Despite all of the good, there is one performance misfire that is rather glaring. Christopher Carley's Father Janovich just comes across as wrong. I suspect it is not so much the performance as the way the character is written. Frankly, it is not a terribly realistic portrayal of a Catholic priest. He is out of his color too often and the stilted way he speaks sounds as if it were written by someone who does not know many priests. The character's purpose is an important one, but it is the one character that could have used another pass or two.
Gran Torino is a film that is filled with great moments that have a cumulative effect. It may not be the most realistic approach to the material, but it feels genuine and the cast of primarily non-professional actors do a fine job supporting Clint. The story speaks to the effects of violence, living with regret, and how people of apparently different backgrounds can have more in common than one would suspect. We are also given some information on the Hmong immigrants and their background and customs.
Bottom line. Overall, this is quite a spectacular film. It is not a grand or epic film, it is one that keeps its scope small and personal while dealing with larger issues. It is effective and one that will give you something to chew on long after the credits have rolled.
Highly Recommended.
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