Feature Film Review - Gran Torino

Rating:

The irrepressible, incomparable, and apparently inexhaustible talent of Clint Eastwood continues to amaze as his indelible mark on film history becomes evermore expansive. With a career sprawling over half a century and a stack of awards that would fill fifty saddle bags, it appears that film’s Dorian Grey has no plans to retire. Already having one film in the books for 2008 (The Changeling), Eastwood is back in his familiar role of director/producer/actor/composer with Gran Torino.

This newest effort by the Hollywood legend is foremost a morality tale of man’s path to salvation over the racial divide. Walt Kowalski, Eastwood’s first role since 2004’s hit Million Dollar Baby, is an intimidating, grizzled Korean War vet with prejudice against just about any race or creed. However, after the death of wife Walt begins building a curious relationship with his Hmong (immigrants from Laos, Thailand, and China) neighbors. With little love for his pack of selfish offspring, he becomes close to the Hmong and finds that wants to atone for past mistakes. Threatened by increased gang activity in the community, Walt tries to make things right.

Clint Eastwood, scowl intact.

Gran Torino works extremely well as an Eastwood vehicle and for fans looking for their dose of Dirty Harry one-lines or Josey Wales stare-downs. As far as Clint’s legendary delivery and on-screen intensity, Torino has more than enough in the tank. Kowalski certainly has many traits of his past characters including bravado and a borderline insanity of man comfortable with death. However, the film does goes beyond its iconic lead as it brings forth quality cinematic technique.

The motif throughout the film is the use of color and they way it pushes the themes of the film along. The first of which is presentation of the American flag and its red, white, and blue throughout the film. Walt is repeatedly framed with these colors. Even his beer of choice, Pabst Blue Ribbon, contains the same pallet. With Walt’s over-the-top racism and the film’s multi-ethnicity nature one can’t help but assume the colors are representative of American isolationism. Walt’s prized possession, a cherry Ford Gran Torino, is painted with the same green, black, and yellow of his Korean War 1st Cavalry emblem. Here the Torino symbolizes the hate and seclusion that, by the end of the film, Walt so desperately wants to be rid of.

Despite the competent technique, Torino does stall through the middle, courtesy of stretches of poor dialogue. The film also suffers moderately from the rigid performance of Christopher Carley as Father Janovich. However, Torino finishes well and proves to be a tight, well-constructed picture.

As is the case with all his other films, Torino succeeds with a stripped-down budget of 35 million dollars – a fraction of today’s blockbusters. How refreshing is it to see a film grounded in realism that has no need for pushing the effects envelope? The famed 78 year-old director does not rely on such a crutch and on pure talent alone audiences find themselves caught in Clint’s clutches once again.

Adam is the founder of www.featurefilmreview.com. Email comments to adam (at) featurefilmreview (dot) com.