” Gran Torino”
Have you seen the fabulous movie "Gran Torino" ?
Clint Eastwood plays the racist Walt Kowalski, a tough,as nails,grouchy old man who hates everybody who isn’t white–or at least thinks he does.
You come to LOVE Walt Kowalski when you see he really has a great heart. In the end…a heart of a lion. Gran Torino is heartwarming and keeps your attention the whole way through. I really think this is the best movie Clint Eastwood has ever made. I will probably see it again and for sure I will buy it.
Give yourself a treat and go see "Gran Torino".
Bookmark this page because I would like you to come back here and leave me your comment.
Tell me what your favorite parts were. I like when the old lady next door beat Walt Kowalski in a spitting contest- sounds gross, guess you just have to see it.
I thought the biggest beauty in the movie was that it showed how damaging the projection of “HATE” is and how that projection created a “social” and “personalized judgment” that every single character in the film had to carry and bear as part of their daily interaction with all those around them, even sometimes including their families….because of race, gender etc.
The hate was represented as illogical and unfounded as it is.
The film showed us how some characters projected HATE because of their own past wounds, some characters projected it as a facade to cover up their feeling “small”, some projected it to make themselves feel bigger. Some would have been hurt and or killed if they didn’t join in to the projection of HATE and creation of fear.
The film always subtly showed what the projection of hate did to the one who projected it, and to the one who received it, as well as those who simply witnessed it happening to another.
The films hero (Clint- who was awesome) was humanized in the end out of his stereotyped
“bigoted old man” and ultimately respected by us…
We forgave him, and finally loved him, even through we had witnessed his own constant projection of open and unbridled hate and rejection towards every single person around him.
We watched as this kept him miles away from loving relationships- or any sort of relationship with anyone… including with those who very much wanted to love and be loved and respected by him.
We watched as he projected HATE and rejection onto others for their kindnesses towards him and for their own faith.
We saw how his own projection of hate and disrespect was mirrored right back to him, even by those he really wanted to love and be loved by… We saw that want from him even though he did his best to hide it from himself and everyone else.
It was interesting that we got to glimpse the lonely and scared old man part of him, we watched the final decision being made even though we had no idea- (we thought we did) what he was up to. At the end, we, as the audience – thought- “we knew him more” than his own family did.
It doesn’t really matter what culture, race or gender any of these characters were, the theme of HATE is the key. Although our hero was regularly the only soul who was “brave enough” to stand up to hate and violence, and he did he step in where no-one else would.
But, truly, his hatred and complete disrespect towards the “villains” really made those he stepped in “to save” even more of a target by those who were hurting them in the first place. It became retribution taken out on others for the disrespect he had shown the “bad guys.”
It was a very heavy, human and complicated film, and I think the real message can easily get lost in our wanting to gloss over and “feel good again.”
Imagine if Clint’s character had opened his heart and let his own hate go before things got to where they were….What was his personal responsibility in where things went? I think that is a valid question.
Imagine if he had met the hatred and power plays of the “villains” with at the very least -human respect rather than by demeaning them more?
Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence, and toughness multiplies toughness in a descending spiral of destruction.”
Did he really “save day“? Yes, the bad guys went to jail. Yes, the boy got the car, and freedom from his oppressors, and the violence to the girl was- answered? Redeemed? Balanced? No…not really.
In a world where one believes “the bad guys always win” it was “the only thing to do”??? I do not know how I feel about this.
I know I really do believe there were other choices that were not offered… but I do know that “Grand Torino” was a testament to that great statement by Dr. King and is a call for us all to look deeply for another, better way out of the violence and conflict.
lorne
Gran Torino was good movie, indeed. The “man-up” part was hilarious. I just kind of wonder what the Asian audience feels when they watch it.
Life is so much like movies, one of the things I learned a while back was that how you see a movie or a caricature within a movie, actually shows you who you are.
Now in saying that I found myself at first angry with Clint and the people within the movie, all except the young girl who just plain lived. I found her to be the one I loved watching as she was herself and did not change for anyone.
As the movie went on I found it heart warming and loving though all the people and felt that I wished things could be easier and more embraced in love. When the gang was so tough I wonder how could love take over.
I guess that is my wish after seeing this movie. Look for love everywhere, as it is disguised in so many packages. The other thing is many are lost flounder and searching for what ever they lost or never had in life. So stand in the light to shine on those that may be lost, and look for the light for myself to find my way in places in my life I am floundering in.
By the way Rebecca you are the guiding light for me and I do believe many others!
Life is so much like movies, one of the things I learned a while back was that how you see a movie or a caricature within a movie, actually shows you who you are.
Now in saying that I found myself at first angry with Clint and the people within the movie, all except the young girl who just plain lived. I found her to be the one I loved watching as she was herself and did not change for anyone.
As the movie went on I found it heart warming and loving though all the people and felt that I wished things could be easier and more embraced in love. When the gang was so tough I wonder how could love take over.
I guess that is my wish after seeing this movie. Look for love everywhere, as it is disguised in so many packages. The other thing is many are lost flounder and searching for what ever they lost or never had in life. So stand in the light to shine on those that may be lost, and look for the light for myself to find my way in places in my life I am floundering in.
By the way Rebecca you are the guiding light for me and I do believe many others!
Loved the movie! I really like it when people say it just like it is for them. I thought Eastwood was awesome and adorable. I will definitely see it again. Maybe it was just me, but I felt the movie grounded me and empowered me all at the same time. Definitely a masterpiece! Much aloha
John
Loved the movie! I really like it when people say it just like it is for them. I thought Eastwood was awesome and adorable. I will definitely see it again. Maybe it was just me, but I felt the movie grounded me and empowered me all at the same time. Definitely a masterpiece! Much aloha
John
Wonderful movie! Best Clint Eastwood movie. In addition to all the other great comments above AND not to give away details if you haven’t seen it yet… their was a great message about the older generation needing to feel useful. I loved the movie Benjamin Button – and its message about growing older. But I enjoyed this movie even more.
