Gran Torino is a Smart, Funny Ride

The following review is by the Super Mommy,

a regular contributor to the movie mommy blog!

Clint Eastwood still has it. If you have any doubt that the man who originated the concept of the action hero with his “Dirty Harry” movies can still cut the mustard, go see “Gran Torino.” Eastwood is writing the book on what it means to be an elder statesman of action films – by gracefully aging his way into roles that showcase his heroic skills without being ridiculous, that are intelligent but not preachy, thought-provoking but still a thrill-ride of excitement and humor.
In “Gran Torino,” a VERY old-looking Eastwood plays Walt Kowalski, an unrepentant bigot who is incensed at the degeneration he sees taking place around him as poverty, immigrants and drug-dealers move into his once-bucolic, middle-class suburban Michigan neighborhood. A former Ford factory worker and Korean War vet, Walt lives alone after the death of his wife, with a dog, lots of beer and his classic Gran Torino as his only comforts. His family – two sons, two trophy wives and three spoiled grandchildren – are distant, disinterested and just waiting for the old man to kick the bucket so they can get their hands on what few possessions he has left.
Haunted by memories of the war, isolated from anyone who really cares about him, Walt is understandably abrasive and verbally abusive to almost anyone who tries to reach out to him, including the young Catholic priest who ministered to Walt’s wife in her final days. But at heart, Kowalski is a man who believes in right and wrong, and he reluctantly finds himself drawn into the lives of his Hmong neighbors when he sees them trying to valiantly face down evil within their community.
With Eastwood as director and star, I expected great drama, some excitement and enough action to keep me in my seat. I was surprised by the amount of humor laced throughout “Gran Torino.” Yes, it’s a great thrill ride and some intense drama, but it’s also funny as hell. Most of the humor is racially motivated, but it works because it reveals the absurdity of racism without making Walt look like a fool. I actually laughed more during this movie than when I watched “Pineapple Express.”
While the supporting cast does a credible job, Eastwood is really the star of the show and it’s his performance that makes it work. He proves he can still be a hard-ass with heart, an anti-hero who is noble and heroic to the core, in spite of himself. You may think you know were “Gran Torino” is going, but the twist at the end (although somewhat predictable) will still feel gratifying and right.
After all these years, Eastwood is still awesome. Gran Torino is a ride well worth taking!
MMMMM (and I wish I could give it more!) out of 5 M's

The movie mommy thanks the Super Mommy for,

once again, writing a super review!

Defiance

Defiance: I went to see Defiance on opening day at the first show of the day. This was not on purpose it just worked out that we had a free afternoon at our disposal. The interesting thing about seeing the movie at this time was the audience. There were a few couples and a small group but there was also a very elderly man with a cane (by himself), some other very elderly couples and young men and women who were obviously Jewish (I recognized this by their apparel). Not a big crowd at the movies but one I took note of considering the subject of the movie.
Defiance follows a group of Jewish resistance fighters, lead by two brothers Tuvia (Daniel Craig) and Zus (Liev Schreiber), and the community they built in the forests of Russia during WW II. The Nazis invaded Russia with a vengeance and held nothing back when it came to it's attack on the common people. The Jewish fighters were made by neccesity as these were not men of violence and made up of mostly Jewish farmers but the majority of the community was made up of educators, intellectuals, students, aristocrats and tradesmen. As Zus put it - they are protecting people that would not let them touch their daughters with their "dirty hands." But a time of war against an entire people - the Jewish people seemed to negate any propriety and instead the need for survival was paramount.
The movie is remarkable in the sense that you get to see Jews fighting. Normally, Jews are portrayed as passive, as they line up to be slaughtered. Apparently, this was not the case and there was a need for this story to be told. The movie is based on a true story that was not known by all the descendants of those that hid in the woods (for over three years). But they didn't just hide they literally built a new community and kept their traditions.
Being a Theological Studies major, I have studied the Old Testament and I feel that gave me some insight into the struggle and decisions these people had to make. They were bound by their religious beliefs and the need to survive. And, as it is pointed out in the movie, to maintain their humanity and not become like their enemy.
I am not telling you much about the movie because you need to go see it. The cast is excellent and is the best performances of Craig and Schreiber to date.
MMMMM (out of 5 M's)

Valkyrie

Valkyrie: Often times I have a seen a movie with an all star cast that falls flat (Silverado to name just one) and that is a true waste of talent and resources. You will be happy to know that Valkyrie is not one of them! Tom Cruise leads a true all star (I should say all acting cast) including Tom Wilkinson, Bill Nighy, Kenneth Branaugh, Terrance Stamp and Eddie Izzard through this fascinating true story.
Valkyrie is the name given to a set of orders that would go into effect if the Chancellor (Hitler) were killed. The order mobilizes the reserve army and the SS to secure Berlin and end any impending civil unrest. After several failed attempts to assassinate Hitler, the anti-Hitler movement enlists Colonel Claus von Stauffenburg. Stauffenburg is introduced as an outspoken officer in a war that he knows Germany will lose. He comes up with the idea of re-writing Valkyrie to exclude the SS. This frees up Stauffenburg and his cohorts to blame the SS for Hitler's death and therefore gain control of the reserve army and the central government.
Even though it is a true story and we know that Stauffenburg and his crew were not successful (Hitler killed himself 9 months after the Valkyrie story takes place), you will still be glued to the screen waiting to see how they plan on pulling it off and how close they came to succeeding.
It is hard to root for somewhere wearing a Nazi uniform but I suppose that one of the points is that not all Germans were Nazi's. That much is certain. The group that Stauffenburg is enlisted into is not only high ranking military officers but elder statesmen that just couldn't stomach what Hitler was doing and violence was the only option they were left with. Eliminate Hitler and make peace with the allies.
One actor that has a small part but seems to really stand out in a movie is the German actor Thomas Kretschmann(he is the field commander of the reserve army) who has appeared in Next, King Kong, The Pianist, U-571 and Blade II. His resume is made, for the most part, of German and foreign films. His is not well known to American audiences and that is a shame. He brings a screen presence to the screen similar to that of Paul Henried (Casablanca) - suave and intense.
Even if you are not a Tom Cruise fan (I have trouble finding any these days), you cannot deny he often makes great movie choices and churns out some quality work. Like him or not, he can carry this kind of movie easily. Don't let him keep you from seeing this movie.
MMMM (out of 5 M's)