Korean War vet, retired autoworker and recent widower Walt Kowalski (Clint Eastwood) is a lonely, guilt-ridden bigot who has distanced himself from his family, and does not like his new next-door neighbors, Hmong immigrants from Southeast Asia.

After all, they’re different.  They are not white Americans.

When a local Asian gang begins terrorizing those neighbors, Kowalski is forced to defend them, initially because they are intruding into his space (“Get off of my lawn!”), but later because he begins to care about the teenage boy and girl that live there.

The level of violence escalates, and soon Kowalski must make a life-or-death decision.

CRITIQUE

It’s been suggested that Gran Torino may be Clint Eastwood’s last foray in front of the camera.  Hopefully, that is not so, but if it is, he has certainly picked an excellent project to go out on.

Actually, Walt Kowalski is not so different from Eastwood’s signature role of “Harry Callahan” (Dirty Hsrry).  Both men are bigoted loners who are not hesitant to employ violence when the situation calls for it.

With Kowalski, Eastwood takes this character to a different, higher level.  Unlike the seemingly emotionally impervious Callahan of San Francisco, the Michigan-based curmudgeon is still tortured about the atrocities he committed during the Korean War.  These feelings of guilt have caused him to withdraw from any emotional contact, except with his wife who, sadly, has just passed away.

Now, Kowalski just wants to be left alone with his dog, his beer and an occasional jaunt down to the local bar or barbershop to “chew the fat” with his fellow bigoted buddies.

When his Hmong neighbors come under attack by the local gang, Kowalski finds a new purpose in his life defending them.  Without realizing what is happening, he begins to care about these people, particularly the spunky teenage girl and her withdrawn younger brother, who he “takes under his wing,” developing a close relationship that he never had with his own sons.

Arguably, this is the finest, most in-depth performance of Eastwood’s career.

As a director, Eastwood continues to do what he does best (i.e. tell a good story well without any fancy directorial frills).  It’s too bad that more of today’s directors don’t follow his example.

Gran Torino is an anti-violence movie that, in its approach, has more in common with Eastwood’s more emotionally charged films (e.g. The Bridges of Madison County) than his action-based movies.  It may not be one of his major efforts like Mystic River, Letters From Iwo Jima or Million Dollar Baby, but it is a fine “little” film that is well worth your time.

THE VIDEO

The widescreen transfer on the feature itself is fine.

THE AUDIO

The 5.1 Surround Sound is clear and sharp.  No problems.

THE EXTRAS

Manning the Wheel and Gran Torino: More Than a Car are two short “Behind the Scenes” featurettes that include interviews with Eastwood and other cast members.

The problem with both featurettes is that the subtitles are on automatically.  I tried the disc on two different DVD players (from different manufacturers) and the result was the same.  Oops!

Rounding out the extras is the film’s Theatrical Trailer.

FINAL THOUGHT

Gran Torino presents a good story, with Eastwood delivering an in-depth performance in a “classic Eastwood” kind of role