One day Walt ran some punk gang-bangers off that were terrorizing the neighbors and, not that he wanted it, became the hero of the neighborhood and he growled and grumbled as they brought him gifts of flowers and food.  Shortly after the teen-age neighbor girl, Sue Lor, (Ahney Her), found a way to befriend the cranky old Walt and invited him over to a bar-b-cue; after all, “We got beer.�?Because of that encounter Walt started to soften�?just a little. 

 He soon started accepting the presents, the food was really good, and decided to take Sue’s brother, Thao Vang Lor, (Bee Vang), whom Walt referred to as Toad, under his wing and reform him even though Thao tried to steal his prize Gran Torino as an initiation to join the Hmong street gang that rattled the family and the neighbors. 

 During all this Walt was constantly being pestered by the young Catholic Priest, Father Janovich, (Christopher Carley), who made a promise to Dorothy, (Walt’s late wife), that he would watch over Walt and get him to go to confession. The Father soon understands a little about Walt’s attitude after a few conversations as Walt would shut the door in his face or scoff at him about faith, (“I prayed the police would come Father, but they didn’t show up.�?  I think I got that right. 

 The Hmong street gang was constantly working to thwart Walt’s efforts and the frustration is building on both sides.  One night a confrontation the young Hmong gang bangers got a little more violent than Walt expected and two people he cared for the most were hurt.  Walt boiled, cried a little, and pondered.
 Father Janovich became concerned about what Walt would do to even the score, he knew that Walt had a violent nature.  Thao was eager to go with Walt to avenge his sister, Sue. Father Janovich did all he could to stop it and Toad threatened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time; but Walt’s plan was perfect�?for him.

 Clint Eastwood never ceases to amaze me, just when I think that he should forgo acting and stick with directing, (Eastwood is the director for Gran Torino), he comes up with a part that is perfect for him.   I mean, do you think you can envision Dirty Harry Callahan retired in a Michigan neighborhood.  “Well, do you punk?�?BR>All the characters were great, or at least really good, in my humble opinion.  The movie will make you laugh and make you cry and all in between.  Bravo Clint, you did good kid�?uh, pop. Wait Clint, I didn’t mean that, really. 

 I really enjoyed this one and I think most of you will too.  I know some don’t agree with me on this but I give “Gran Torino�?4½ clouds out of 5; which is more than I will give “Valkyrie�?when I grab a minute to review it, it was good but Clint was better in my book. 
 
 Speaking of the great ones, last September we saw the passing of a great star and also a generous visionary; Paul Newman, (January 26, 1925 �?September 26, 2008). 
 Newman was the founder of “The Hole in the Wall Gang Camps�?  In case you didn’t know “The Hole in the Wall�?camps are the largest group of camps serving kids with serious illnesses.  “Newman’s Own�?products donated over $250 million to the camps and other charities.
 Born in Cleveland, Ohio Paul Newman always had an interest in acting; after a stint in the Navy he signed up for Drama school and spent some time attending the New York Actor’s Studio.
 His film debut, “The Silver Chalice�? was such bomb though he took out a full-page ad in the paper apologizing to anyone who might have seen it.  To make up for it he went on to make such movies as “Somebody Up There Likes Me�? “Rocky Graziano�? “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid�? “Cool Hand Luke�? “The Hustler�? “Hud�? “The Color of Money�? and “Road to Perdition�?  His final film covered his true passion, auto racing, where he provided the voice for Doc Hudson in Pixar’s “Cars�?
 May the new generation of actors turn out someone with such generous heart and that talent to turn a scene and steal the hearts of the ladies in attendance.