Clint Eastwood stars and directs Gran Torino, a drama about a grumpy old man who is forced to confront his prejudices when his immigrant neighbors befriend him.
Movie Review
Dirty Harry is resurrected in Clint Eastwood's Gran Torino. Dirty Harry wasn't prejudice except against authority and criminals but Clint Eastwood's Walt character often reminds you of the renegade cop who delivered clever and memorable lines.
After his immigrant teen neighbor Thao is caught trying to steal Walt's Gran Torino, Thao's family forces Walt to accept Thao's services to make amends for his crime. He relunctantly takes a liking to the boy and his fast talking sister which starts to soften up the grumpy old neighbor.
Clint was thoroughly enjoyable as the inflexible old man who dislikes pretty much everyone except his dog. His racial remarks were often offensive but Clint delivered them in such a way as to laugh at him for his ignorance. The theater audience were roaring with laughter at the very funny references to the different ethnicities but you never hated they guy. The young neighbors delivered the offenses right back at him so well, you were rooting for their friendship to grow.
A thoroughly enjoyable film if you're looking for great performances and a very appealing story that worked on every level. If this is indeed Clint Eastwood's last onscreen role, he goes out with a bang, literally.
