Exactly one week to Christmas and one week till my number one movie of 2009 is unveiled. Today sees another American movie made in 2008 but released in Ireland in 2009 enter the countdown. A critics and awards favourite this could prove to be the final swansong of a legend.
The 8th best movie of 2009 is…
Walt Kowalski lives a solitary existence, retired from the auto industry he spends his days fixing things at home, drinking beer and relaxing. All of his old neighbour have either passed away or moved on, and his neighbourhood is now rapidly filling with immigrants from Southeast Asia, a situation he is not entirely happy with. When a young Asian boy attempts to steal his beloved 1972 Gran Torino he unwittingly becomes a neighbourhood hero but standing up to the gang that sent young Thao on said mission. Taking Thao under his wing he forms an unlikely friendship and soon both lives are changed forever.
Why it is worthy: If this is to be Clint Eastwood’s final performance in front of a camera then it’s a worthy and fitting tribute to one of Hollywood’s greatest talents. His performance here, whilst not his very best, is strong and belies his age. His character Walt is a self-centred, angry, belligerent, racist old bastard but yet he’s likeable and his redemption is welcome. This is down to Eastwood’s portrayal just as much as the script and both could so easily have given way to caricature. He’s even funny, wit and sarcasm poring front with effortless ease. Eastwood the director is also on fine form, giving a lean, clean and crisp air to the film, and allowing the actors time to grow. Unknown actor Bee Vang is equal to the great one and his performance as Thao is full of nuanced grace and potential. It may have a smaller cast, crew, set design and all the rest compared to Eastwood’s previous films but it never feels like a budget effort.
Fatal flaws: It’s another in a long line of cross-generation buddy movies and it’s becoming a tired formula. The script is full of casual racism and sometimes it feels like it’s only put in their to provide a joke. The notion that these Asian immigrants would need a white saviour is very old hat indeed. Eastwood the director is not fond of multiple takes which means that some clumsiness and actors mistakes make their way onscreen and it can distract. It feels rough around the edges, like an unfinished masterwork. Eastwood sells his characters redemption brilliantly but in lesser hands it could have been a hackneyed disaster.
Verdict: For anyone who says that you don’t make movies like the used to Gran Torino is the counter-argument. Emotionally powerful, expertly grounded and brilliantly told, this is high-quality fare.
25. This Is It
24. Adventureland
23. Drag Me To Hell
22. Anvil
21. In the Loop
20. Watchmen
19. The Hangover
18. Coraline
17. Public Enemies
16. (500) Days of Summer
15. Harry Brown
14. The Wrestler
13. Fantastic Mr. Fox
12. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
11. The Hurt Locker
10. A Serious Man
9. Let The Right One In
Film shows how good Eastwood still is as an actor. He’s fantastic as a director too. Can’t wait for his Morgan as Nelson pic.
This film taught me a lot of new racial slurs though. None of which can be mentioned here for fear of a backlash.
Well deserved! Thought it was a brilliant movie!
I thoroughly enjoyed Gran Torino when I saw it earlier this year, it’s an amazing movie. I was a bit afraid at the start that it was Clint Eastwood playing an amalgamation of Clint Eastwood roles and to an extent it is but it moves beyond that too, to a wonderful story.
Great choice.