Gran Torino

I’m really not a Clint Eastwood fan. I thought Mystic River was brilliant, but as an actor, he’s not my favorite -- I’m really not into the growl and scowl method. But Gran Torino looked good, and was supposed to get a bunch of Oscar nods. (Which it definitely didn’t.... Slumdog Millionaire is cleaning house, so far.)

Regardless, it was a decent movie.

Clint Eastwood was his typical, scowly self. He actually literally growled at another character at one point; his lip curled up and everything. I really think that his performances are indistinguishable from one movie to the next. He’s always the “typical” male. (Maybe even the ultimate male?) He played a Vietnam War vet with an attitude. The film begins with his wife’s funeral, and he subtly mourns her throughout. He’d never connected emotionally with his kids and, in his old age, just wanted to be left alone. What I found most interesting though, was his instinct to pull out a shotgun any time something threatened his property. He never hesitated to shove the nose of a gun in someone’s face or sincerely and legitimately threaten their lives. He had killed before, he said. What’s one more life?

Clint Eastwood’s was also massively racist. Living in a dominantly Chinese neighborhood, he was the only “white guy” left. His neighbor, and the primary supporting character, named Thao, is a teenage Hmong refugee who is victim to dozens of Walt’s (Eastwood) racial slurs. Thao is a mild kid, who lives with his mother and older sister, and does any domestic chore they ask him to. He’s berated by both Walt and his cousin for being whipped. According to them, Thao is a bitch excuse for a male; as Walt so loving puts it, a pusscake. But to the audience, Thao’s “submission” is endearing, a sign of devotion more than anything. As the movie concludes, and Walt’s character develops into Thao’s role model and protector, a truly more effective and sincere form of his masculinity. Thao’s character is also dynamic, and while he remains steadfastly yielding to his female family members, he too becomes a protector.

The most interesting character, though, is Thao’s sister, Sue. She defies the stereotypes of her culture by remaining headstrong and confidant, especially when confronted by men. She is the only character not intimidated by Walt, and makes it her personal duty to socialize and integrate him into her family and culture. She notably stands up to an intimidating group of large, male strangers, and is very nearly assaulted before Walt saves her. Likewise, she stands up to her gangbanger cousin, calling him out for his vulgarity and ignorance. His Hmong gang “puts her in her place” (while trying to prove to Thao that they are basically the shit) by violently raping and beating her.