Gran Torino 

I watched this some time ago on a special "free weekend" of Sky films. I didn't take up the bait and subscribe to the films channels, but this "freebie" had such an effect on me that I felt it was deserving of the accolade of receiving a J Buckley Film Review.

Clint Eastwood plays an old and bitter army veteran, down on his luck, disheartened with his wife and family, dying of cancer and living on a downbeat estate being taken over by immigrants.

Pretty grim stuff. What could be life enhancing about such a scenario I hear you ask? Well, Clint has a strong sense of right and wrong. He might not immediately like his immigrant neighbours, but he doesn't like seeing them done wrong to, particularly by their own community. His wife dies, and he becomes more bitter and his family's rather shallow and uncaring attitude towards him is brilliantly contrasted by the friendship and warmth given to him by his neighbours when he helps them out against local hoodlums. The final scene is not what you expect and is one of the most poignant moments in films: suffice it to say that he does exactly the right thing when his own situation is at its worst.

There is a lot to learn for everyone in this film, especially me when I am moaning about the iniquities of the world.  It's message of doing right despite adversity and that the human spirit will triumph is really heart-warming and refreshing: I recommend getting it out on DVD at once!