"Gran Torino" (2008) Movie Review (Favorite Movie Review)

"Gran Torino" was a Drama film created in 2008, and directed by Clint Eastwood. The main characters are Clint Eastwood as Walt Kowalski, Christopher Carley as Father Janovich, Bee Vang as Thao, Ahney Her as Sue, Brian Haley as Mitch Kowalski, Geraldine Hughes as Karen Kowalski, Dreama Walker as Ashley Kowalski, Brian Howe as Steve Kowalski, and Brooke Chia Thao as Vu.

Gran Torino starts off at a funeral for Walt's wife, Dorothy. Walt is a Korean War veteran, and retired Ford factory worker. At the funeral, he sees some of his grandkids screwing around, and not paying attention to Father Janovich deliver his eulogy for Dorothy. Walt's sons view Walt as "always disappointed." Walt views his family as obnoxious disrespectful and rude because they do not show any grief for the death of their grandmother. Walt's neighborhood, was mostly white, but now has become mostly south-eastern Asian. Walt's Hmong (Vietnamese) neighbors, especially the grandmother show no respect to Walt. In one scene, the Vietnamese to English subtitles show the grandmother saying "All the other Americans have left this neighborhood, why haven't you gone?" The neighborhood has Vietnamese and Mexican gangs, and the gangs give trouble to everyone. Walt's neighbor, Thao is "recruited from his cousins Vietnamese gang, and Thao's initiation is to steal Walt's Gran Torino. The initiation fails, and Thao is nearly shot by Walt and his M-1 Garand Rifle that he used in the Korean War. After the failed auto theft, Thao's family has Thao work for Walt since they said that Thao has brought shame on their family, and they want Thao to work off the debt he created. Thao starts to work for Walt, doing odd jobs, and working on Thao's house. Thao and Walt become friends, and Walt helps Thao get rid of the Vietnamese gang problem in the neighborhood.

I really enjoyed this film because of the humor and it breaking down stereotypes. Walt shows that he isn't afraid to make a racist joke or remark, and shows that people do not scare him. In one scene Sue is being harassed by three black males, and Walt comes into the scene and pretends to pull a gun to scare the black males, and the black males don't show fear, then Walt reaches into his jacket and pulls out his Colt M1911 .45 pistol and scares the three males into letting Sue free. Walt leaves and tells them to "Take care now." I thought that was one of the funniest scenes in the film. Another scene I really enjoyed is when the Vietnamese gang was attacking Thao, then the camera pans up to Walt, Wielding his M-1 Garand and pointing it towards the gang leader, who lets go of Thao and leaves the scene.

I would recommend this film to anyone who enjoys a good Drama film, or a fan of Clint Eastwood and his style of humor. Drama plays a huge role in the film, and helps develop the plotline. Gran Torino will continue to be my favorite movies for years to come. In my three categories that I score films, starting with the overall rating, I'd give Gran Torino a 10. In the second category, which is the plot rating I'd give the film a 9.5. In the last category which is character roles, which is how I score the roles the actors play, would receive a 10.