Gran Torino

HT's Two Sense

This is the first movie review I've done, but this movie really intrigued me, for several reasons. If you haven't seen it and don't want to be spoiled, don't read this, because I will be getting into detail and talking about the whole movie.

This is a movie about a man, Walt, who is a Veteran, and has just lost his wife. His neighborhood is filling up with Japanese, Chinese, etc, whom he has very colorful names for.

He's a man that calls it how he sees it, and makes no point to be politically correct. It's very apparent that he doesn't like anyone in his neighborhood as he thinks they should go back where they came from. A new family moves in next door and he obviously doesn't like them, in his words they are "Gooks, slant-eyes, and zipperheads".

There are gangs in this area, and one night a car stops by and tries to get Tao (who is Walts new neigbor boy) to join their gang. He is their younger cousin. He doesn't seem interested in all, but goes along not wanting any trouble. Their initiation is to have Tao steal Walts vintage 1972 Gran Torino. Walt hears him in the garage, and goes out with a gun. He probably would have shot him, but they both trip and fall, and Tao runs off. The next day, the cousins stop by again, but Tao doesn't want to go. His sister tries to help stop them but they start getting physical. Walt comes out with a loaded shotgun and holds it to the face of one of the gang members, as he wants them off his property. They leave, and the next day everyone is bringing Walt food and flowers for saving Tao and his sister. He doesn't really like that and throws it all away and tells them to stop.

Later Tao's sister is cornered by 3 men, and its not looking too good for her. Walt pulls up and tells her to get in the truck. The exchange of words between him and the 3 guys is classic, and he reaches into his pocket and pulls out nothing, but points his finger like a gun and "clicks" it. Then he pulls out a real gun and they back off. She tries to tell him thanks, but he just tells her she was being stupid and he thougt her people are supposed to be smart.

This girl sees the good in him, and so does Tao, to an extent. The rest of the story is Walt getting to know that family better, albeit, very reluctantly. He also helps Tao to become a real man by teaching him how to work and even gets him a construction job. The gang gets a little tougher and roughs up Tao one day on his way home from work. Walt doesn't like this, so he beats one of them up and tells them to leave Tao and his family alone.

A few days later, the do a drive-by and shoot up Tao's familys house. The girl ends up being beat up and raped by the gang. This infuriates Walt, obviously. We find out to that Walts health is failling him, he starting to get pretty bad and you can see it progressing through the movie.

Walt and Tao want to get even, but Walt tricks Tao and locks him in his basement so he won't get involved in what's going to happen. Walt then walks goes over to the gangs house and stands in the front yard. The gang all comes out, they exchange some words, and Walt pulls out a cigarette, the whole gang now have their guns pulled on him, he asks why they are so jumpy. He then asks if they have a light. He reaches in his coat pocket, and they all start firing, thinking he was pulling a gun. Turns out he was unarmed, just reaching for his lighter.

He knew he couldn't beat them all, and (in my opinion) knew he was dying and the only way to save that family was to have that gang in jail. They all got arrested that night.

A lot of people I talked with, didn't like the ending. I loved it. He did whatever he could to help that family, even as he himself was about to die. I left out a lot of details, but you need to see this movie.

I think one thing that really touched me about this movie, is that it reminded me of watching Dirty Harry movies with my Dad. He loved Clint Eastwood, and he would have loved this movie too.

I will definitely be watching this movie again.