Of Clint Eastwood's two films from 2008, Changeling is by far the better piece of work. Angelina Jolie delivered a compelling, intense performance as a mother whose child goes missing and who is mistreated and lied to by the LA police in an effort to make their department look better. Eastwood only directed Changeling and his care and attention behind the camera is evident in every frame of that dynamic drama. I wouldn't venture to presume dividing his time behind the camera and in front of it as the main actor – and one of the few lead characters with acting experience – is what makes Gran Torino feel less than the professionally polished project normally associated with Eastwood. But there is definitely something off about the film. It's not just the fact the story feels dated or the fact Eastwood's channeling Dirty Harry again (much older and retired, but just as ornery) that gives Gran Torino a missed opportunities vibe. There are so many little problems that plague Gran Torino that it's difficult to take it seriously.
The Story
Bee Vang and Clint Eastwood.
© Warner Bros PicturesWalt's racism runs deep, and he's unafraid of calling his neighbors every possible hateful word you can use to describe someone of Asian descent. He despises the fact most of his neighbors are now Hmong immigrants and he rails at them whenever one gets within earshot. Yet despite what can only be described as deep-set hatred for anyone not a WASP, he begins warming up to the teenage Hmong girl who lives right next door. After saving her from gang bangers, he begins a weird friendship with her that eventually expands to include other members of her family, in particular her younger brother. When a local Hmong gang threatens the family, it's Walt who stands up for the same people he spent years putting down.
The Acting
Ahney Her and Bee Van, the newcomers who consume most of the time onscreen alongside Eastwood, tackle their first real acting gigs with Gran Torino and the result is less than pleasing. Her and Van are trying hard and you can tell. Eastwood was going for realism in his casting of the main Hmong roles, and it's to the detriment of the film that he wound up with two actors who needed more training before jumping into such pivotal parts. Their acting at times is amateurish. Lines are delivered as if read straight from the page and it's distracting.
The Bottom Line
Walt's constant use of ethnic slurs gets old, but it's what the character's all about so it does make sense even if it's uncomfortable. But what doesn't make sense and what really pulled me out of Gran Torino was how this retired autoworker all of sudden becomes this crime-fighting, physically skilled do-gooder.
Ahney Her and Clint Eastwood in 'Gran Torino.'
© Warner Bros PicturesGran Torino also seems to have a hard time figuring out exactly how it wants the audience to react, which means as an audience member I was left confused over the message. I was also confused over the film's shift in tone and left completely nonplussed by the weird twist near the end. Gran Torino didn't do it for me and I'm still wondering what it is everyone else sees in Eastwood's performance that earns it such high accolades and awards nominations. I never once saw Walt – I always saw Eastwood…or an elderly Dirty Harry.
GRADE: C-
