Gran Torino | Canadian First Time Watching | Movie Reaction | Movie Review | Movie Commentary

[@TiFan86]

When Walt locks up Thao I love the symbolism of it being Walt’s true confession

[@JayM409]

Good catch, talking through the screen.

[@SamuelPulkkinen-jp8ev]

Yup, with the grating of the door being reminiscent to the shades in the confession booth.

[@LumpyAdams]

I've seen this movie 20 times and never caught that. Nice catch.

[@JoeXTheXJuggalo1]

Exactly

[@mandingo9999998]

I've watched this half a dozen times and never caught that. I'm actually embarrassed I didn't.

[@OwenfromKC]

When Walt sacrifices himself, notice his feet never leave the sidewalk. They make a point to show that as he lay. He was on public property and not trespassing. Got them for murder.

[@jgust2154]

That is a fantastic piece of information that I had never noticed before!

[@potterj09]

He always had a lot of respect for lawns .. and sandbags. 😅

[@chrisbell9075]

I love how right after George says it, less than a minute later Walt says "Get off my lawn." Lmao! That was great..

[@Radwar99]

@@fyfyi6053 Woke definition "alert to and concerned about social injustice and discrimination.", oh the HORRROR! You people have gone so ridiculous with your whining about something supposedly being woke that it's gotten to the point where now you see people whining about female protagonists in games like Hades 2 and I've even seen people accuse a movie of being "woke" because a main character in a movie was black. Talk about a bunch of cry babies.

[@joegreene7619]

@@fyfyi6053 Why is everyone who complains about things like that someone who hides behind a fake name online?

[@mage1439]

@@fyfyi6053 You should probably go away and watch Fox News. I'm sure nobody cares what you have to say about buzzwords you don't even know the meaning of.

[@mage1439]

@@fyfyi6053 Aw, it liked its own comment. How precious.

[@graciefolden2359]

​@@fyfyi6053Can you really contest with @Radwar99 over whose education is better when you can't even spell YOU or YOUR correctly?

[@paulsuter5816]

This movie is the ultimate demonstration of: better to say the wrong things and do the right things, than say the right things and do nothing. Love this movie so much.

[@jculver1674]

Well said. I've seen this movie get a lot of hate, mainly from people who "say the right things" and do nothing.

[@AlexanderNash]

sure but you can also just shut the fuck up and do the right thing to? Like you don't have to pick one.

[@zorglub20770]

@@paulsuter5816 exactly. Especially from the "politically correct" people and more recently, from the wokists. They are those who won't lift a finger to help or fix things. Thinking right is enough for them.

[@waterbeauty85]

That reminds me of the closing credits voice over in one of the last episodes of "Generation Kill." Two of the characters say that an outsider hearing how they bust each others balls would think "They must hate each other," but one of them says something like "Man, I love him. I would die for him. In the Marines, we don't care about what you say. We care about what you do."

[@lapelcelery42]

How people act is a much better indicator of who they are than what they say

[@waterbeauty85]

I have a friend named Tao (spelled differently but pronounced the same as Thao in the movie), and when he was young, he saved up to buy a new car. The first thing he did when he finally bought it was put a spoiler on it despite all of us telling him it would look stupid (it did), so that stipulation in Walt's will cracks me up.

[@blanketstarry7725]

How else was he supposed to keep the grabbin' wheels on the pavement during his imaginary drag racing on every stoplight?

[@carlosmiguel4756]

@33:50 it is Clint singing at the end. This man is a legend! What a great actor, director, producer and even sing! He's a national treasure :)

[@YvonneSanders-hv2gc]

Last of a great generation

[@njt2347]

Also a good piano player. His son is also a jazz bassist.

[@oboogie2]

And a decent jazz pianist and composer. Clint composed a song called "Why Should I Care?" for his 1999 movie True Crime, and had Diana Krall record it. Great song!

[@toddwright7567]

“ I’m glad he didn’t go all hero” I believe he did go “ Hero” just not how we think of most heroic themes in movies

[@notmyrealname1730]

Yep. He sacrificed himself rather than going Clint Eastwood on the punks.

[@hw2508]

What Walt did was a sacrifice to a friend. Not only more "realistic", but also more heroic. There is nothing heroic in killing people. Even if you think they deserve it. It would make you less. A sacrifice on the other hand ...

[@Mr.Ekshin]

@@bebop_557 - And the undertone was that he KNEW he was going out regardless... that the cancer was going to take him eventually. So he decided not to go out on his back in a hospital bed. He wanted to make his ending mean something. And then we see the actions of a truly courageous hero. We see him calmly going to confession, mowing his lawn, taking a bath, getting a haircut, a good shave, and a fitted suit... all in preparation for his own funeral. And making sure his will was updated and that the dog was taken care of, were particularly poignant realizations. Regardless of the way he spoke to others, he was a much more thoughtful person than anyone gave him credit for.

[@YourXavier]

@@Mr.Ekshin Yeah, it's very much "If I'm dying, I'm at least going to make it count."

[@potterj09]

Very true, but seeing him lean across the hood of his truck with his 30'06 rifle and just decimate those McThuggets would've been almost more cathartic.

[@unseenentity326]

Calling Sue "Dragon Lady" showed that he is now fond of her. A term of endearment.

[@Parallax-3D]

It also shows that he recognizes her as a strong-willed woman, hence “Dragon Lady.” I always wonder if Walt’s wife wasn’t similar to Sue, and that’s why he liked her.

[@unseenentity326]

@@Parallax-3D he called her dragon lady primarily because she's asian.

[@todddober]

@@unseenentity326 Yup. I’ve worked with guys like Walt. If they make fun or give you a hard time, it’s endearment from them.

[@johnjohnnston3498]

@@JohnSpringer-tq3vb Sounds like the US to me, guess it depends on each person. You guys have Biden after all and somehow Kamala in the running, not sure you can speak. California is the worst place on Earth for your g*y progressive sh*t, by far. Last I saw Canada had the best pushback from the covid bs over any country with our Trucker protest that went world wide. But ya, most all our leaders are sh*t and question if they were even voted in (Trudeau won with 17% of the population voting for him, laugh at the 17% all ya want)

[@kendric2000-q3d]

Walt reminds me of my Uncles growing up, all WWII or Korean vets, they talked tough, used racial language. BUT...when someone needed help, no matter the color of their skin, they would do their would do their best to help. Under all that tough exterior, they had hearts of gold. I miss them all. :)

[@davidyoung745]

I know what you mean. My dad and 6-7 uncles on both sides were all WW2 vets (there may have been one Korean War vet in the mix) and they were tough, showed very little emotion, took pride in their lawns, the whole 9 yards. But they were GOOD people, and taught us kids to be good too.

[@citizenbobx]

Meanwhile, the successive generations who get to live peacefully in the world they built make the surface judgments and crap all over them.

[@Mr.Ekshin]

I'm getting old myself, so as a kid I grew up around a LOT of WWII and Korean War vets. People from that era poked fun at each other's ethnicity nonstop (as well as anything else they could poke fun at). It really didn't matter if you were Irish, Italian, Polish, African, Asian, etc... you were expected to both dish it out and take it right back. If you laughed and went along with it, you were part of their crew... you were an American above all that ethnic nonsense. If you were offended, it signified that you had some other allegiance, and probably weren't someone they would trust. Respect with that crew was earned not just given out based on your background. Those guys lived hard lives, unlike the overly sensitive kids of today. Not a one of them had the time to get offended by a little bit of trash talking. And most of them were real people... true friends and neighbors who had each other's backs. They weren't internet buddies, casual acquaintances, or fake, backstabbing friends like so many folks today. Seeing Walt banter with his friends really brought back memories. You saw that trust when Walt vouched for Tao and his friend hired the kid, no questions asked. If Walt said he was a good kid and a solid worker, then that was good enough... end of story.

[@Mr.Ekshin]

@@bebop_557 - My grandparents on my father's side were right off the boat as youngsters who didn't speak a word of English. They had to learn the language, work hard, and adapt to life in the US. They did that and raised their kids to do the same. Their parents left Italy, fleeing the socialist wave that took hold there before the war. They never once referred to themselves as "Italian-Americans", and were never offended if someone made a joke about Italy or Italians. He proudly served in the military, and he and his military buddies were constantly poking fun at each other's expense. Nobody was offended. I served as well in the 1990's, and the same sort of atmosphere existed, though it was already starting to degrade into the current "soft" atmosphere of political correctness.

[@JohnDAmico-ci2hz]

💯

[@drchaos2000]

you dont have to be a nice person to be a good person

[@alexandru5369]

100% Eatswood's character was scarred because of what he did and his overall experience but was able too be open minded enough to change his views without compromising i.e. selling out

[@Mr.Ekshin]

Actions speak louder than words. The internet generation doesn't seem to get that sometimes. Walt's generation were real people. They were true friends, not casual internet acquaintances.

[@Tator-cp2ii]

Outstanding point. Young people don't understand this anymore. They think a person who says "the right things" is a good person. Walt, and people like him, are far better for and more valuable to a community and nation then people who say the popular things but have no morals or principles.

[@Mr.Ekshin]

@@Tator-cp2ii - Well said. I kinda miss my days in the ,military where we would all trash talk each other mercilessly, but we all had each other's backs regardless of anyone's ethnicity, religion or background. The civilian world is quite the opposite. People virtue signal and clutch their pearls at the slightest hint of humor or sarcasm, yet they are usually terrible to each other when the chips are down.

[@BarryHart-xo1oy]

That’s quite right-sometimes nice people are quite depraved.

[@ChicagoDB]

This Eastwood movie and “Million Dollar Baby” - both 110% guaranteed to hit Simone in the feels…because she’s such an empathetic person by nature.

[@fredfredburger5150]

I hate Million Dollar Baby because it's like watching someone kick a puppy.

[@STOCKHOLM07]

Good but I prefer Hundred Dollar Baby.

[@joenobody5631]

​@@fredfredburger5150I'm still pissed off at that damn movie.

[@KellyHilgerRealtor]

Yeah I’m never watching million dollar baby again, once was enough. 😂😂😂

[@tanimal3964]

"My darling, my blood" - absolutely wrecked me.

[@Tampahop]

Clint's character reminds me so much of my dad. He was a very stoic individual. He never showed much emotion ever. He was an officer in the Navy in WWII, coming into the war late as the Pacific theater was wrapping up. He never spoke much about it until the last year or so of his life just before prostate cancer claimed him. I didn't actually plan for how things worked out, but I quit my job and ended up living close to him so I could help take care of him. I did that until he passed away about a year later. During that time, we were less father and son and more like friends. He told me stories about the war that I don't think he had ever shared with the rest of the family. My biggest revelation was that he was a part of the group that cleared the miles of tunnels ringing the islands of Japan. The tunnels were extensive and many off the troops still inside didn't know the war was over. I could tell what happened in those tunnels bothered him until he died. It's strange that PTSD wasn't really a thing until the Viet Nam war. Before that, it was called "shell shocked" and there was a stigma of cowardice associated with it. Real men didn't let the horrors of war get to them. I think my dad lived with it his entire adult life.

[@davidyoung745]

Yeah, my Dad served in the U.S. Army during WW2, and I remember around the 65th anniversary of D-Day he mentioned that there really hadn’t been a day since 1945 that something didn’t remind him of something he did, or someone he knew during the war.

[@leeyaferguson9019]

My dad, uncles, grandpa.........🤨

[@theonlylauri]

Don't think it was as simple as "real men aren't affected", at least in my parts. If anything, veterans having nightmares, drinking too much and maybe having an occasional violent outburst was just seen as the natural order of things. As long as they didn't let it affect their work, cry about it or had deserted during the '44 crisis, there was no particular stigma. Not much support either, certainly nothing professional. Often their loved ones, old comrades-in-arms and priest were enough, but others did self-medicate with alcohol with the usual results.

[@terri2494]

@@theonlylauri I think a lot of people had compassion towards them but didn’t really know how to help them, other than being there for them and accepting them instead of giving up on them.

[@kylinsky]

Would love to see a Clint Eastwood Patreon poll in the future. The long road from being a young actor changing the Western genre, to an older actor/director subverting the tropes he helped create is impressive.

[@raginghardleftist]

Unforgiven and Mystic River, for sure!

[@CraigKostelecky]

Space Cowboys is one of my favorites of his.

[@migmit]

The Mule. I love it when actors play against type and do a good job.

[@L77045]

Learned about the Hmong as a kid from a mentor that spent a lot of time with them in Vietnam. Had a ton of respect for them and passed it on, but not a group of people that you often hear about much around the U.S. Seeing this movie about the Hmong and an older mentor brought back a lot of memories.

[@beefsupereme]

LOTS of Hmong in western NC. An interesting bunch, there were some pistol packing gangsters in school but the older guys wore camo and nascar gear like locals. The only Hmong girl I knew was a lesbian coworker, very funny, always made everyone laugh.

[@SeanHendy]

Clint Eastwood was 78 when he starred in, produced, and directed Gran Torino. Even at that age, to think he is still working to entertain us mere mortals. Now 94, he was even working last year on a film!!! It is called Juror No 2 and is expected to be his last film.

[@t.c.thompson2359]

I know it's a different culture and country of origin than George's family, but I am curious to learn what he thinks of this as it is one of the few mainstream Hollywood films that tackles racism towards Asian peoples in the US.

[@CineBingeReact]

Well first and foremost I'm beyond thrilled whenever an Asian actor gets to be a main character, and a character that's more than just a person with a funny accent or a laundromat owner or an exotic woman to pursuit or a weird creepy guy who doesn't know how to talk to women, as those are so often the stereotypes. And despite Tao being portrayed as kinda bookish, there's an actual reason for that beyond "because he's Asian". And that his bookishness is portrayed as the good thing, the betterment of himself and his community over time. So I'm always really happy to see that and in itself is a big step up from a stereotypical racial portrayal. In terms of the racism within the movie and story, Im glad it exists and is shown as the bad thing, that we get to see that while Walt is right in some aspects, like with his terrible grandkids, he's also wrong in his view towards his neighbors at the start. And even though his prejudice stems from war and trauma, the part I appreciate a lot is that the excuse of "he's too old to change, that's just his way and that's how he was brought up, it's was the times" is not an excuse. What he needed was someone to reach out to him, and for more importantly for him to willingly reach out as well. As for the portrayal of his prejudice, that I can't speak to, obviously I've never heard what a racist person may say to themselves behind my back. I've been lucky enough to have never met someone that's openly hostile with their racist remarks, only passive aggressive or unknowing, like a really old person referring to me as oriental or a Chinaman, but they weren't being hostile at the time. The kind of prejudice ive experienced are things like "do you eat dogs?" Asked both jokingly or genuinely, or that if I'm hosting dinner someone might think it's needed for them to explicitly state "okay nothing weird please", or even just seen as the exotic, the Orientalism, something to collect as a friend or a date or whatever. I've gone on a tinder date once where the woman said to me "I've always wanted an Asian baby". And of course, ones that actually hinders life, like when I first started applying for jobs after college I put my real Asian name, only to have no one call back, but when I change the name on the resume to George Stanbridge, a name I thought sounded caucasian, the same resume got me several times more interviews. I've stuck with George ever since, for the sake of assimilation, a fairer chance in things but also just to avoid the "okay wait no let me try to sound this out for the next 10 minutes and laugh about it" situations. All in all, I'm glad this exist, I'm glad the portrayals exists and I'm very very glad in the lesson it conveys that 'too old to change' and 'it was the times he grew up with' is no excuse in being a better person.

[@Robban6948]

​@@CineBingeReact I am not the original comment-poster, but I really appreciate you sharing that! It is a very valuable perspective 👍

[@njw5869]

@@CineBingeReactGeorge ! , take a breath . Well said !

[@TheR15C]

@@CineBingeReactthanks for this share George!

[@zmarko]

17:52 "Guys, how many of you out there suddenly realized one day that girl 10 years ago was actually into you?" That would mean a girl would have to be into me first, George. 😅 😔😪

[@maximillianosaben]

At the time, people thought that this would be Eastwood's final film... He would go on to direct 11 more, starring in 2 of them, and has yet another (12th since) movie completed and on the way. He is 94-years-old. The man is an actual Hollywood legend. And he's even vegan to boot, haha.

[@azazello1784]

That's why I hate him. He is full of vanity and greed. He should have retired and let others take the spotlight. I hope he kicks the bucket soon.

[@asmrhead1560]

17:50 To this day I still have to fight the urge to slap my forehead when my mind wanders to how f-ing clueless I was as a teenager.

[@burstingturtle]

I think to myself: Never again.

[@TheAtkey]

There's a girl who sat beside me in trigonometry I'm still kicking myself over just want to go back and time and slap myself and yell "She's good looking a nice girl and she's into you you moron!"

[@stevemccullagh36]

Something very subtle that I love is how when Walt goes to the gang house for the first time he calls Thao by his actual name for the first time instead of Toad and he does that from that point on.

[@t.dig.2040]

😆 🤣 Clint Eastwood singing? Why, yes... "Paint Your Wagon" 🎶

[@Cadinho93]

The white boy that was walking down the street with Sue when they were harassed, that's Scott Eastwood, Clint's real life son who's in a lot of movies now these days. His other son wrote and played the music at the very end that Clint is singing in. I always thought it was really cool how he tries to get his kids involved in his movies in one way or another. Also, one of the most underappreciated movies out there. So much heart behind it. That ending with the kid driving with the dog always brings a tear to my eye.

[@A-small-amount-of-peas]

I thought Jamie Cullum wrote the song Gran Torino with Clint?

[@mayorjimmy]

he gets them involved but he doesn't just hand them parts. they have to work for it. Scott talked about it when he was on Joe Rogan. He's had to work for everything he's earned. It reminded me of Dale Earnhardt Jr and how Dale Sr made him work for his success. He was changing oil at dealerships and he and his brother and sister raced a car they all worked on. It's rare when famous successful people make their kids work to succeed but it's satisfying to see it because you know they appreciate what they have.

[@mathewsmith2613]

Jamie Cullum wrote the song.

[@GhostWatcher2024]

When Walt was telling Thao about how he got the Silver Star... that was the first definite foreshadowing to the end. Walt was going into a situation there was no hope of getting out of alive, but he went anyways because it had to be done for the greater good. The definition of valor. His last act was one of valor.

[@slivovitz1683]

I loved how we see the Hmong family going to his funeral and thats when I realized he would have respectful people at his funeral unlike the opening

[@jimomaha7809]

At the end it was indeed Clint Eastwood singing. He actually made an album in the 60's with his favorite cowboy songs. He actually starred in a musical movie. Paint you wagon (1969). Also a western with Lee Marvin. And I certainly can recommend it. You'll both will be surprised.

[@willjohnson8446]

At 15:41 you can see a Paj Ntaub embroidered wall hanging. These are traditional Hmong textiles that often commemorate important events for a community or family. This was incredibly valuable within a community that relied on oral traditions instead of written.

[@15blackshirt]

Walt's rifle in this is an M1 Garand, chambered in 30-06 Springfield, while his pistol is a 1911 that's chambered in .45 ACP. Other military dramas to watch include Generation Kill and The Pacific

[@mokane86]

The guy reading the will had a movie convenient but real world odd pause when saying who the car was left to. I like to think Walt really wrote “(pause for dramatic effect)” in the will 😂

[@dnish6673]

Maybe he disliked the family and slow rolled them.

[@evelynne2846]

Yes that was Clint singing during the closing credits. Great movie. Enjoyed your reaction.

[@TheDaringPastry1313]

Please eventually get around to Clint's film Million Dollar Baby from 2004! A lot of big names in it and it's so special. 7 Oscar noms (4 wins) 29:28 Walt's true confession was through the locked metal door which mirrored the booth at the church. 31:33 Clint Eastwood purposely made Walt die in the shape of a cross since he scarified himself to save others as a symbolism to Jesus. I love how when Walt is taking things into his own hands, the soundtrack gets that war snare drum added in to make it more militarized.

[@cajunsushi]

My best compliment to you two is that I’m going to watch it again. Thank you.

[@rbrtck]

Eastwood originally got his squinty scowl, he says, from buying the nastiest cigarillos he could find and always having one in his mouth. He's not a smoker in real life, and that awful flavor helped him maintain the one expression he had back then. By the way, director Sergio Leone once said that when Eastwood was young, he only had two expressions: with and without the hat. 😄

[@josephdoyle9865]

I love the both of you because you're so much fun and love in your interactions. But I have to give a shout out to George for immediately recognizing the Hmung and the heartbroken tone of your voice " the people without a country" ❤️

[@CaptainNeatoman2007]

You know, not every reaction you guys do is one I'm interested in, but you wouldn't believe how fast I clicked on Gran Torino. Love this movie, and I'm happy to see you guys enjoying it too.

[@dnish6673]

No one notices that Clint does indeed have jumper cables and helps his guests. Like a man like him wouldn’t have cables.

[@dnish6673]

@@Kenny-ep2nf except he told Tao he didn't have any.

[@stevensisler685]

So two things: 1) Walt makes two confessions, the second, filmed in such a way to resemble a confession booth, is to Tao, through the basement screen door. That is his actual confession. 2) Is initial hatred towards Tao is a coping mechanism for his guilt in killing young men much like Tao. By thinking of them as enemies, not people, he's able to cope with his guilt. As he gets to know Tao, it re-contextualizes his actions in the war, and he must confront those feelings. In many ways, Tao is the Ghost of Christmas Past to Walt.

[@commonstragedy]

George nailed it with the word, "curmudgeonly."

[@adriangaliver]

I really love this movie. Everything about it is great. A very solid modern masterpiece (wow, it's 15 years old already, that's crazy). Good job, Clint Eastwood, Ahney Her, Bee Vang, and Christopher Carley!

[@freeheeler00]

One thing I always appreciated about Clint Eastwood is that he has a great reputation for getting projects done on time and under budget.

[@chrispeel3123]

he is apparently very good as a director, especially with the actors in getting what he needs from a scene, really helps them out without being a martinet.

[@grelch]

Walt was dying. That’s what all the coughing up blood was about. So he chose a death of his own planning that would ensure the safety of his friends.

[@kendric2000-q3d]

Yep, killing an unarmed decorated war hero in front of a whole neighborhood got those gang members a life behind bars. Giving a lot of people peace. He wanted his death to mean something, he sacrificed himself for the greater good.

[@sangfroidian5451]

and a way of atoning for the sins he couldn't bring himself to confess to.

[@jculver1674]

As much as I love this movie, I kind of wish the screenwriter hadn't stacked the deck with the subplot about Walt dying. It cheapened his sacrifice at the end a bit because he really didn't have anything to lose at that point anyway.

[@grelch]

@@jculver1674 I can kind of see that, but then you have a film about a vet who is ultimately suicidal. Or at least that question would be there in the mix. To quell that notion you'd have to somehow portray him as a modern day Samurai, and there's really no indication that Walt had undeniably followed a strict code of honor throughout his life. My take is that he was a pretty flawed guy who knew he'd screwed up by interfering in his neighbor's personal issues, and his neighbor's family had paid the price. He knew he was dying and that the issue he had exponentially made worse would continue after he had died. He did what he did because it was the only way to stop the violence on his friends that was yet to come. And it was his way of regaining some honor. My take is he wouldn't have sacrificed his life had he not been ill. but that's just my interpretation.

[@Grizazzle]

@@sangfroidian5451 No. Not that at all. He didn't believe in the concept of sin. He only confessed the few things he did to honor his wife's request and to please the priest who promised his wife that he would get it done.

[@ThistleAndSea]

Good one, S&G. I really love this movie and I really enjoyed rewatching it with you both. Thanks for sharing it.

[@travismorris9303]

the thing people miss about Walt is that while he says outrageous racial shit, he says it about everyone... including his own family. And while it isnt ok, it doesn't come from a place of hatred. And at the end of the day Walt respects people based on their character, even if his words don't show it. As evidenced by the journey in this film.

[@JohnDAmico-ci2hz]

People mistake him for being a racist when he isn't A lot of the older generation talked shit like this to EVERYONE as you mentioned. My dad, his brothers and fellow construction buds did this all the time to each other. In fact it still exists today on job sites when everyone gets to know each other. I look forward to seeing the younger reactors thinking it's all racist when it isn't. It was just a different time when everyone wasn't all up in their feelings seeing racism in almost everything...

[@ChrisB-k7b]

Its an insanely popular movie. Nobody missed that. U just think you're the only one who caught that.

[@croaker260]

"And at the end of the day Walt respects people based on their character, even if his words don't show it. " Coming from a military background, this is how we show respect to each other. Same in the public safety realm. This seems very forgign to todays generation, but I grew up in a world where your best friends you greeted with a profane term of endearment.

[@travismorris9303]

@@ChrisB-k7b well, while I thank you for your condescending attempt to be insulting, I don't think I'm the only one who caught that. I have, however, watched many reactions to this film where the reactors were entirely focused on Walt's "racism" George and Simone were not entirely focused on that and thus gave a better reaction. I hope your snarky comment gave you a warm and fuzzy feeling and that you have a good evening.

[@nickinskeep]

This. If we want to build true camaraderie between races, groups, etc we need to be able to fuck around with each other.

[@smavtmb2196]

Very good movie. Walts transformation/friendship with Thao, Sue and thier family is so touching. The heroic ending is nuts but definitely not suprising. 😢 l love that Walt left the Gran Torino to Thao. Which was predictable but still makes complete sense. Thao will take fantastic care of it, and Walts family are selfish A-holes that deserve nothing.

[@buddytesla]

Gran Torino is practically a remake of John Wayne’s final film “The Shootist”. That movie was directed by Don Siegel, one of Clint’s mentors, who directed him in several films.

[@allenruss2976]

Great movie. Both of them are

[@McPh1741]

Watching this back in the day made we wonder what a sequel to "Heartbreak Ridge" would be like with a retired Gunny Highway. Mainly due to the difference between Walt and the Gunny. Walt is a war veteran who served his time and moved on. He also was many demons from his experiences in Korea and is not a peace. Tom Highway, on the other hand, was a career Marine, serving in Korea, 3 tours in Vietnam and into the 1980s as a infantryman and recon Marine.

[@firemedic5100]

Walt knows he is dying, and suicide is a sin to Catholics. He knew he didn't stand a chance against the gang in a shoot out. So he chose to commit suicide without committing suicide. One of Clint's best movies.

[@dustinjones8887]

interesting view. I had never thought of it as suicide bc he was dying any way, but wanted to die for to help his friends. I think of it as when a criminal chooses to "suicide by cop" that is actually suicide even though he didn't pull the trigger, bc he didn't want to live in jail. But with Walt, it's the same actions chosen, but not for the purpose of ending his life, but for the purpose of saving his friends. Therefore, I think of Walt's actions as sacrifice as opposed to suicide.

[@DocuzanQuitomos]

@@dustinjones8887 It's a bit of a rabbit hole where motivation versus "divine will" intervene (basically, some theologists would say that if you give up the will to live, you are giving up the plans God may have for you if you kept on living; you don't choose the time or the manner of your death). But those topics aside... I think there is a layer in Walt's actions many miss (and fortify the sacrifice version): Walt had one of the most christian deaths you may ever find; he gave up his life so Thao and his family have the chance to live in peace and without fear. This move mirrors martyrdom and even the life and teachings of Christ (the whole crucifiction is a martyrdom to give humanity a chance to start anew in the rules of love rather than the rules of revenge and punishment; one of the differences between New and Old testaments). Or, as put in John 15:13 "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends". The film doesn't go hard into religious symbolism, true; but it's clear Walt has a difficult time with the positive approach of religion to some topics for everyday matters (forgiveness, absolution, redemption...) while he gets and lives mostly by other concepts related to punishment (while he is toying with the priest, not paying taxes really is described in the Bible as stealing; even if he was making the story up, it seems Walt didn't pick randomly what he was going to confess XD). Religion aside, it's poetic and beautiful how this (very likely religious and conservative) man finally found peace and purpose, even in the spiritual field, in the connection he developed with Thao, Sue and their family.

[@jameshunt9208]

It's called sacrifice, not suicide.

[@MrDman21]

I've seen other people react to this movie, but it's good to see an actual Asian person reacting to something with this subject matter. Gives you a whole different perspective 👍🏽

[@TheR15C]

This is a phenomenal movie. The messages run deep. I was very eager to watch your reaction!!

[@izzonj]

Yeah, we saw exactly where this story was heading and it swerved onto another road, altogether. Very satisfying and beautiful.

[@doctornick0]

You just can't have a single tag line for a masterpiece like this.

[@PeacefulJoint]

"Stay off his lawn..."

[@JayM409]

Squinting was Eastwood's trademark. I even had a t-shirt that said 'Squint like Clint.' My 1st car was a '73 Gran Torino.

[@FretlessMayhem]

He was giving his life as a means to save folks, to redeem himself for the lives he took in war.

[@kevincosta9228]

Yes! It seems to me that his prejudice was a manifestation of his own guilt over the acts he committed during the war. He was forced face this after he found himself surrounded by a similar culture in his own neighborhood, came to identify with them and respect them. When he decided to give his life to free them from the gang, he finally found his peace. There are so many great ironies in this movie.

[@PenneySounds]

He also knew he was dying anyway and was choosing to go out on his own terms. His death was coming, and he'd rather it meant something.

[@FretlessMayhem]

@@PenneySounds Most certainly that as well. I didn’t address that aspect because it seemed understood in the video.

[@FretlessMayhem]

@@PenneySoundsWalt dying in a Christlike pose is fantastic symbolism. He’s laid out like the cross, blood leaking from his wrists, just like Christ. He gave his life for his friends, a literal savior.

[@joegreene7619]

I'm more interested in the reactions of both George and Simone, for wildly different reasons, than I am for most movies. This can be a tough one for people to plow through to get to the good messages at the end.

[@Henni63]

That WAS Clint Eastwood singing and very probably playing the piano, too. Decent Jazz pianist.

[@jculver1674]

Clint is a huge jazz buff and musician who often works jazz music into his movies, and he even directed a biopic about Charlie Parker.

[@shawnmiller4781]

Almost makes me want to watch “Paint your Wagon”

[@stevenmotchan2048]

@@shawnmiller4781 Nooooo!

[@RobwLPOC]

I love that George caught the barber laughing at the funeral when the priest starts his speech by quoting what Walt said to him. Most people miss that detail that he is laughing for that exact reason George said because he knew that was exactly what would have said to him.

[@mrtveye6682]

I love this movie so much. Not only it's a masterpiece in every aspect (story telling, acting, cinematography) on it's own, it's THE perfect "grown old" movie for Eastwood. It's almost like a redemption arc for the typical characters Eastwood used to play, esp. ofc Dirty Harry. I'll go so far to say, with the backstory of Walt being an retired cop instead of a veteran and factory worker, this could've eben been "Dirty Harry - The final chapter". Though it was probably a good idea to not draw that direct connection.

[@shatterquartz]

Making him a retired factory worker was an interesting choice, in a way Kowalsky at the start of the movie is the quintessential MAGA-type voter, bitter that foreign competition has undercut domestic industry, and prejudiced against immigrants who "change the character" of his neighborhood. And then he goes through a maturation process and discovers that he feels kinship with the very people he hated at the beginning. Clint Eastwood's message is that there's hope yet for old white dudes.

[@Educated2Extinction]

@@shatterquartz I love it when people criticize others while using the same small-minded thinking as those they criticize

[@DocuzanQuitomos]

Precisely because Harry would, very likely, have solved the issue shooting anyway and using his police knowledge to succeed in the plan, even if it costs him his life (an entertaining premise, but not exactly touching some topics the film wanted to touch).

[@lucasM005]

i think the reason why walt racist remarks against the family became funny at the end of the movie is because that is just how he talks with his friends.

[@yaboycapone1996]

"racist" lmfao

[@BarryHart-xo1oy]

Quite true.

[@SamuelPulkkinen-jp8ev]

At the start it was rooted on nothing but disdain. Later he clearly appreciates and respects them, so the connotation changes even if his language doesn't.

[@dnish6673]

@@SamuelPulkkinen-jp8evYup. “Swamp rats” and “savages” were said to himself, not in jest.

[@johnfriday5169]

Walt didn't change, not one damn bit. It was Sue that took him with a grain of salt and even played back at him that earned Walt's respect. Later Tao earned his respect as well. Certainly Walt learned about another culture but he didn't have a character arc, Tao did.

[@Zimtbiss1]

I absolutely adore your reaction to this movie! I love your channel anyway, but this one is pure gold. Have watched a bunch of reactions to this movie on other channels, mostly Americans, and none of them seems to dare to find this movie as funny as I do. You do though! Finally a team who laughs out loud. Thank you! Greetings from Germany

[@Cynim]

This movie is even better than Million Dollar Baby, for me (which is already incredible). Very emotional, with a beautiful message.

[@bg7893]

You should consider some of the early Dirty Harry movies for examples of when Eastwood does go for it.

[@joanward1578]

This movie was shot in Hamtramek, originally a Polish community, just outside of Detroit.

[@MakotoAtava]

I think they honored this by giving Clint Eastwoods character the family name "Kowaltski"

[@bobbabai]

Hamtramck

[@bobbabai]

It's interesting that today Hamtramck demographics are 53% white, 19% Black and 21% Asian. Dearborn, where the movie is set, is now 88% "White", 5% mixed race, 3% Black. Outside of the official census, the population of Dearborn is 55% Middle Eastern or North African. Presumably, they are categorized as "white", which is his self really interesting.

[@dnish6673]

Which is funny because Polish folks were in the same position as non white immigrants back in the day.

[@scotthewitt258]

It was hilarious when George mentioned "Get off my lawn!" And had no idea it comes from thus movie!

[@ScottLovenberg]

"how many of you realized like ten years later that girl was into you but you had no clue?" My dude, without exaggeration the answer is at least a dozen. If I could go back to my early 20s knowing what I know now with the confidence of a grown ass man and sense of style, I'd be unstoppable.

[@highviewbarbell]

​@@BlackavarWD lets not be hasty now

[@Diadin22]

@@highviewbarbell 😂

[@jlovestolaugh9308]

9:52 A true,blue demonstration of who is fit to serve one's country and who isn't. And before anyone thinks of playing hero,you can serve your country and not be on the front lines.

[@thegunslinger1363]

You should check out the Dollars Trillogy for some classic Clint Eastwood. Also, the young boy who Clint makes fun of is his son Scott.

[@Richie8406]

19:00 Realize, they are playing off the old "Karate Kid" situation, but flipped. There are many subtle old film references layered across this film

[@chandie5298]

I am so happy you reacted to this film. I am also glad you didn't make the mistake that so many viewers make in thinking that Walt was a racist and this is a redemption story about an old white racist. Walt is not a racist and the dialogue makes this quite clear. Walt refers to everyone with "descriptive titles" and does so consistently....including numerous "descriptive titles" for various historic nationalities of people of european descent . ie... its was simply his eras cultural manner of talking to or about each other....its not the same as todays concept of racism. Walt was a person living a traumatized life filled with regret....something "he thinks about every day". Walt wishes for a time PRIOR to his being emotionally damaged by his experience in the war. He and the grandmother are very similar (purposefully). She lived through massive trauma as well. She also wishes for a time before that trauma. They are both not easily embracing of cultures other than their own.....again, not the same thing as racism. Walt pushes everyone away.....not based on race, ethnicity. His few friends are people he's likely known his entire life from his neighborhood....from the time prior to his war trauma. In the doctors office.......the receptionist has trouble pronouncing his name just as he has trouble pronouncing the names of others which are not common and familiar....... As soon as Walt sees Thao help the little old lady across the street....his barrier against accepting anyone else starts breaking down. Its not about race/ethnicity at all.....its about people can views as deserving of respect vs those he views (based on their behavior) not worthy of respect. Thao shows himself to be a good man.....and Walt makes a mental note of it and continues to watch. Thao, his sister and family display themselves as good people and as soon as Walt interacts with them...its becomes obvious that they are people he respects.....and holds them in higher esteem than his own family (which includes himself and his inability to have a cohesive family). Walt sees the loving, caring family together and wishes he could have had that. This film in many ways is about Walt paying penance and making amends (as much as he can) for his past sins. For himself, not for those of us viewing the story. The confession in church is displaying why Walt was incredibly skeptical of church........Walt's actual, real confession was to Thao in the scene when Thao is locked in the basement. Notice the grating of the door to the basement mirrors the grating in the confessional in the church. Walt is confessing to Thao in hopes that his confession will do some good....passing on wisdom about pain and regret. And telling Thao....in Walt's own way, that he loves him. Its a great film.....but its not about an old white racist finding the error of his ways. Walt was never a racist. I don't think its correct to say that "Walt hates everyone equally". I think its more correct to say that "Walt hates himself.....or what he's done and he hates his life" and he's punished himself for his past sins for his entire life. If this film is a redemption....its that Walt gets to love again and experience love from others again before he passes. He pays the penance he believes he owes by sacrificing his life to save Thao and his sister and give them a chance at life.

[@astmabulle]

Was thinking about writing a comment but i feel no need now. You said it all. Great comment, ty! :)

[@chandie5298]

@@astmabulle Thx!

[@dnish6673]

He’s totally a racist. He says racist things, and not just to other people - he thinks them to himself. It’s a product of his past and his experiences. But he gets past it. He’s otherwise a good person and he’s willing to change.

[@chandie5298]

@@dnish6673 sounds issuing forth from one's mouth isn't how someone is determined a racist. I guarantee there are people who have never said some word from your "naughty list" but who is absolutely a racist. And there is someone...possibly you or one of your close family members or friends....who has nearly been hit by someone speeding through a red light and has yelled out a "naughty word" at them because due to fear or anger...they want to say whatever they think in that moment will hurt the person the most who put their own life and the life of others at risk to run through a red light, but they aren't racists....they just are scared or angry. ie.... words used are not a good gauge to use if you want to figure out if someone is a racist. Better to watch actual actions. If someone wants a doctor....they should be concerned with the individuals credentials, experience, etc rather than their race/ethnicity. That also means that they should not choose a physician because they are a minority or other favored group....it should be based solely upon merit. I could go on and on .....but if you think Walt was an actual racist.... you don't know what actual racism is.....and you completely missed several of the themes of the screenplay and directing of this film. Have a good day.

[@chandie5298]

@@dnish6673 I wrote a detailed reply but it got deleted......The character Walt isn't a racist. You just lack the understanding to distinguish it.

[@tackysum]

Great reaction and discussion. It's particularly satisfying when the plot leads us in one direction and then twists to hear George say "Oh! I didn't expect that'" I get the strong impression that George is a hard one to surprise just because of his familiarity with Hollywood tropes and stereotypes. Ol' Clint played a part in keeping those tropes alive, but he also helped burn them down with films like Unforgiven and this one. He is popular with just about everyone that has worked with him because he doesn't waste time and he usually brings projects in under budget and on time. Loved this reaction. Thanks Simone and George.

[@nkfd4688]

This movie always sets people off the wrong way at the beginning, but people end up loving it by the end ❤

[@8967Logan]

Just a few things, that is Clint Eastwood singing at the end, he is actually a very good piano player, and that is his son taking Sue out when they get confronted by the aggressive young men (side note: an African American male reactor said that would never happen while watching that scene). Some young Vietnamese girl reactors were shocked by the scene when Sue explains about how the Vietnamese murdered tens of thousands of Hmong after the war.

[@jowbloe3673]

Disagree that Walt is prejudice or racist, he treats everyone the same (family and strangers), and you have to earn his respect in order to get it.

[@Demane69]

People are too busy pretending to be nice, while being the exact opposite to understand what you just said.

[@lizardkingof1968]

Exactly...not prejudiced or racist...the younger generations do not understand that sarcastic bigotry (intolerance) is a high form of humorous communication between friends.. i.e. people who actually talk to each other physically...in Walt's case that usually was Daisy, until just after the movie starts

[@noneprovided689]

The poster makes the movie look like it could be a companion piece to _The Fast And the Furious,_ but written from the perspective of the Torettos' neighbor.

[@Wirenfeldt1990]

Just here to say that Gran Torino is a pretty interesting movie, and that George is my favorite chinaman ❤️

[@MrGpschmidt]

One of Clint's finest hours - as both director & actor. The man is a legend for a reason. The film subverts on many levels and yes his sacrifice in friendship/redemption arc is the most noticeable as George sees it -it's a complete 180 from the Eastwood canon in general (i.e. say the DIRTY HARRY franchise - which you both need to get into soon!) While his bigotry & ignorence is complicit to society he also has his good points - loyalty and a certain still water run deep resilience (and the fact he did have PTSD as a Korean war vet regardless it never truly being explored). Finally glad you got to this! :D And yep that's Clint singing and playing the piano at the film's end titles.

[@michaelterry3885]

Walt did't change... Your perseption of him did... He was always a hero.. He was always out spoken and gruff...his friends knew this, his neighbors , and yourselves didn't....he stayed the same, even until his death.. Your understanding and perseption of him changed...

[@PenneySounds]

He did change. He started to see people different from himself as fully 3 dimensional people instead of just a category.

[@PenneySounds]

@@michaelterry3885 I think you need to watch the movie again.

[@michaelterry3885]

@@PenneySounds I'm quite sure, you're not thinking in the least...

[@DocuzanQuitomos]

True, his mannerisms and general views of life stayed the same; but he did change, starting with the very element that he let people into his life and went outside his regular ways for others that were not the usual circle he respected (otherwise you would have dozens of people all over the place vouching for him in the neighborhood, the gangs would know a bit of his story... and that's not what happens). This is important, because even with a group of regular friends, he finds new motivations and purpose in this period of his life (the elements that move him to behave like the hero he doesn't feel he is). And that change also influences the perception and understanding the audience has of him.

[@henriklarsen8193]

"Don'y go chasing water beds"? PERFECT!!

[@hackerx7329]

Glad you guys picked up the distinction that Walt isn't simply a racist but rather a misanthrope who treats everybody in his life with the same disdain and slurs including family and friends.

[@hellopaulie]

I absolutely love this movie; Walt's character arc is fascinating. I won't have time to watch this reaction until later but I'm planning my whole evening around it!

[@scipio7837]

An organized garage is not because of the military. But because that's how you do things.

[@shawnmiller4781]

It’s a sign of a dirty mind as well

[@Demane69]

@@shawnmiller4781 Wtf? There must be a joke in there somewhere that I am missing.

[@briancox2721]

This movie is all about redemption and forgiveness. One of the most powerful juxtapositions is Walt confessing only those minor sins to the priest but bearing his soul about the war to his new friend right before sacrificing himself because he knew that although the priest could offer him absolution for his minor transgressions, the only way to cleanse his soul for himself would be action the priest would have to stop.

[@steven2640]

Cut out here, but notice that the little girl that came with her grandpa to request the wasp nest removal lowkey called Thao "Toad". 🤣

[@eXpriest]

He earned a community nickname.

[@Parallax-3D]

And even Sue calls him Toad when he’s washing the Grand Torino. 😂

[@JoeXTheXJuggalo1]

This is one of those movies that builds you up with a good story an lots of good feelings about Walt finally coming out of o his grumpy self to a happy go lucy man who found love an compassion of a family in his neighbors. Than it to be ripped of like a bandaid with that ending.

[@sangfroidian5451]

A key take - Bad language isn't the enemy of harmony, bad actions are!!!

[@beefsupereme]

17:50 Every so often I remember, literally 10 years ago, a cute checkout girl I would chat with every week at the grocery store. One day she hit on me pretty blatantly and I completely missed it - until I was replaying the conversation in my head at home. I went back the next day but she wasn’t there, and she wasn’t there the next day or the next week. Never saw her again. I’m almost positive she either quit out of embarrassment or was shooting her shot because she had to go back to college or something. I only ever knew her first name and couldn’t find her on social media. Kills me!

[@fionnmaccumhaill3257]

Walt was neither evil nor complicated. You failed to truly understand him or where he was coming from. You look at him from a modern lens and judge him by that standard rather than the one he lived his life through. I would argue that by the standard he came from, he's not even racist at all. Notice how he had no problem throwing slurs toward the barber for being Italian nor the kid on the street and the contractor for being Irish. In his generation and in the eastern US (and most of the world), you only lived next to people who were like yourself. The world was segregated during his time. The Polish lived in their neighborhood, Italian in theirs, Jewish in theirs, blacks in theirs, etc. In his time, you had to EARN respect. It wasn't just given. Also, taking offense at a slur or being thin-skinned was equivalent to being unworthy of respect for being so weak and pathetic. Sue EARNED his respect by brushing it off and was a bridge from Walt to his new neighbors and a world he never thought or imagined he would be living in (where all the white people moved out). Tao (Toad) EARNED his respect. Walt definitely willingly sacrificed himself in order to EARN or win peace for Sue and Tau. Walt and his generation would've definitely been very familiar with John 15:13... Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. That love was what Walt was made of... even before meeting his neighbors. They were just worthy, unlike his family, who failed to demonstrate proper respect for Walt and their mother/ grandmother by wearing an exposed midriff in church, wearing a football jersey to a funeral, and mocking church and religion and the attendants with that profane faux Latin prayer "spectacles, testicles, wallet and watch". It wasn't Walt being grouchy, it was his family failing to even be respectful.

[@davidstevenson1933]

This is such nonsense. Walt himself is super thin-skinned. Oh boo-hoo his kids aren't "respectful". They wear clothes he doesn't like! They drive the wrong model car! What a baby. You think maybe Walt's actions (and inactions) as a father are the precise reason his kids aren't "respectful" to him? Seems pretty clear he's a terrible father whose awful kids justifiably hate him. Is it respectful to hurl ethnic slurs at your neighbor and then "respect" them only if they brush it off. If respect is earned not given, why does Walt feel so entitled to everyone's respect while only doling out respect to others when they "earn" it based on his own narrow criteria? Don't get me wrong - I don't think Walt is evil or anything and he behaves admirably in many ways throughout the film. He is strong, and brave, and self sacrificing. But he is also a racist, an a-hole, and a bad father, and although I am sure you could find reasons and excuses for why he is that way, it doesn't change the reality. And I can assure you that plenty of men from Walt's generation (many of whom marched for civil rights) would agree with me so let's lay of the "it was a different time" BS.

[@jeffreyross71]

This movie is one of my all time favorites. Saw it at the theatre and wasn't expecting much but i was blown away at how good it was.

[@LordVolkov]

"Get off my lawn wish fulfillment" is extremely apt George. The movie really wants to show how his kids are the worst and his grandkids are disrespectful but, I'm just gonna put this out there... Walt raised those terrible kids 😅 If he was a better father, his kids would hopefully be more respectful and would have taught his grandchildren manners, tact, etc. The fish rots from the head, and Walt's rotten attitude is bound to have pushed his children away.

[@commonstragedy]

Yeah, and he confessed that to the priest.

[@Pink.andahalf]

That the sons being like that is partly Walt's fault is text, not subtext. The movie is saying that on purpose.

[@hw2508]

Walt said himself that he regrets not being close with his sons. However, it's not all Walt's fault. To blame parents or other people for everything won't change your life. I think one problem is, that on the surface they have great a life. Kids, a great house, a good job, etc. but what really matters is not perfect. They never made the close connection. And I think not only Walt, but his sons too regrets that. They never lived up to expectations, despite the success. We don't know how the childhood was. Probably a good childhood, a typical childhood. But still there was something missing. I assume the mother kept the family together and with her gone, it became more complicated to communicate etc. It is more complex than: He raised his sons. There is no rule book to a perfect relationship.

[@MrPicklerwoof]

Cycles can, and should, be broken though. Humans have the capacity to do what is right in spite of what their parents may have been. Plenty of young parents with sad childhoods shower their kids with love for example, because they vowed to give them what they missed out on.

[@DocuzanQuitomos]

As mentioned: Walt knows and Walt recognizes that as one of his biggest regrets in life; even he indicates that "knowing" that is not a justification for his current family situation. I wouldn't say the family is terrible to him out of cruelty, but because they are horribly disconnected (and as Walt never tried to meet his family hafl way, his family never tried to meet him half way neither). And thus they only call him if they want something, or think they are helping him by treating him as an old man with disabilities, or simply ignore him/sweet talk him in the hopes they could get something as a reward in the end... Walt's life experiences scarred him to the point of making him unable to be a good father in a time where seeking help to be a better person wasn't considered a priority (pretending he "should have known better" is falling into the same disconnection as Walt's family has); it literally took him a cultural shock and one outsider with enough stomach to meet his strong remarks head on to let people a bit more in (because the first one Walt opens up to... is Sue, and they bond over mostly trash talk; Sue, with all the reasons to be offended and walk away, went the extra mile to try to meet him half way).

[@porkchopexpress2437]

Great movie and great reaction you two. Clint also sings a classic song with Ray Charles 'Beers to you" from Anywhich Way you Can... You should check The Mule next..

[@Bonjurro]

People miss that it was his wife’s car. It’s not called Gramp Torino. 😂

[@counseloryt]

I love how click clack ding dong and Charlie Chan can be so full of love...

[@axebeard6085]

I don't think Walt is as much of a curmudgeon as most people think. IMO, hating everyone is one thing, but hating ignorant fools and selfish assholes is something entirely different.

[@pwmel1]

This movie moves me every single time I watch it, no matter how many times it's been (and it's been quite a few). Walt (and Clint) is awesome! I love how Sue is able to dig under the tough surface and get to the real Walt. Walt is such a caring, thoughtful and deep man. Great reaction!

[@danhalstead705]

Guys. The lesson isn't that Walt could still change. The lesson is that he was always a hero, and what seemed like prejudice was only at the surface of who he truly was.

[@danhalstead705]

@tileux If so, then honestly I don't think it's much of a lesson. Not because it's wrong but because it's common and obvious. Walt was always willing to die for others, that's why he went to war. And he treated everyone equally - equally badly, but still equally. He'd developed an attitude of, "Show me me you're not an idiot if you want me to care about you," after decades of seeing people be disrespectful idiots to each other. And as soon as anyone did that, then he was willing to lay down his life for them. That's not about Walt changing who he is. It's about two sides of a divide both being patiently willing to see the good in the other, instead of immediately dismissing them as some gross and shallow caricature. I think that's the deeper message.

[@keenanvil]

Uh, no.

[@DocuzanQuitomos]

He was always a hero, he didn't feel like one (not even when there was an award, for actions he didn't feel like they should be awarded). On top of that, his life experiences left him unable to deal easily with other people, including his family. He does change and its evident in the film: he lets other people, outside of his regular group of already stablished friends, in. And he choses to make quite a sacrifice for people he has just met (in the gran scheme of things). True, he is not a shallow caricature; but he also is not willing to prove that to anyone (and the friends he already has don't change a lot his social life, and he is not exactly thrilled to have a lot of social life). And even then, he opens up to the experience of knowing more these particular neighbors. So yeah, Walt changes when he opens a bit to experience change (even when his mannerism and trash talk remain the same). There are some other lessons that are not closed to "he changed/the world should look deeper than him"; and one of them is "the old generation will eventually die, but there are some elements of it that the new generation can, and should, carry on; regardless of their context or where they come from". It's a story that emphasizes the concept of legacy; not which individual was right all the time.

[@jameshunt9208]

​@@danhalstead705 Just the fact that the reactors didn't get shows you how not obvious it is to people nowadays. It's also not Seen as common nowadays because of that.

[@mattdefilippis4625]

Enjoyed the reaction. That WAS Clint singing at the end. He had a bit of a musical career long ago. Big jazz head.

[@GhostWatcher2024]

Simone's best intros are the ones where it takes George a few seconds to go "wait what?"

[@aidanfarnan4683]

"Get of my lawn, the movie."

[@odarkeq]

17:45 Yep, I was oblivious at the time of every subtle thing, but all the signs are there in my memory to discover later.

[@todd8398]

I like how when Walt tells Spider's gang to "Get off my lawn!" with the Garand, his old service rifle, the music changes to something similar to a military tattoo.

[@Parallax-3D]

Every time he confronts the Hmong gang, you hear military style drums.

[@davidmg4216]

Thank you for doing a good job reviewing this movie, Clint Eastwood is one of my favorite actors and this was filmed in my hometown, bravo

[@ravenwulfgar]

Now y'all see why this is one of my favorite movies