Movie: Gran Torino
Produced, directed by and starring Clint Eastwood – that’s the reason I went to see this one on the big screen (no easy task in itself these days). It doesn’t disappoint. Old, racist war veteran Walt Kowalski lives in the same Detroit neighborhood where he raised his two estranged sons. We open with his wife’s funeral, and trace his life from there.
It’s very lean film-making: sets, and shots are clean, just enough to get the point across. Much of the cast had no prior acting experience – this gives it a bit of a “Degrassi High” feel at times, mixed with portrayals of violence and gang culture. Eastwood steals almost every scene he’s in, and there’s much to think about afterwards.