GRAN TORINO (WB, 2008) D: Clint Eastwood, w/ Eastwood, Bee Vang. Rating: NNNN DVD package: NN Rating: NNNN
In the same way that Clint Eastwood’s 1992 classic, Unforgiven, echoed the spaghetti westerns that launched his career without actually imitating or referring to them, Gran Turino echoes Eastwood’s other great popular hit, Dirty Harry.
[rssbreak]
It’s easy to see Walt Kowalski as Dirty Harry Callahan grown old. He isn’t a cop, but he’s got the same sour outlook and right-wing values. He’s outspoken, a stand-up guy and, of course, he’s Eastwood with a big gun and a catchphrase, the memorably banal “Get off my lawn.”
Walt uses the line and gun on a local gangbanger who’s harassing Thao, the Asian kid next door, and thereby gets drawn into the lives of Thao and his family.
This is where Walt and Harry part company. Walt is lonely, not a committed loner. He’s newly widowed and estranged from his sons. Eastwood plays the role for low-key humour, notably in Walt’s attempts at socializing in a traditional Hmong setting.
All goes well until Walt realizes that his new friends will know no peace until the gangbangers are taken out permanently.
Eastwood the director does his usual polished job, delivering an outstanding character drama with interesting thriller elements.
Sadly, the extras add up to less than 15 minutes and are all about cars. Unless you’re a car fetishist, they’re hardly worth watching.
EXTRAS Making-of doc, car doc. Widescreen. English, French, Spanish audio and subtitles.
