Jim's "Go or Don't Go" - Gran Torino

I have been waiting quite a while to see Gran Torino. We usually don't see movies at the theater, and there has been a waiting list to get it on Netflix. We actually reserved at a Red Box and watched it while Carrie's mom was in town.

Clint Eastwood directed and starred in this 2008 film about Walt Kawolski, a recently-widowed Korean War vet. Walt's kind of an Archie Bunker on steroids — a former Ford worker that growls with disdain at all things new and different. He doesn't like the changes (or change — period) in his neighborhood and is especially annoyed when an Asian family moves in next door. Things get worse when he catches the family's son trying to steal his mint-condition 1972 Gran Torino during a gang initiation. But when Walt confronts the gang members, he becomes a reluctant hero to the local Asian community. Through their hospitality and grateful appreciation, his perception of them starts to change. And when they force their son to work for him to repay trying to steal his car, he takes the boy on as a project. In the process, Walt becomes a role model to the young Thao (Walt affectionately refers to him as Toad). I especially enjoyed the scenes where he gives Thao old-school insights on how to talk like a man.

I enjoyed this movie even more that I thought that I would. Eastwood is perfect as Walt and Ahney Her shines as the neighbor's feisty young daughter, Sue. They have a great chemistry together - she sees through his inappropriate comments and instinctively knows that he is a good man. Despite his archaic views, Walt's willing to give people a chance if they prove themselves to be decent people. The changes that take place in him are believable, not like some feel-good half-hour sitcom. And he's not perfect when the film is over - he's still a flawed man dealing with the things that have shaped and haunted him. And for the Dirty Harry fans out there, there's also some classic Eastwood tough-guy moments.

In Unforgiven, Eastwood addressed the futility of violence to solve problems, but ironically that movie ends with a bloodbath in which the bad guys get blown away. In Gran Torino, the issue is revisited, but with a much more satisfying resolution. There is some really great stuff in this film about forgiveness and sacrifice. And as a side note, it's quite inspiring to see someone in their late 70s still producing quality work — and apparently continuing to get better.

WARNING - If profanity is an issue for you, you may want to wait until it is shown on network TV. The portrayal of gang culture is fairly realistic, so punches aren't pulled when it comes to dialogue. There also is a LOT of politically incorrect racial terms thrown around, which I found, in an odd way, to actually be refreshing. It seemed real to hear people's prejudices (black, white, Asian, Latino, Italian - you name it) be expressed and dealt with honestly, instead of ignored or glossed over. Even though it got pretty rough at times, I never felt that it was out of context - I believed that these people in these situations would actually talk this way. I've known guys like Walt, and it was accurate:)

This is a must see for Eastwood fans and fans of good movies alike - I say "Go."