Gran Torino

Clint Eastwood's latest has him portraying a crotchety curmudgeon of a war veteran living in a Hmong area of Detroit. Hardly a stretch for him considering his past body of work. Gran Torino had some potential, but the uncreative emotional manipulation that Eastwood has used in the past backfires here with a shallow story that is driven primarily by his gravelly voice and disapproving glare.

I have long admired the simplicity of Eastwood's creations - Million Dollar Baby, Unforgiven, even Mystic River (a little more complex than the others), but his formula for success hits a brick wall here as there is little more than clever insults that seem almost charming coming from the old man.

The family is almost comic relief, and although the film is good for a few laughs via good lines, it detracts entirely from the point of the film, and the deeper themes of morality, and the old Eastwood favorite - street justice.

The build-up is slow, although there is some enjoyment getting to know the old man who bides his time sitting on the porch smoking, chewing and drinking with his dog, just watching the neighbors and using antiquated racial insults.

The problem is that there is no real hook. Why is this bigot going out of his way to save the neighbor boy? Why does he care? Maybe it is some sense of lifelong regret or a need for atonement, but it doesn't fit with the rotten nature of his character, so it is a little unbelievable.

I enjoy Eastwood films for the most part, and this one makes a genuine attempt to tug at the heart strings, but the facade is transparent, and ineffective. I wouldn't expect to see any nominations for this one besides original song (which there are typically few enough to warrant absurd nominations). 6/10.