MESSAGE IN THE MOVIES

Gran Torino Rated R

Directed by Clint Eastwood.   Starring Clint Eastwood, Bee Vang

Photo © Warner Bros. Pictures/Village Roadshow
Movie Review by Rev. Bruce Batchelor Glader

Walt Kowalski’s (Eastwood) life seems to be at a dead end.  He has just buried his wife and, even before the last plate of potato salad has been consumed at the funeral reception, has to deal with a family that is waiting to divvy up his estate and move him to a retirement community. 

Father Janovich (Christopher Carley), the baby-faced parish priest, informs Walt that his wife has instructed him to take care of him. And then there’s the Hmong family that has moved next door, that remind Walt of the enemy that he fought in the Korean War so many long years ago.  Walt doesn’t want to move, take care of his soul, or understand his neighbors.  All of this is about to change. 

Gran Torino is a surprising (and even spiritual) journey in which a racist retired autoworker gets a chance to redeem himself.  Walt is not afraid to stand up to the gangs in his depressed Detroit neighborhood, which makes him a hero to the next-door neighbors.  But the gangs are trying to move in, nevertheless, and challenge Thao (Vang), the youth next door, to steal Walt’s classic Gran Torino automobile.  When Walt catches Thao in the act, Thao’s sister Sue (Ahney Her) suggests that Walt put him to work to atone for the crime.  The two are reluctant partners, but something remarkable will develop in the process. 

Gran Torino is an old-fashioned character-driven film that is often very funny, with Eastwood having a good time with his classic tough guy persona.  The film is one more commentary on senseless violence, a common theme of Eastwood-directed films since 1992’s Unforgiven.  I was also impressed by the strong portrayal of the priest and the uncompromising depiction of steadfast faith. 

The film is full of many small pleasures and big surprises. Gran Torino is one of the most entertaining films of 2008.  The crude language is mostly responsible for the R rating.  If you can handle a character like Walt Kowalski, you will discover a wonderful movie. 

Pitchfork Rating: Four halos (A story of redemption in the unlikeliest of places.)
Three pitchforks (Pervasive crude language and racial epithets, scenes of violence and off-screen brutality.)

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