Gran Torino (2008)

Finally we are back up to speed with this excellent multi-nominee! (I felt bad for not liking Seven Pounds and Valkyrie.) If you like Clint Eastwood, you'll love this. Even if you don't, it's not just for old white guys. Eastwood directed, produced, composed and performed a song, and starred in this tale of a patronizing, bigoted, just unpleasant Korean War vet, Walt Kowalski of Detroit, who gets involved with his Hmong neighbors after the death of Walt's beloved wife, who was a devout Catholic (though he is not). Especially in the beginning, he growls as much as he speaks (listen for his growly voice on the song). We saw a 5:15 show downtown on opening night, and the quarter-full house (unusual to have that many on a Friday afternoon) laughed uncomfortably and often at Walt's unapologetic racial slurs. As usual, I had memorized the scenes from the oft-screened trailer by the time the movie opened, but the story was not entirely predictable, the pacing was excellent, and the end just right. Rated R for a reason. All of the Hmong characters were played by Hmong actors and all but one (the gangleader Spider, portrayed by Doua Moua) were acting for the first time. Wow. They did well. Eastwood's son Scott Eastwood had a good scene as Sue's Anglo boyfriend. This was his first credit under his own name (in Clint's Flags of Our Fathers (2006) and 3 others, he was credited as Scott Reeves, his mother's maiden name). His half-brother, Kyle Eastwood, composed the score.