Starring:
Clint Eastwood
Christopher Carley
Directed by:
Clint Eastwood
Written by:
Nick Schenk
Dave Johannson
This movie restored my faith in the movie industry. It has been so long since I have been able to say "that was one of the best movies I have ever seen." Actor / Director Clint Eastwood (Walt Kowalski) gives one of his best performances not only as an actor, but as a director as well. Movie new comers Bee Vang (Thao Vang Lor) and Ahney Her (Sue Lor) provide an excellent contrast to the rough and ragged Eastwood. I had never seen Christopher Carley(Father Janovich) star in anything else, but I really enjoyed his character and how well his character fit in the movie.
Walt Kowalski is a retired Korean War Veteran who has just lost his wife and it doesn't take long before you find out that he is an EXTREMELY onry individual would prefer everyone, even his own two boys and their families, leave him alone. He lives in the middle of a very ethnic neighborhood, surrounded by Mong(H'Mong) people, which are a specific group of Vietnamese individuals. You can tell right away there is going to be conflict when you hear Walt discuss his time in the Korean war and uses every slang term there is for Koreans from "slant-eye" to "gooks". When a fight breaks out next door and it crosses onto his lawn he breaks it up and unknown to him saves a boy (Thao) from a gang looking to recruit him. This starts a chain reaction of kindness from his neighbors toward him even though he doesn't want it. Sue Lor, Thaos brother, finally gets him to come over for a family BBQ and from there on out he has a new respect for the H'Mong people, even though he doesn't openly show it, still referring to them as gooks and other slang terms. He openly admits that he has more in common with them than with his own kids, and a new family circle is born between him and his neighbors.
Everything about this movie just worked for me. The story kept me guessing and entertained throughout. I've read some reviews that say the movie had to many "cringe" moments because of the racist dialogue, but to me it was authentic and real. I have heard numerous war veteran refer to their foes in slang / racist terms to this day, that is just how it was. So I didn't feel the cringe at all.
This movie carries an R rating for language and violence. There was no nudity to speak of.
I am giving this movie a 9.5 out of 10 as it will remain in my top 10 movies of all time list for long while I am sure.
