Bitter and racist Michigan widower Walt Kowalski (Clint Eastwood) resents his Hmong neighbors, but finds himself drawn into their lives when they’re threatened by a gang. Eastwood’s first screen appearance in four years is one of the best ingredients here; his voice has never been lower and raspier and he seems to relish in playing a character whose decency he has much in common with, but uneducated racism he despises. It’s a simple, low-key film (as so many other Eastwood dramas), but moving, funny and poignant in its portrayal of a tough guy making up for old sins and the value of respecting new additions to the melting pot.

2008-U.S. 117 min. Color. Widescreen. Produced by Clint Eastwood, Bill Gerber, Robert Lorenz. Directed by Clint Eastwood. Screenplay: Nick Schenk. Song: “Gran Torino” (Clint Eastwood, Kyle Eastwood, Jamie Cullum, Michael Stevens). Cast: Clint Eastwood (Walt Kowalski), Bee Vang (Thao Vang Lor), Ahney Her (Sue Lor), Christopher Carley, Brian Haley, Geraldine Hughes.

Trivia: The title song is performed by Clint and Cullum.

Quote: “Get off my lawn.” (Eastwood)

Last word: “I got young people – 17, 18 – who had never acted before, but they were really good and brought a certain realistic feel to it. It comes off real. Bee Vang, who plays Thao, is very smart and somewhat unselfconscious, which helped because his character is that way too. I tried to give them a lot of freedom. I told them they don’t have to stick to the words literally. And when they spoke in Hmong, I didn’t know what they said anyway. I just tried to get them in the mood, to make them think of what their motivation is, what stimulates them in saying whatever they say. But also, not to think too much, to let it come up from instinct.” (Eastwood, indieLondon)

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