Gran Torino.

I went to see the new Clint Eastwood flick, Gran Torino, last night in the Boro. I liked it a lot. Clint plays Walt Kowalski, a recently widowed Polish-American retired autoworker, living in a neighborhood whose complexion has changed dramatically over the years. Walt's a bitter old dude. He and his family are estranged. He and his Church are estranged. He and his neighborhood are estranged. Walt measures his world in "us versus them": he tells racists jokes; hisHmong neighbors are "gooks" or "slants"; a trio of African-American punks are "spooks"; Men who don't meet their manly duties are "pussies"; even Walt's friends are Irish "Micks" or Italian "Wops". Among (or, perhaps, in a nod to the predominant cultural group in the movie, I could say a Hmong) the conflicts wound through the movie were: would innocent neighbor teen Thao be co-opted into the Hmong gang? Would Walt go to confession? Would Walt and his family reconcile? Would Walt whip up on the gangs? Who would get Walt's highly coveted 1972 mint condition Gran Torino? Would Walt keep everybody off of his lawn?

I've enjoyed Clint over the years, and, in quality and thoughtfulness this one was up there with Unforgiven. I'd say Clint has evolved quite a bit over the years. There are still lots of bullets, but now being the dude with the "most powerful handgun in the world" doesn't make you the good guy. Walt's no pussy; he's proof that "real men" can find redemption.