Does the great Clint Eastwood have a huge fan followingamong cine lovers? Maybe he has hisloyal following as a film maker more rather than an actor (of late). TheSeptuagenarian is generally making his own independent movies backed by the BigHollywood studios (?) and his pace being rapid. Presently Changeling (justreleased in India; director) and Gran Torino (actor/director) are his latestreleases. My opinion about Eastwood was that he makes damn serious movies, mostof them considered great though I am yet to see Letters from Iwo Jima,Unforgiven - one of his best worksconsidered and his famous spaghetti western films.
I watched his latest serious take on the present AmericanSociety plagued with ethnic problems and the degrading American family systemwithout being bored as subtle comic elements are embedded in Walt Kowalski(Eastwood’s character), the retired Korean War Veteran. Eastwood towers overthe film with his mean and real performance, his face expression will last withyou when the movie is over. The moviehas background score whenever required and is provided by the director’s son.It carries the serious stamp of Eastwood films.
The relations of Waltz with the Padri Janovich and Hmong boymakes the centre of the story line and without being bossy or vociferous hesuccessfully embedded his values in these two supporting characters who gothrough a give and take relationship with Waltz during the course of the plot. ThoughEastwood portrays a character that is a bit of a loner but he becomes selflesswhen he has to fight or rise against injustices once he gets the feel of them.Even his sacrifice at the end is befitting solution for his neighborhood whichis ethnically Chinese and his neighbors are scared to mix with the mainstreamAmericans living next door to them.
The plot starts this way: Following the death of his wife, Kowalski is leftin the house in which he has lived for decades with only his dog Daisy forcompany. The people he once called neighbors have moved away or died, replacedby immigrants from Southeast Asia, whom he despises.His sons and their familiesare waiting for him to die so someone can claim Walt's most prized possession,a 1972 Ford Gran Torino. They rest you can figure out when you watch thismovie..
