Walt Kowalski is a widower, grumpy, tough-minded, borderline-hateful, unhappy old man who can't get along with either his kids or his neighbors, a Korean War veteran whose prize possession is a 1973 Gran Torino he keeps in cherry condition. When his neighbor Tao, a young Hmong teenager, tries to steal his Gran Torino, Kowalski sets out to reform the youth. Drawn against his will into the life of Tao's family, Kowalski is soon taking steps to protect them form the gangs that foul their neighborhood.

Gran Torino is all about Clint Eastwood, every part of the movie that was good and or great was because of him. From his acting, to his directing even to him singing the end credits the film is all about Eastwood he sells it and he makes it great. It’s a shame we don’t see him acting in very many movies nowdays because clearly with age he has gotten even better as an actor. And you can also see all the wisdom of his years in Hollywood in the part as he picked a role that was absolutely perfect for him. His scowl, his growl his very presence on the screen is what makes this movie so much fun to watch and what makes it so good. Its hard to imagine anyone else in the role and I doubt anyone else could pull it off. When he pulls a gun you have to fear he truly is going to use it and you believe Walt Kowalski is a person you could run into. Eastwood pours a lot of himself into the film and its great because of it.

The best part of the film is that it doesn’t shy away from being politically correct and is not afraid to use racial slurs. It is almost an odd thing to hear an audience laughing at somebody being called a spik or a spook and if Walt Kowalski truly didn’t have a big heart and while he means what he says the movie couldn’t have pulled it off. But that is Walt Kowalski he’s not afraid to say what’s on his mind even if its bound to offend everyone who hears it. It’s the charm of the character Walt Kowalski even though he is offensive, racist and crude he still cares and still has charisma about him. You care for him because he finds away to care for a people that he has hated for over fifty years and shows a kindness to them. And even though he is offensive and hateful at times he also has a soul and he wins you over as an audience member. You almost have to imagine Walt as an aged Harry Callahan from the Dirty Harry series. What if Dirty Harry grew old and found himself living in a gang ridden neighborhood which is a fantastic idea for a movie by itself.

As fine as an actor Eastwood still is he may be an even better director. He draws you into his films and he entertains you for every moment you watch them. He truly is a master of cinema and one of the best directors in Hollywood right now. His movies aren’t full of action nor explosions but rather he always tells a tale of human drama and life. His movies also seem to always have a hint of sadness to them just like life does. He celebrates life all the while recognizing death and old age. He is a master at his craft and few do it as well as he does.

Besides Eastwood honestly the rest of the cast really doesn’t put in that great of performances. If there is a downside to the movie its just that as the supporting cast aren’t nearly as good as Eastwood and seem to be in his shadow the entire movie. Bee Vang who plays Tao whom Walt befriends in his gruff manner might give the best performance of the rest of the cast as he truly seems to come to love and respect Walt. Ahney Her as Sue has to be the weakest performance as she just seems to sleepwalk through most of her lines. But despite a less than stellar supporting cast the movie is still highly enjoyable and entertaining and its all about Clint Eastwood’s performance anyways and he puts in one of the best of his career.

Grade: B+