(2008) "I finish things. That's what I do." Living in a neighborhood of mostly Hmong immigrants in Detroit, Walt Kowalski (Clint Eastwood) is a bitter, dissatisfied, bigoted, racist, Korean War vet, retired after 50 years at the Ford plant.

A funeral service for his wife Dorothy opens this carefully crafted, symmetrical cinema, bringing opposites into resolution - directed and produced by Eastwood, from Nick Schenk's screenplay (Dirty Harry re-imagined cleans up his final act), based on a story by Dave Johnson - with his two sons, Mitch and Steve, their wives and children (all of whom Walt disapproves of their lifestyle, especially Mitch's selling Japanese cars) in the pews as Father Janovich (Christopher Carley) speaks of death as being both bittersweet for Catholics - "bitter for its pain" and "sweet for its salvation."

The 27-year-old priest persistently pesters Walt (who makes clear his disdain of the Church and its "padre") because he'd promised Dorothy he would hear her husband's confession. On the same day as the wake for Dorothy, the Lor family next door are entertaining guests following a baby's birth. The Hmong grandmother (questioning why this old white man hasn't left the neighborhood with the others) and Walt (seeing this horde of chinks as invaders) express mutual distaste toward each other without understanding each other's tongue by spitting in the other's presence.

Teenage grandson Thao Vang Lor (Bee Vang), his peaceful nature the antithesis of Walt's begrudging surliness, after resisting his cousin's urging him to join his gangbangers, finally relents: his initiation is to steal Walt's mint-condition 1972 Gran Torino. Unsuccessful and nearly caught, Thao, refusing to go willingly with his cousin when the gang returns to haul him off, gets unexpected help from Walt, rifle in hand, as the ruckus moves onto the white guy's lawn. Neighbors shower Walt with gifts, including garden plants and food, for standing up to the toughs.

Seeing Thao's older sister Sue being accosted by three black hoods, Walt pulls up in his white pickup truck and pulls out a pistol, rescuing her from their clutches. Accepting a ride home, she explains to Walt the origins of the Hmong and how after the Vietnam War (having fought on the US side) many families were brought to Michigan by Lutherans; she also says that Hmong girls tend to go to college while boys end up in prison.

After Thao, whom Walt calls "Toad," admits to trying to steal the car, as recompense (a matter of family honor) his mother and sister send Thao to Walt to perform a week's worth of work. At first not wanting to accept the boy's services, Walt decides to use the boy's labor to repair and clean up the neighborhood property.

On his birthday (without her knowing the occasion), Sue invites Walt over for a barbeque and beer where he gets an initiation into aspects of Hmong culture (which he calls "nuts," though the "gook food" is delicious), including a disquieting reading of his inner being from a shaman. Walt's also aware of an inner physical disturbance as a cough during the funeral has developed into coughing up blood.

Gradually Thao earns Walt's respect; Walt takes the fatherless boy under his wing (realizing the kid doesn't seem to have a chance on his own), teaching him skills, "manning him up" through a hilarious lesson with Walt's barber Martin, and getting him a job at a construction site. But when the gangbangers take revenge (following Walt's beating up and threatening one of the punks with serious ugliness if Thao is at the receiving end of any further harassment), an angry Walt appears ready to handle things in his own, unforgettable way.

Expecting Walt to lead the charge, Thao (on whom Walt pins his silver star), for the first time inflamed with hatred, is all for causing his enemies as much pain as possible. Walt's way, however, has been tempered over these months by the gentle nature of his neighbors and discussions with the young priest, who has won his grudging respect; also the haunting memories from killing in Korea have further left Walt with repugnance for violence on his part. Out of a life of pain, a man offers others salvation.

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Copyright © 2009 Patrick Ivers. All rights reserved.
Reproduced with the permission of the copyright holder.

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