The Over/Under- MOVIES ABOUT TOYS WE PLAYED WITH 20 YEARS AGO

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The Over/Under

Underrated: GRAN TORINO

Gran Torino is the most important movie to tackle immigration since Soderbergh's seminal Traffic (2000). Whereas Soderbergh's film used broad strokes on an expansive canvas, Eastwood's chose a sharp pencil and a napkin. The story centers on Walt Kowalski, a grizzled Korean war veteran/recent widower/disappointed father/lovable racist and his last stand against the neighborhood he once loved. Unlike his recent performances in Million Dollar Baby and True Crime, Eastwood ditched the bark for pure bite. Walt has a lot more in common with the ruthless Stranger in High Plains Drifter than he does with the reluctant hero (with the heart of gold) Will Munny in Unforgiven. In fact, Unforgiving would also be an accurate title for Gran Torino ; based on Kowalski's chilly relationship with his yuppified sons.

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I'm not here to review this film. I'll leave that to Roger Ebert. (There is reason he won the Pulitzer)

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081217/REVIEWS/812179989/1023

This movie stayed with me for a few days, like a welcome cheesteak burp.

A few things that rattled my cap..

• Walt's touching relationship with his Hmong neighbors- At first, dismissed as "slopes and chinks", Walt slowly sees more of himself in the hardworking immigrants next door, than he does in his own ungrateful, bloated brood. He learns to enjoy their exotic food, welcoming gestures and most of all their fierce loyalty. After Kowalski saves the life of teenage Thao ( a natural and heartbreaking performance by Bee Vang) from a local Hmong gang, he is considered family for life, whether he likes it or not. By the end of the movie, not only does Kowalski bestow his beloved 1972 Gran Torino on Thao, he also tones down his slurs until he is only referring to them as "slants" (baby steps, Walt!).
• Walt Kowalski, a second generation Polish immigrant, has watched his old world values deteriorate into the lazy consumerism embraced by his kids and grand kids. In the Hmong family next door, Walt sees the ghost of his parents struggles. In fact, an American classic automobile like the Gran Torino, was oiled with the sweat of first generation Micks, Dagos and Pollacks. It may be 2009 for us, but its 1972 for fledgling Hmong's in America.
• The title song Gran Torino, penned by Michael Stevens and Kyle Eastwood (nepotism at its absolute best), provides both closure (by passing on Walts storied Legacy) and lingering doubt for the future of America. After all, in the year since this film was made the mighty Big Three are no more.

Please download both versions of the song since one features Clint himself on vocals...

http://www.tracksounds.com/reviews/gran_torino_kyle_eastwood_michael_stevens.htm

Clint Eastwood has atoned for the melodramatic Oscar-whoring mess that was Million Dollar Baby to make his finest film since Mystic River.

Final thought:

At 78, Clint Eastwood could still kick my ass...easily.

Next Week- Overrated: MOVIES ABOUT TOYS WE PLAYED WITH TWENTY YEARS AGO

The Over/Under

OVERRATED: When did they start putting grain alcohol in the office cooler? Don't believe the break room hype. The Hangover is not the funniest movie of all-time. Its not even the funniest movie of this bleak summer season. That distinction belongs to the upcoming Bruno. I laughed more at the trailer than I did at the entire half baked Hangover. Check it out at IMDB:

http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi399835673/

"But Million Dollar Rebel, it was fucking hilarious when Mike Tyson sings that old Miami Vice song by Phil Collins". I thought it was contrived and vaguely sad to see Iron Mike flex his broken funny bone. a few other things that stuck in my craw...

• Waking up with a tiger and an infant? May have worked in a Bugs Bunny cartoon but not in a situation comedy. Visual gags like tigers on toilets have to be explained with more than "we must really been drunk last night.." Also who would carry a lost infant around town and not alert the authorities. Think about how twisted that is. It was a long way to go to get a laugh out of Zack Whatshisname with a front loaded baby papoose.
• A nerdy Asian guy who unleashes a Kung Fu attack? Cough..
• A drunken marriage to a stripper with the proverbial heart of gold? Haven't seen that cliche in about five minutes. Note to Roller Girl: Take your clothes off again, there's your comeback.
• A lead actor (Bradley Cooper) who can't decide whether he's the hero or the cad. We gasp at his fratty roguish antics only to purr when we see what a sensitive father he is to his son. I saw this performance done better and funnier by Vince Vaughn in Todd Phillips previous foray into Boystown, Old School. Bradley Cooper walks and talks like he was born and raised in Galifornia. He must've grown up on the soft side of Old York Road.
• Also next time you want a sleazy locale for a debased bromance, ditch Las Vegas. It has become Times Square meets Disney World meets Cosco. If you want skanks, n'er do wells and miscreants sprinkled with $3 blackjack, take your bachelor party to Reno. And when you get to town, head straight for the Nugget and ask for the "Awful/Awful". It is the best burger you will ever eat..

http://www.flickr.com/groups/awfulawful/

There is no movie cliches in Reno. After a night of drinking there will be no crying babies or circus tigers in your room. Just an old fashioned dead hooker..

NEXT WEEK-

UNDERRATED: Gran Torino