movie review: Gran Torino...

John and I saw Gran Torino, the latest from Clint Eastwood.

First of all, if he glared at me like that and said, 'Get off my lawn.', I think I would pee my pants.  He is one scary-looking dude.

That said...

I loved how Clint's character, Walt Kowalski, developed over the course of the story.  I would not like his in-your-face racist talk. 

There is a scene where he takes this young man, of Hmong-American nationality, to his barbershop to 'man him up', to teach him how to relate well with other men...they sling racial epithets at each other, in what is meant to be well-meaning banter.  Apparently, this is not the American culture I learned, nor one that I would want my sons to emulate.  But it is supposed to work in the Blue Collar Midwest of Clint Eastwood.  I came out asking, "Really?  Is that what men are supposed to be like?"  Not any man that I would have dated...

This just-recently-a-widower begins adrift from the world...no religious affiliation (he only went to church to appease his now-dead wife), no real connection with his sons, living in a neighborhood that has emptied of the white guys like him, and is filled with what he terms 'gooks'...and in the end, has SO connected with his neighbors and the Hmong community that they know him better than his own family.  And he is willing to risk his life for them... Unthinkable to him at the start of the story since he killed 'slant-eyes' in the Korean War and got a medal for it.  He never saw these enemies as people, that would have made it too unbearable.

Finely acted.  Incredible portraits of diverse human beings.  Powerful. 

Go see it.

Oh, yes...and we had sushi before the movie at one of my fave cheap-but-delicious sushi joints...Sushi Hanna in Tigard.  I love how the sushi goes around and around on a little track, tempting me with its deliciousness.

Comments

[violetismycolor]

The racial slurs were a little hard to take. I wouldn't have wanted this guy for my neighbor.

[Marita]

Len wants to see that too. Although racial slurs are so offensive to him as they are to me but at least there is redemption in that the main character and his neighbors reconcile I hope.

[Arlene]

I really want to see this one. As a person of color growing up in a small town, I knew folks like his character. I'm curious to see how they transform him. Sadly, many of the old men in my hometown never had a transformation and continued to believe in their racist ideals until they died!

[otowi]

I saw it two weeks ago. Good movie.

[Margaret]

I've heard it's really good; it must be uncomfortable to hear all the racist talk though. We're not used to that at all. (thankfully!)

[Stephanie]

I've been wanting to see this one. Sounds like an amazing movie.