Clint Eastwood’s masterpiece "Gran Torino" has grossed more than any previous film released in fewer than 100 theaters gaining younger audiences during the four-week span that the film has toured the marketplace. With $10 million already in the tank, the film could reach another $20 million into its total.

 

This kind of success perfectly suits the 78-year-old Hollywood icon that started off his career as John Wayne but seems to be finishing it as John Ford. "Gran Torino," is the movie in which Eastwood features for the 66th time as an actor and the 29th as a director. He seems convinced of the fact that the nuance of the film will prove to be surprising for some people.

The film opens at Walt Kowalski’s wife's funeral, where we meet his children and grandchildren, who are terrified of him. His slutty teenage granddaughter despises him but hopes he'll die and she will inherit his 1972 Gran Torino that he keeps in his garage.  This seems to be the only thing Walt actually cares about.

 

Walt gets drawn into the Hmong life when he stands up to a gang of thugs who usually terrorize the neighborhood he lives in, that has changed through the decades, and prevented them from assaulting one of his neighbors. The Asian culture, language and faces of these people remind Kowalski of his own dark deeds as a Korean War veteran, deeds that he had hoped were left behind, somewhere in the past. One of the gang’s victims is the quiet boy next door, Thao Vang Lor (Bee Vang), who is forced into attempting to steal Walt's prize possession.

 

As the days pass, Walt begins to like Thao and becomes a kind of mentor for him, teaching him how to talk like a man, how to deal with girls, and helping him get a job. Walt also bonds with Thao's sister Sue (Ahney Her), who was the only person around who was not intimidated by the fact that the man insults everyone he speaks to. He even insults the local parish priest. The most common reaction to his behavior is people’s smile as if he were joking, but nothing on Eastwood's face indicates humor. The actor knows better than anyone else what kind of effect his performance has on audiences, so it is hard to believe that he could direct "Gran Torino" without knowing how funny it is. So the question is whether "Gran Torino" is either a bad drama or a brilliantly subtle comedy.

 

Eastwood, as is his style, made the movie quickly and cheaply. The shots were taken in Detroit and nonprofessional actors were used - many of whom did not speak English – in order to originally portray the Hmong community members. Most days, he would tell his amateur players to run through a scene on set and he would secretly signal the camera crew to start rolling.

 

Eastwood is a four-time Oscar winner and, judging by the early reviews for "Gran Torino," chances are for him to receive more statuettes in the near future. His recent films "Changeling," "Million Dollar Baby," "Mystic River," "Flags of Our Fathers" and "Letters from Iwo Jima" seem to be essays on loss, wounded souls, sacrifice and past sins. "Torino" certainly won't win any awards for originality since it's a familiar story up until the end. But what makes this touching tale memorable is the fine acting by Eastwood and his rapport with this young, largely unknown cast. It's another strong entry in Eastwood's long resume.