Gran Torino Directed by Clint Eastwood
Gran Torino
Mr. Eastwood has directed and acted in his best movie ever. Gran Torino is a must-see movie for everyone; especially if you are in the process of raising children in today’s world. One could argue that Gran Torino is an epiphany of sorts that is so profound it could go unnoticed. I hope not. Perhaps, in a round-about-way it could be considered in a similar light and I do mean brilliant light like Henry David Thoreau’s best works. It is now available on DVD and I would recommend it for everyone. Although the profanity is frequent the Thoreau-like thesis of the movie is excellent.
“Then from the flute, untouched by hands,
There came a low, harmonious breath:
For such as he there is no death;--
His life the eternal life commands;
Above man's aims his nature rose.
The wisdom of a just content
Made one small spot a continent,
And turned to poetry life's prose.”
(Louisa Alcott’s Tribute to Henry David Thoreau)
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The cantankerous old man/character played by Eastwood is transformed from a spiritually-deprived “old fuddy-duddy” racist to a Christ-like spiritually rich Catholic before he crosses over. In the process he transforms a neighborhood block from the typical keep-to-your self /no love/no time for neighbors’ existence to one that is profoundly filled with Hope, Faith(s) and the greatest of all Love.
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Although I hope this is not Clint’s last movie, I do believe it is his best movie ever. The inclusion of his two sons’ typical and spiritually deprived “cell-phonic” self-centered/serving families anchors the disparity between where we are in America and where we must eventually go, hopefully before we, indeed, pass-on.
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Well done Clint!
