Simple Man Entertainment

Welcome back to Simple Man Entertainment today. I have written about a few movies here, and I have said repeatedly that I would that I would write about Clint Eastwood’s “Gran Torino”. Well I finally got to see this movie over the weekend and I wish I had seen it a lot sooner. Anyway here is my long awaited post on “Gran Torino”.

Written by Nick Schenk and Dave Johannson and was released in January of 2009. “Gran Torino” opened at the box office to wide critical acclaim, and took the lead in box office earnings for that week. “Gran Torino” continued to claim excellent box office earnings for several weeks too.

“Gran Torino” is a story about a former Korean War veteran and retired auto worker named Walt Kowalski (Clint Eastwood). The film begins with the funeral of Walt’s wife who appears to be the only person he ever cared about. It is immediately apparent that Walt is not a very happy person with himself, his family, and the world in general.

It is also evident that Walt has no respect for anybody either. Father Janovich (Christopher Carley) the parish priest who had befriended Walt’s wife and promised her to look after Walt is a major sourced of Walt’s disrespect. Walt’s family receives a large helping of disrespect from Walt also. Walt’s new neighbors receive the greatest amount of Walts disrespect as well as his hatred because of their ethnicity.

Walt Kowalski’s neighbors are also the catalysts for Kowalski’s actions from near the beginning of this story to its climactic unexpected end. Walt’s new neighbors are tribal Hmong people from the hills of Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. When you add this to Walts nightmare experiences during the Korean War they are the obvious targets for this troubled man to vent his anger and hate upon.

It also doesn’t help their relationship with Walt when the oldest son of Walt’s neighbors Thao (Bee Vang) attempts to steal Walt’s prized possession his 1972 Ford Gran Torino. Unfortunately for Thao, he was forced to try to steal the car by his cousin who leads the local Hmong gang because he wants Thao initiated into the gang. I say unfortunately because Walt catches Thao in the act.

This one single act sets the stage for everything else that happens in the movie. Thaos family forces him to apologize and serve Walt for a period of time as a form of penance for the attempted theft. During the course of events that surround Walt during this time he is finally befriended by Thaos sister Sue (Ahney Her).

Apparently Thaos gangster cousin is not satisfied with Thaos fumbled attempt at stealing the Gran Torino and attempts to force Thao to try again. In the struggle that ensues between Thao and his family against the gang, their fight spills over into Walt’s yard and these wannabe tough guys meet Walt and his M1 Garand rifle up close and personal.

After this confrontation Walt’s neighborhood, which is mostly ethnic Hmong people see Walt as the Neighborhood hero, a position that Walt is unwilling to accept. In apparent Walt Kowalski fashion he ultimately accepts an invitation to dinner at his neighbors and becomes a respected man and potential friend.

He also befriends Thao at this time and teaches him some skills that he can use to find a job. Thao is a willing student and learns the lessons Walt teaches him in handling tools as well as the lessons he teaches Thao in order to man him up. However Walts new found friendships with his neighbors are disrupted once again by the local Hmong gang.

These gangsters jump Thao after work, shoot up his house in a drive-by, and seriously beat up Sue. Walt becomes so enraged by all of this happening in his neighborhood and to his friends, so he decides to take matters into his own hands. In typical Eastwood tough guy fashion Walt finally puts an end to the gang problem in his neighborhood.

However I will not divulge the end of this epic Clint Eastwood vehicle, but I will tell you that it is not the ending one would expect from an Eastwood film. The ending is extremely powerful and poignant though. I would definitely recommend this movie as a must see to all of you. It might even be able to teach your children a valuable lesson about becoming involved with gangs.

I hope you all have enjoyed this post and that you also enjoy the trailer as well. That is all I have for you today but I will be back again very soon CIAO4NOW!!!!!