In the second half of his career, Eastwood has become as well-respected for his work behind the camera as a director as he is for his on-screen work. He's directed a handful of classics like Unforgiven, Mystic River, Million Dollar Baby and several others that are entertaining if not considered classic. Directing Gran Torino, Eastwood shows again what he is capable of from the director's chair with a moving, often heartbreaking story of a recent widower.
Walt Kowalski (Eastwood) has just lost his wife, Dorothy, and now must adjust to his new life. A Korean War veteran and a longtime worker in the Detroit automobile factories, Walt is an angry, racist old man. There's not an ethnicity or culture he doesn't have something to say about, all of it seemingly negative. The day of his wife's funeral a new family moves in next door, the Vu's, a Hmong family settling in Detroit. At first, he wants nothing to do with them, but one night members of an Asian gang come up to the house to recruit young Thao (Bee Vang) into the gang. There's a bit of a ruckus and the fight spills over to Walt's lawn. He intervenes, pointing his M1 rifle at them, growling 'Get off my lawn' to the gangbangers.
Kowalski things nothing of it, but the next day Hmong neighbors from all over the neighborhood are bringing him gifts for saving Thao from trouble. Surprisingly enough, Walt embraces two of the Vu family, Thao who has to work for him after trying to steal his prized 1972 Gran Torino, and Sue (Ahney Her), Thao's older sister who can look past some of Walt's racial feelings and starts to call him 'Wally' much to his chagrin. But even as he grows close to the young Vu's, there's still the threat of the gangbangers around.
What works so well for the Walt character is the changes he makes over the course of the movie. At first, he wouldn't help or touch the Vu family with a ten-foot stick, but he comes to like them and is able to look past some of his own memories, often painful ones, and prejudices he acquired from the Korean War. Walt becomes a bit of a guardian angel for the family. He has trouble bonding with his own two sons and their families, but for some reason Kowalski clicks right away with the Vu clan.
Starring with Eastwood, Vang and Her make their acting debuts and are very impressive. Reading some reviews, I was surprised to read the criticism of these two young actors because I thought they were great. Vang is only overmatched in one scene late in the movie that is a bit uncomfortable to watch, but otherwise he comes across very well, especially in the scenes with Walt as their unlikely friendship grows. Her's Sue is equally strong, not afraid to talk to Walt and even call him 'Wally' when he seemingly has nothing positive to say. It's more proof of Eastwood's ability, bringing the best possible out of these two actors making their debuts.
Another key performance comes from Christopher Carley as Father Janovich, a priest just out of the seminary who bonded with Walt's wife in the months leading up to her death. Janovich made a promise to her to try and help Walt, ultimately getting him to go to confession. Their exchanges as Janovich tries to convince Kowalski come across as realistically as possible with experienced Walt going up against a youngster trying to figure out what life and death really is. With a movie heavy on dialogue and the developing relationships and friendships between characters, these scenes ring true with the four main actors.
All I can think of with Eastwood not even getting a nomination is that he's playing a similar character to the one he's played his whole career. But even considering that, it's fair to judge him like that. This is crotchety, curmudgeonly Eastwood for sure, growling his way through some conversations, but there's a heart to the character. Realizing his time on Earth may be coming to end, Walt tries to make amends and right some of the wrongs he's done and seen in his time. Like his part in Million Dollar Baby, Walt Kowalski is one of Eastwood's best parts, and I say he deserved if nothing else a nomination for best actor and/or best director.
Being a huge Eastwood fan, I'm not sure why I took so long seeing this movie, but I'm glad I did. It's an authentic movie from start to finish with a story that feels true. If you let it slip by like I have these last couple months, go catch up with Gran Torino. Movie fans won't be disappointed.
Gran Torino <-----trailer (2008): ****/****
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