Gran Torino

Gran Torino (Clint Eastwood 2008)

Gran Torino has long been rumoured to be Clint Eastwood’s final acting role. A fitting swansong for a true icon of the medium. On the evidence of this performance I for one sincerely hope this isn’t the last we see of the Man With No Name, as (I make no excuses for the pun) he clearly has plenty left in the tank.

Clint plays Walt Kawalski, a curmudgeonly, racist, bigoted old war veteran who finds everything wrong with modern American society, the only thing he loves is his 1972 Ford Gran Torino. After his wife dies and new Asian neighbours move in he is forced to face his prejudices, mortality and a bothersome gang. So far so cliché but although this kind of story has been told a thousand times there’s still something fresh to discover in this incarnation.

For one it’s funny. Who’d have thought Clint could do comedy? There’s something undeniably tickling in Clint’s extremely grumpy and shockingly racist tirades. His verbal tennis with his razor sharp young neighbour Sue as well as his unchecked disregard for social nicety (I refer you to his stand offs with the young Catholic priest) are refreshing. Whilst some argue that laughing at racism is somehow an endorsement, it is clear that this is the last defence of a man who is pulling every trick in the book to push people as far away from his as possible and we are encouraged to belittle his efforts.

Clint is clearly having a ball and few actors still working today could get more expression into a venomous sneering “Get off my lawn!” The violence jars vividly with the comedy and softer moments and provides a varied texture. Eastwood’s direction dovetailing the story of a man coming to terms with choices he has made throughout his life with those of a teenager and the choices he has yet to make.

Although the middle section where Walt teaches young Thao how to be a man, is entertaining for the most part it feels a little saccharine and we are allowed to linger too long here. Thankfully it makes up for it with a truly cracking and guttural conclusion.

So Dirty Harry Finds Retirement? Maybe, but please Mr. Eastwood, don’t turn out the light just yet.

Paul Moxham