Having been a Clint Eastwood fan for most of my adult life, and having read that Gran Torino was to be his swansong as an actor, I duly made a pilgrimage to the cinema last week. It is with some regret that I have to report being disappointed. This is not one of his better efforts either as actor or as director.
In the film, Eastwood plays an embittered and racist Korean War veteran who is estranged from modern society and the neighbourhood in which he has continued to live, despite the growing immigrant population. He is, however, an essentially decent man who, whilst intolerant of the Asian family who live next door, comes to their defence when they are threatened by local gangs. He thereby reluctantly becomes a hero in the eyes of the Asian community and the family’s kindness to him brings about the misanthrope’s redemption.
Although Clint appears to be in remarkably good shape for a 78 year old, his performance is rather creaky. The persona he has adopted is similar to that of the boxing trainer he played in Million Dollar Baby. The role also has strong echoes of Dirty Harry. Unfortunately it often came across as a caricature of his former self (perhaps deliberately, but I’m not convinced) and the excessive spitting, growling and scowling became a little tedious. It has apparently been suggested that he may be nominated for a Best Actor Oscar for the role. If that were to happen, it would be inappropriate, albeit in keeping with the sentimentality associated with the Academy Awards.
At his best, Eastwood is a natural screen actor with great charisma. I remember the late Dilys Powell, possibly the best film critic of her day, being greatly impressed by his talent. It is, therefore, a shame that, after such a long career, his final performance should be so mannered.
The film itself is a real curate’s egg. First, the bad bits. The development of the plot is largely predictable. There is a post-climactic scene (which I won’t describe as it might spoil the ending) that is horribly hackneyed. There is also a scene, in which Eastwood teaches his young Asian neighbour how to communicate with other men in a masculine fashion, which simply does not work. The moral of the film, the need for tolerance (literally, love thy neighbour) is handled with a lack of subtlety. Finally, Clint’s attempt at singing, over the closing credits, is embarrassing.
The good bits include a fair sprinkling of humour; an impressive performance by Ahney Her, as the daughter of the Asian family; and an ending which may not be what one anticipated. Moreover, despite its faults, the film is certainly entertaining and I’m pleased I saw it.
Rating: ****
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