Want to let my friends know this is THE movie to see. Can’t believe how low key the advertising is for this movie. This was definitely a surprise.
I laughed, I cried – LOVED IT!!!
Wonderful movie! Best Clint Eastwood movie. In addition to all the other great comments above AND not to give away details if you haven’t seen it yet… their was a great message about the older generation needing to feel useful. I loved the movie Benjamin Button – and its message about growing older. But I enjoyed this movie even more.
Want to let my friends know this is THE movie to see. Can’t believe how low key the advertising is for this movie. This was definitely a surprise.
I laughed, I cried – LOVED IT!!!
Tough as nails Clint never let’s you down. Even though he has aged since any of his other movies he is still the bad-ass’ I didn’t care for the ending but logically that is the only way that this struggle could end to get the main characters (Clint) expected result. The movie had a very realistic feel to it and from what I have read the movie was actually shot in Detroit. If your a fan of Clint Eastwood see this movie. If you don’t like Clint Eastwood and profanity doesn’t bother you see this movie and become Clints latest fan.
Tough as nails Clint never let’s you down. Even though he has aged since any of his other movies he is still the bad-ass’ I didn’t care for the ending but logically that is the only way that this struggle could end to get the main characters (Clint) expected result. The movie had a very realistic feel to it and from what I have read the movie was actually shot in Detroit. If your a fan of Clint Eastwood see this movie. If you don’t like Clint Eastwood and profanity doesn’t bother you see this movie and become Clints latest fan.
Enjoy the Movie Gran Torino!
Enjoy the Movie Gran Torino!
I LOVED the barbershop scene too! It was adorable. I laughed at so many of the words. I don’t think the profanity was serious- it was just the way Walt” expressed himself.
Rebecca
I LOVED the barbershop scene too! It was adorable. I laughed at so many of the words. I don’t think the profanity was serious- it was just the way Walt” expressed himself.
Rebecca
Yes, I thought about the Christ at the end. What a selfless act! If you havn’t seen “Gran Torino” yet- go see it and come back and leave your “take” on it.
Rebecca
I just finished watching Grand Torino–Clint has been my boyfriend since I saw him in the good the bad and the ugly back in the seventies–I love him totally and he is so sexy–I laughed and then cried–he has never made a bad movie and I have seen everyone of his–peace and love –sydney
I just finished watching Grand Torino–Clint has been my boyfriend since I saw him in the good the bad and the ugly back in the seventies–I love him totally and he is so sexy–I laughed and then cried–he has never made a bad movie and I have seen everyone of his–peace and love –sydney
Clint Eastwood is the Ultimate Bad Ass! And will
always be the Ultimate Bad Ass! He is awesome, director and
actor!
Gran Torino is a great film. Great song.
Walt Kowalski doesn’t die of old age. He doesn’t wait around
for death, he picks a fight with it. He provokes and prods death. How audacious! And in picking this fight, death gives him an honorable and brutal beating. His death was a great gift for his friends. He died so others can live with freedom, like Jesus Christ,
Martin Luther King Jr and other passionate heroes.
My favorite scenes are the barber shop scenes and the
construction site scenes with Thao. Yes, I love the bad
words and profanity! LOL.
Thank you
peace and carrots
I’m still processing the movie for I feel there are deeper levels of understanding. I don’t want to give anything away for those who haven’t seen it, so I’ll be careful what I write. One thing for sure is the fact that we never really know what’s in a person’s heart, and we absolutely cannot judge by outward appearances.
The teen girl saw through him immediately, and simply bore her way into his heart. The gratitude of the Hmong people and their open expressions were a sermon for all who saw the movie, but perhaps the most precious of all was Walt’s transformation and ultimate act of redemption. There are so many levels to discuss. In literary circles he would be considered a Christ architype. It was a great movie.
I’m still processing the movie for I feel there are deeper levels of understanding. I don’t want to give anything away for those who haven’t seen it, so I’ll be careful what I write. One thing for sure is the fact that we never really know what’s in a person’s heart, and we absolutely cannot judge by outward appearances.
The teen girl saw through him immediately, and simply bore her way into his heart. The gratitude of the Hmong people and their open expressions were a sermon for all who saw the movie, but perhaps the most precious of all was Walt’s transformation and ultimate act of redemption. There are so many levels to discuss. In literary circles he would be considered a Christ architype. It was a great movie.
I met Hmong friends in graduate school (for social work) and learned quite about about their culture and the challenge they faced fleeing their homeland because of supporting US forces in the Viet Nam war. I thought the movie showed how Hmong people maintain some traditional ways in US “culture.”
The thing that stuck with me the most was when the teen girl said, “The girls go to college and the boys go to jail.” It made me think about how issues of power and domination control the bulk of human interaction, how hard it is to be male and feel like you always have something to prove, and how difficult it is to not be anglo in the US because of racism.
Clint Eastwood didn’t let me down. I’m glad I saw the flick.
I met Hmong friends in graduate school (for social work) and learned quite about about their culture and the challenge they faced fleeing their homeland because of supporting US forces in the Viet Nam war. I thought the movie showed how Hmong people maintain some traditional ways in US “culture.”
The thing that stuck with me the most was when the teen girl said, “The girls go to college and the boys go to jail.” It made me think about how issues of power and domination control the bulk of human interaction, how hard it is to be male and feel like you always have something to prove, and how difficult it is to not be anglo in the US because of racism.
Clint Eastwood didn’t let me down. I’m glad I saw the flick.