Spring Break
Are you feeling lucky, Hmong?
Clint Eastwood returns in front of the camera, still at the top of his game
Peter Banuelos
Issue date: 1/16/09 Section: Diversions
What goes around comes around. Some believe this to be true, and others don't. But, when it comes to Clint Eastwood, it rings true. Clint Eastwood is a cowboy. He has always been a cowboy and will forever be a cowboy. Whether he was acting like a tough guy in spaghetti westerns, asking bad guys if they felt lucky or driving around in a pickup truck with a monkey, he is a man's man whose squinty eyes fill you with a certain amazement as you realize that Clint Eastwood is Hollywood's last true American cowboy.
But Clint Eastwood has been directing for the last few years, earning nominations and awards for movies like "Mystic River," "Million Dollar Baby" and "Flags of our Fathers." So what happened to the trigger-happy, tough-as-nails, chain-smoking tough guy we all knew and feared? Where have all the cowboys gone? Okay, sorry about the last lyrical reference, but seriously, did Clint Eastwood really hang up the metaphorical sombrero?
No. He was just waiting around for a script like "Gran Torino," a film that fits him like a glove (with a gun in it).
Gran Torino is a film about the changing times, life and death, as well as the good, the bad and racism. Clint Eastwood plays Walt Kowalski, an old-fashioned, gritty, unapologetic, racist old man who lives in a neighborhood that has become mostly Hmong. Kowalski fought in Korea years ago and he hates Asians for mostly this reason. He is racist toward others, but it is this hatred of his Hmong neighbors that causes the most friction. It isn't until his next door neighbor, a kid named Thao Vang Lor (Bee Vang), tries to steal Kowalski's Gran Torino that things get violent.
Thao tries to take the Gran Torino. It is his initiation into his cousin's gang. But he is unsuccessful and no longer wants to be in a gang. This does not make his cousin very happy, so the gang then tries to forcefully make Thao join. Kowalski hears the commotion and comes to save the day, unintentionally, as he points his military rifle at the gang members. Walt's neighbors start to like him and bring him gifts, and Kowalski takes Thao under his wing and tries to teach him to be a man.
But there is no fairy-tale ending, giving the movie one of the more life-like endings in a long time. It is art imitating life. This is the reason "Gran Torino" is such a great film. Clint Eastwood does a great job directing and an even better job playing Kowalski. Even though he plays this character much like the other cowboy-like tough guys (more racist), he adds to the man and brings him to life. It is all that I could have wanted from this film, and Mr. Eastwood, although he has outgrown the boots and spurs, still brings the gun-slinging to the big screen.
Peter Banuelos
diversions@dailybarometer.com
But Clint Eastwood has been directing for the last few years, earning nominations and awards for movies like "Mystic River," "Million Dollar Baby" and "Flags of our Fathers." So what happened to the trigger-happy, tough-as-nails, chain-smoking tough guy we all knew and feared? Where have all the cowboys gone? Okay, sorry about the last lyrical reference, but seriously, did Clint Eastwood really hang up the metaphorical sombrero?
No. He was just waiting around for a script like "Gran Torino," a film that fits him like a glove (with a gun in it).
Gran Torino is a film about the changing times, life and death, as well as the good, the bad and racism. Clint Eastwood plays Walt Kowalski, an old-fashioned, gritty, unapologetic, racist old man who lives in a neighborhood that has become mostly Hmong. Kowalski fought in Korea years ago and he hates Asians for mostly this reason. He is racist toward others, but it is this hatred of his Hmong neighbors that causes the most friction. It isn't until his next door neighbor, a kid named Thao Vang Lor (Bee Vang), tries to steal Kowalski's Gran Torino that things get violent.
Thao tries to take the Gran Torino. It is his initiation into his cousin's gang. But he is unsuccessful and no longer wants to be in a gang. This does not make his cousin very happy, so the gang then tries to forcefully make Thao join. Kowalski hears the commotion and comes to save the day, unintentionally, as he points his military rifle at the gang members. Walt's neighbors start to like him and bring him gifts, and Kowalski takes Thao under his wing and tries to teach him to be a man.
But there is no fairy-tale ending, giving the movie one of the more life-like endings in a long time. It is art imitating life. This is the reason "Gran Torino" is such a great film. Clint Eastwood does a great job directing and an even better job playing Kowalski. Even though he plays this character much like the other cowboy-like tough guys (more racist), he adds to the man and brings him to life. It is all that I could have wanted from this film, and Mr. Eastwood, although he has outgrown the boots and spurs, still brings the gun-slinging to the big screen.
Peter Banuelos
diversions@dailybarometer.com
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coffee
posted 1/16/09 @ 12:46 PM PST
Clint Eastwood used his outward crankiness to come across as tough and yet also heroic at the same time, well done i'd say
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