GRAN TORINO (15)

GRAN TORINO (15)
Cast: Clint Eastwood, Bee Vang, Anhey Her, Christopher Carley
Running Time: 1hr 55mins
Director: Clint Eastwood
Out Now

IT’S been one of the biggest box-office hits of the year in comparison to its relatively small budget – and with Clint Eastwood involved it’s not hard to see why.
Pretty much everything the acclaimed director/actor touches turns to gold, and this original story is no different – combining drama, intrigue and emotion with a touch of dry comedy.
Eastwood gets it spot-on as grizzled and ultra-patriotic Korean War vet Walt Kowalski, who has recently buried his wife and only has his dog as a companion.
A ‘racist’ slur or two towards his immigrant neighbours in a rough Detroit suburb is a daily occurrence for this bitter man, slowly smoking and drinking himself to death whilst sticking to everything American, including his prized 1972 Ford Gran Torino.
But after his young Hmong (an ethnic group from Southern China which originated in South East Asia) neighbour Thao (Bee Yang) tries to steal his car as part of a gang initiation, Walt’s bigotry is put to the test as he befriends the boy and his sister Sue (Ahney Her).
Walt soon becomes an unlikely hero to the family next door when he fends off the advances of the gang towards Thao – but then has to play piggy in the middle as he gets embroiled in ethnic warfare.
Estranged from the church and his family, the two Hmong children help spark a light inside Walt, as he fights his own demons to find inner peace and befriend the type of people he slaughtered in the war.
More than just a simple racial morality tale, ‘Gran Torino’ is a beautifully-paced story brimming with originality and tastefully balanced humour – even though some people will inevitably be offended by his misanthropy.
That aside, this is up there with Eastwood’s best on his burgeoning CV, even at the tender age of 78-years-young – and the fantastic finale is worth the rental or purchase alone.

ESP Rating: 4/5

Gavin Miller