Keep in mind that we don’t go to the movies often. In fact, I can count on one hand the number of times we have paid to see a movie within the last fifteen years. A small incentive is our “senior citizen discount.” I believe it is 25 cents each, at our local theaters. We have liked Clint Eastwood, forever. My favorite movie of his was “Dirty Harry.” He may be most famous for the words, “Make my day!”
Just last week, a friend of mine told me that she and her husband had seen “Gran Torino.” She recommended it highly, so the next day, we went to the afternoon showing. Hardly anyone was in attendance, perhaps six people in all. I couldn’t stand the previews of upcoming events, but suffered through the noise and violence.
As the movie opens, Clintwood is a grouchy old man who has just lost his wife, and finds himself and his old dog living next door to an immigrant family. I was transfixed with the story line and character development. The protagonist had worked all of his life in the Ford factory and the one tangible item he owns as part of that memory is his car. His family does not understand him and thinks he is a dotty old thing to be put somewhere, a place where he can receive “care.” Meanwhile, they are taking a mental account of all of his belongings, greedily, with the idea that perhaps he won’t last much longer, and they will be able to “clean up.” In fact, he is terribly ill, but that does not keep him from taking the teenager next door under his wing. An amusing part of the movie was when he taught the boy to “talk like a man.” Silly, but the scenes did provide comic relief.
I was amazed at how much action transpired, involving so many characters, within the confines of so short a time, the time it took to run the movie. The ending is a surprise, and I won’t spoil it for you. The whole movie was one of cultural immersion, and provides a lot to ponder. In my opinion, this movie event is a must-see, and is one of the better offerings of late. Clintwood produced the fim, as well as being its star. As usual, he is a compelling actor. I look forward to more movies by him and with him, but if this one was his last, it would still be one to remember.
“Grandmother Pat” -Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications
