Wednesday 14 July 2010

Gran Torino


Directed by Clint Eastwood
A racist Korean War veteran living in a crime-ridden Detroit neighborhood is forced to confront his own lingering prejudice when a troubled Hmong teen from his neighborhood attempts to steal his prized Gran Torino. Decades after the Korean War has ended, ageing veteran Walt Kowalski (Clint Eastwood) is still haunted by the horrors he witnessed on the battlefield. The two objects that matter most to Kowalski in life are the classic Gran Torino that represents his happier days working in a Ford assembly plant, and the M-1 rifle that saved his life countless times during combat. When Kowalski's teenage neighbor (Bee Vang) attempts to steal his Gran Torino as part of a gang initiation rite, the old man manages to catch the aspiring thief at the business end of his well-maintained semi-automatic rifle. Later, due to the pride of the Asian group, the boy is forced to return to Kowalski's house and perform an act of penance. Despite the fact that Kowalski wants nothing to do with the young troublemaker, he realizes that the quickest way out of the situation is to simply cooperate. In an effort to set the teen on the right path in life and toughen him up, the reluctant vet sets him up with an old crony who now works in construction. In the process, Kowalski discovers that the only way to lay his many painful memories to rest is to finally face his own blinding prejudice head-on.
This is my focus film as its my favourite film of all time. Again the fatherhood theme is included along with the illness. Clint includes race as a huge factor in the film which in the end the audience witness a white man dyeing to give the asians a better life. The effect that this film has on the audience is huge, although Walt is a racist, stubborn old man we still feel sympathy for him and are on his side throughout the film. Item 3

Million Dollar Baby

Directed by Clint Eastwood
Frankie Dunn (Clint Eastwood) is a veteran boxing trainer who has devoted his life to the ring and has precious little to show for it; his daughter never answers his letters, and a fighter he's groomed into contender status has paid him back by signing with another manager, leaving Frankie high and dry. His best friend and faithful employee Eddie Dupris is a former fighter who Frankie trained. In his last fight, Eddie suffered a severe injury, a fact that brings Frankie great guilt. One day, Maggie Fitzgerald (Hilary Swank) enters Frankie's life, as well as his gym, and announces she needs a trainer. Frankie regards her as a dubious prospect, and isn't afraid to tell her why: he doesn't think much of women boxing, she's too old at 31, she lacks experience, and has no technique. However, Maggie sees boxing as the one part of her life that gives her meaning and won't give up easily. Finally won over by her determination, Frankie takes on Maggie, and as she slowly grows into a viable fighter, an emotional bond develops between them. When a tragedy befalls one of the three characters, each comes to a decision that shows how the relationships in the film have changed them.
I chose this film as it can relate to the audience in an emotional way. He adapts to the role of a father figure for this woman who lost her father, it shows a range of themes that Clint uses in many of his Directed films such as fatherhood and illness. This film really captures the viewers attention from the beginning and is very powerful it represents the meaning of 'never judge a book by its cover'. When he firsts meets her he is very stubborn and does not want to look weak giving into a girl, however as time goes on the become very close and he depends on her.
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Director Research

Director: Clint Eastwood
Focus Film: Gran Torino (2008)
Related Films: Million Dollar Baby (2004)
Changeling (2008)
Investigation Title: The development of Clint Eastwood films over the past 10 years

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