Around the age of 75, most actors tend to retire, they do smaller parts, or if they do a larger part, it is something light-hearted or inspirational. along the lines of Henry Fonda in On Golden Pond, George Burns in Oh God, or Walter Matthau in Grumpy Old Men.
With Clint Eastwood, nothing could be further from the truth. At 78 he not only starred in Gran Torino, but he also directed, and produced the film. This is the first lead acting role since 2004's Million Dollar Baby, which won him much critical acclaim.
The story is about retired autoworker Walt Kowalski (Eastwood) whose wife has recently passed away. Walt spent some tough times in the Korean War. He saw a lot and did some things that he doesn't talk about. The neighborhood that Walt lives in is not the same as it was in the sixties and seventies. It has become a ghetto that has become infiltrated with Blacks, Hispanics, and Asians. Everything has become rundown, everything except Walt's house.
After the funeral, friends and family come to Walt's house to pay respect. But Walt doesn't take or give respect lightly. Most of the time he doesn't give it at all. This becomes apparent from the outset of the movie when he winces at what his granddaughter wears to the funeral; when his wife's priest, Father Janovich (Christopher Carley) who promised Walt's wife that he would check in on him now and then and offer to hear his confession; and when a young Asian boy comes to the door to borrow some jumper cables and gets the door slammed in his face. Also, the racial slurs that Walt uses about any and all ethnic groups.
Then there are the people next door. It is an extended Asian family of the Hmong culture. They have a rich tradition, and there are always people coming and going. The paint on their house is peeling and weeds run rampant in their yard. The old matriarch of the family is about as grumpy as Walt, but does not speak a word of English.
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Article comments
1 - El Bicho
It was snubbed because it's not that good. It has some very good moments, but it certainly doesn't rise to greatness.
The film is too long, the plotting is weak, and at times it doesn't seem to know if it wants to be a comedy or a drama.
Clint is doing Archie Bunker, and the amateur actors are obviously that.
Why the gangsters seek revenge against the Hmong family house and not Walt's makes no sense at all, other than to leave him for the climax, which was rather obvious as they beat into the audience what was going on with Walt.
The "manning up" scene you found funny was possibly the worst of the film. I couldn't believe a director of Clint's caliber would have let it stand. It was like what a teenager thinks men are like.
I could go on, but this film has many problems.
2 - T. Michael Testi
"Clint is doing Archie Bunker"
I totally disagree. Growing up, near the steel mills of Gary Indiana and working there as a kid, I knew people like Walt.
I was fortunate enough to know both blacks and whites who had these attitudes. That is what made the interactions between the Hmong matriarch and Walt so great.
"The "manning up" scene you found funny was possibly the worst of the film."
I have also seen the barber shop and while they played it up more for its comedy value, it still was real.
"Why the gangsters seek revenge against the Hmong family house and not Walt's makes no sense at all"
Sure it does, most drive by shooting are meant to scare some one. It is not the most effective way to kill someone. If people get killed, that's collateral damage.
They are trying to get to Thao and get back at Sue. They know that they cannot scare Walt and it would be more effective to bring out Walt this way.
Even though Eastwood was born in California, his dad was a steel worker so I suspect that there is a lot of background he grew up with that drew him to this role. Now at 78, he is viewing these people from a different perspective, and that is what I am seeing from it as well.
T.