Monday, March 16, 2009

Gran Torino



Gran Torino

What would happen if your sons grew up to be disappointments, your wife dies, you become a foreigner in your own neighborhood, and the world you knew disappears a little bit everyday? You might become Walt Kowalski (Clint Eastwood). Walt is the Everyman that lives down the street from you. A grumpy old man, who might not be overtly racist, wouldn’t mind if all the people of color would move away. Then again, he probably wouldn’t mind if all of humanity would leave him alone. He values his car more than people; hence the title of the film.

I guess the question this film asks is- if you provide some kindness to someone, will they not only reciprocate but also will actually become a better person? I appreciate the fact that Kowalski doesn’t suddenly turn into Scrooge (Merry Christmas one and all). No this film is a bit more realistic about people. We never can be certain if his last act is an act of sacrifice or just plain suicide.

I also have to wonder if this is Eastwood apology for all the Dirty Harry movies he made, similar to what he did in Unforgiven for all his spaghetti westerns. If I wasn’t so skeptical, I’d like to believe it was.

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