gran torino

clint eastwood - one of those actors who demands trust
in that whatever he produces is going to be the goods
which is why i decided to check out this his latest film
and why the changeling will probably get a viewing also
a gran torino it seems is a prized classic american car
in australian terms think valiant charger or (old) holden monaro
clint eastwood's character walt kowalski has one in his garage
his pride and joy and rock of his life since his wife has died
the film opens at the funeral with kowalski the grumpy old man
showing disdain for all and sundry particularly his grandchildren
there's no desire or intention to understand or get close to them
the young parish priest also cops it when he suggests a confession
this apparantly being the last wish of walt's deceased wife
she aware that his bitterness needs to be released somehow
but instead he continues to take it out on the neighbours
a chinese immigrant family representing a changed society
walt is a korean war veteran and a retired auto worker
at the twilight of a hard life that has no respite in retirement
he really wants to just hang out with his labrador named daisy
but a gang initiation ceremony gone wrong changes things
the son next door botches up trying to steal the gran torino
his traditional punishment meaning he becomes walt's slave
walt reluctantly taking him on to fix up his and other houses
and so lives become entangled and before long there's a thawing
walt to the rescue of the daughter when threatened by a gang
seeing the clint eastwood of old drawing a gun in defence
and doing all but actually uttering his most famous line
and so it is that walt becomes his neighbours reluctant hero
visits are made between houses and walt is showered with food
in the meantime the parish priest persists with the confession
a softening of attitudes suggesting that it may now be possible
the film very assuredly works it's way to a big climactic scene
a totally unexpected but very clever twist in this urban tale
by the time this rolls around walt has been transformed
he's now much wiser to the modern world and much less caustic
he adheres to his wife's last wish as a symbol of the change
though the real evidence of his transformation involves the car
a closing scene that cleverly wraps up this excellent film
clint eastwood as director and star delivering the goods
a tale of redemption and transformation of a senior citizen
thereby pointing the way for others with similar attitudes
i'm sure some would view the film as blatant morale-pushing
but there's a very good and believable story at the core
meaning the film is successful on many levels
certainly had me thinking about it for days
a good sign that it has had some impact
avoiding grumpy-old-man-ness the aim
it's certainly not a good look
thanks clint for the reminder