'Gran Torino' is a Grand Treat

Helen and I went to the Suncoast casino this afternoon to see Clint Eastwood's "Gran Torino," which was filmed last year in the Detroit area.

It's the compelling tale of Walt Kowalski, a retired autoworker and Korean War vet who is very outspoken about his racist attitudes toward Asians, Blacks, Jews and other minorities. Walt's new neighbors are a Hmong family, who are tormented by a local Hmong gang who want the boy, Tao, to join them. Walt eventually warms up to his neighbors, shares their meals, and defends them against the gang. This is a simplification of the plot and there are other subplots involving Walt's family, his relationship with the local parish priest, and his treasured 1972 Gran Torino.

What I liked about this film is how it honestly captured some of the attitudes and feelings that I recognized among my father's friends and the fathers of guys I grew up with. These are the blue-collar, shot-and-a-beer guys in the 1960s and '70s who worked at Ford's, McLouth's, GM, Chrysler, and other plants in the Detroit area.

Ironically, I once owned a Gran Torino. In 1972, when I came out of the Air Force, I bought a 1969 Ford Gran Torino convertible. It was white with a blue leather interior, bucket seats, auto on the floor, a SWEET ride! I kept it for about 4 years til the transmission started giving me problems, then I sold it and bought a Fiat (what a mistake that was).

Anyway, Eastwood deserves an Oscar nomination for both his acting and directing of "Gran Torino." We highly recommend it, especially if you like Eastwood.

Before we saw the movie, Helen and I had lunch at a TGI Friday's that is right at the Suncoast. I had a half-rack of ribs and fries, while Helen munched on a California Club sandwich and fries. It was a nice meal for only $22.

We still had 15 minutes or so to kill before the movie, so I threw a $20 into a 25-cent video poker machine and only played a few hands when we hit a diamond flush and cashed out with $25 - a nice $5 profit on our only gambling of the day!

Arriving home at 5 p.m. after the movie, we watched a little TV and then I made us a couple of hefty salads for dinner. Right now we're just relaxing in anticipation of tomorrow when the adventure continues...