes a saint. But he is, from start to finish, on some level, someone you actually can relate with. Your friend with the dirty jokes that you laugh at but would never repeat, except right back to him. (Shame on you, by the way.)

A writer from the LA Times described the film as a comedy. I'll agree that it's funny--not only is Eastwood's character cartoonishly ambivalent to change, but every racial slur he utters catches you by surprise and psychologically forces a chuckle. But a comedy, GRAND TORINO is not. GRAN TORINO is a tragic study of how gang violence has been rockin' the suburbs. It's a lesson in how to act despite how you think--which hopefully, eventually, will adjust the way you think. Above all, GRAN TORINO is a character film. Eastwood's co-stars do their part to uphold the mandatory action, but this film is about Walt Kowalski, any Walk Kowalski, about an old dog with a lot of bark who slowly learns when to give up biting. It's good stuff.

plot: War vet heats the melting pot.
thought: I'm stopping by for dinner!
in five: 4/5

drive over: http://www.thegrantorino.com/