Gran Torino

One of the great defining faces of American cinema, Clint Eastwood returns for what is reportedly his last acting role in Gran Torino, capping off a great Eastwood 2008, which also saw him direct Changeling, starring Angelina Jolie. Channelling the roles that made him so great and iconic, such as Harry Callahan from the Dirty Harry series and ‘The Man with No Name’, Gran Torino sees Eastwood playing a bigoted grandfather, alone in a changing world after his wife dies - except for his faithful dog. When his new neighbours, Hmongs, move in next-door his contempt is made apparent, until one day their teenage son Thao (Bee Vang) is terrorised by a local gang and forced to try and steal Walt’s beloved Gran Torino classic automobile. Walt steps forward to defend him, and the repercussions begin.

The language is coarse and sometimes offensive, but it is for a reason; showing the transition from a misogynistic man filled with prejudice who then regains the compassion he once had as a soldier during the Korean war, fighting for something he believes in. Eastwood is the main draw here, and it’s obvious that his unflinching directorial eye is as uncompromising as it has been with such established classics such as Play Misty for Me, Million Dollar Baby, and, of course, Unforgiven. For both diehard Eastwood fans and those who are relatively new to his films, this meets in between and is a great way to see a truly thrilling film by a man on top form.

Jack Porter