Stop now if you don't want to read profanity or racial slurs as that is a large part of this film.


"Ever notice how you come across somebody once in a while you shouldn't have fucked with? That's me." Coming from Clint Eastwood, this statement resonates with truth, even at seventy five years old. Don't fuck with Clint Eastwood; he will kick your ass. With the exception of The Bridges of Madison County (which I'm sure he only agreed to do because he got to rail Meryll Streep,) Clint Eastwood punches and/or shoots people in the face in every movie. And why not? He can. Gran Torino is no exception. Clint is still a badass, even if he is an aging one.

Picture the extremely racist, old ex-marine living alone next door who is always pissed off about nothing in particular and just sits on his porch all day drinking beer and hoping for the opportunity to yell at someone to get off his lawn. You now have a picture of Walt Kowalski (played by Eastwood) in Gran Torino. When the new Asian neighbors move in, all Walt can think is that those zipperheads better stay off his lawn. Walt inadvertently becomes a hero to his neighbors when he drives off a gang who was trying to recruit the neighbor boy, Thao. Of course, Walt only wanted them off his lawn. He receives dozens of gifts every day from every Asian family in the neighborhood. He then comes to the rescue of Thao's sister, Su. This crotchety old bastard finds he has become very fond of the pair. In fact, he has become fond of the entire colony of "swamp rats."

"Christ! I have more in common with these gooks than I do with my own family," he mutters in disbelief as half a dozen Chinese women are piling food on his plate.

The gang returns to cause more trouble for Thao and Su. But what these morons don't plan on is the baddest son-of-a-bitch walking the face of the Earth wielding a Korean War era, bolt-action rifle and a terrifying grimace. "I used to stack fucks likes you five feet high in Korea... use ya for sand bags," he says to the gang bangers through those classic Eastwood gritted teeth. While this may sound like it would have a typical Clint Eastwood kicks the shit out of every bad guy ending, there is a bit of a twist. Oh, Clint lays the wood, to be sure, but with a little different style.

This movie is brilliant. It is both funny and moving as Eastwood's character transforms from grumpy old racist to caring (but still grumpy) mentor and protector of two young Asian kids that he comes to regard as his true family. Eastwood's depiction of a hardass with a heart of gold is truly impressive. This could be the best movie Eastwood has ever made. That is from a Clint Eastwood fan. I didn't think anything would ever replace The Outlaw Josie Wales in my heart. See it. See it now. Drop what you're doing and see it.