Gran Torino Movie Review
From an Old White Guy's Perspective
A gruff old white guy who said what he felt and didn't give a damn if it hurt someone's feelings. A man who spurted stereotypical racist comments at the drop of a hat but who didn't truly have a racist bone in his body.
A man whose actions proved so much more noble than his words.
It was a gritty movie (what did you expect from "Dirty Harry"?), with the kind of course dialog you wouldn't want to hear in the same room with your mom or daughter.
"Gran Torino" is filled with the sort of thing you could overhear in greasy spoons and old fashioned barber shops full of jovial elderly white men across the south...maybe even the northern US, too...but I don't get up that way much.
Gran Torino doesn't excuse the racist speech of those who have failed to change with the politically correct times. Neither does it judge the dinosaurs who never came to understand, acknowledge, or care about the pain and hurt their verbal slurs created.
"Gran Torino" doesn't condemn or condone, rather it illustrates that some of those guys might not be evil, after all.
I rented Gran Torino from Netflix and watched it at home.
I was free to laugh at some of the highly offensive things the main character said. I'm not sure I would have laughed as hard or as loud if I'd seen it in a public theater. Even as I write this I wonder whether I should have laughed so much at certain parts.
The final message from "Gran Torino" is about actions and sacrifice meaning so much more than words, and how the depth of a man's character can be the exact opposite of what lies upon the surface.
It's a Dirty Harry / Mother Teresa hybrid and the result is heart-warming, saddening, and terrifying.
The "Gran Torino" vessel carries a large number of lessons, one being that beneath the skin and traditions, we are all simply human, no more, no less.
I highly recommend "Gran Torino".
It's an intellectual blender that entertains yet provokes the humanitarian and philosopher in us, so expect it to leave you with intense mixed feelings.
Bring a handkerchief or some facial tissue. There are parts where you'll have tears of laughter, and parts where you'll have tears of sadness.
Published by Timothy Frazier
Tim is a freelance blogger and creative writer living in Grapevine, Texas. He enjoys riding his Triumph Rocket III, woodworking, and making his Grandson, Jade, giggle. He and his wonderful wife, Robin, ha... View profile
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6 Comments
Post a CommentI've always liked Clint Eastwood (still love Rawhide). Haven't yet seen this film, but will. Thanks for an excellent review.
Excellent review Timothy. I LOVED Gran Torino!
I like your take on this. I still haven't seen it yet.
What an awesome, gritty, down-to-earth review as only a gritty, down-to-earth bloke like yerself could deliver! Thanks for sharing; it makes me really wanna see this cool Eastwood flick ASAP!
It's good to see an honest exploration of the intersection of racist words and racist intentions. Though it certainly is possible for someone to say something racist and not be a racist, that person ought to have some concern for how his words-not merely his intentions- can hurt other people.
Tim, I LOVED that movie!!! We saw it on the big screen -- and I noticed that at the end, the women in the audience tended to be tearful -- but the old white guys were grinning and giving a BEEEEG thumbs up! Huzzah to Clint Eastwood -- and good review on your part! :)