Thursday, February 19, 2009

Movie Review: Gran Torino

GRAN TORINO
Main Players: Clint Eastwood, Christopher Carley, Bee Vang, et al.
Calling the shots: Clint Eastwood
Running time: 116mins
What's it about? Disgruntled Korean War veteran Walt Kowalski (Clint Eastwood) sets out to reform his neighbour, a young Hmong teenager, who tried to steal Kowalski’s prized possession: his 1972 Gran Torino. – from imdb.com

What did I think? Leave it to Clint to get the best out of himself. In years gone by most of his films successes have come because he does such a wonderful job in them himself. He is a fantastic director with a certain feel to his movies that is undeniable, but you often forget that he is also a screen veteran with such presence on screen; he is a joy to watch.

Although for most of the film, it seems like he is just angry and growling all the time, you can’t understate that performance. He has the right balance of showing disdain for the world, the world that’s changing all the time around him, and showing his softer side when he takes Thao under his wings. He still yells insults at him, but you know there’s nothing to it.

That’s where the surprising humour of the movie exists as well. Kowalski’s continuous racially charged insults becoming increasingly funny as we know he says them much like mates bad mouthing each other. And Clint does well to deliver these lines and he doesn’t discriminate, he hates everyone.

It’s a shame then that the films weaknesses are its most important parts. The gang in comparison seems very one note and stereotypical. They aren’t Hmong gangs as much as they are Asians-in-black-clothing gangs. The young actors that try to keep up with Clint on screen at times fall terribly with Bee Vang (who played Thao) particularly terrible in one scene.

Regardless, the film is touching and particularly relevant in the multicultural world that we live in, though it might be slightly dated. It would have felt more at home, had it come about ten years earlier.

It is surprising to see that it didn’t garner many, if any, nominations or awards. Clint surely deserved it for his understated direction. As I said he brings a certain feel to it; something almost foreboding. You can definitely feel the emotional end coming but in what way? …you’ll just have to see to find out.

70%

No comments: