MovieChat Forums > Gran Torino (2009) Discussion > Am I the only one who found the characte...

Am I the only one who found the character of Walt absolutely disgusting?

posted 9 years ago by childer_orion700
59 replies | jump to latest

He had very few redeeming qualities. He was an old hate-filled bigot. There is a difference between a "tough old man" and a disgusting bigot who knows nothing but virulent hatred. Not to mention he was a drunk and was drinking beer and doing shots at that bar and I doubt he was walking home. He had likely driven home drunk from that bar thousands of times.

He was a relic from a different time. When people could grab hand out jobs at the Ford factory right out of high school and start pulling in enough to raise a family and by a house than same year. Back when those types of industries where in the U.S. I can also guarantee it is totally beyond his comprehension to realize those types of jobs no longer exists and he would likely accuse someone of being a lazy pussy for not being able to find one.

And his whole hang up about the Korean war only worked against him. How many years ago had then been? Time to get over it. My granddad served in WWII and was a prisoner of war in a Japanese POW camp and he NEVER so much as mentioned the war or any kind of bigotry against the Japanese even though he had literally been tortured. So this whole virulent, incessant hatred of Asians after so many years after the war had ended just did not feel realistic.

All in all I found Walt's character loathsome and pitiful. The guy of angry old man you want to feel sorry for, but who is just such a sickening turd of a human being that you just can't bring yourself to feel bad for him.

And Clint Eastwood's portrayal...Talk about cardboard. He literally had the same facial expression and vocal inflection through the entire movie. To the point where MY face started to hurt from watching his twisted, skeletal expression.

All in all, a very poorly-acted and over-thought and it took itself way too seriously.

[–] justanicknamed 9 years ago

Yes. Because you are the typical liberal hypocrite who hates people who aren't just like them.

There is a difference between a "tough old man" and a disgusting bigot who knows nothing but virulent hatred

He felt remorse for the killings he did during war. He befriended immigrants. He gave his life so that those immigrants could live in peace. I don't think you understand what "virulent hatred" is.

When people could grab hand out jobs at the Ford factory right out of high school and start pulling in enough to raise a family and by a house than same year. Back when those types of industries where in the U.S. I can also guarantee it is totally beyond his comprehension to realize those types of jobs no longer exists and he would likely accuse someone of being a lazy pussy for not being able to find one.

First off, you are quite judgmental to think he was handed his job. Your hatred makes you think he didn't actually have valuable skills. Also, you have to think that is the only thing he ever did - as in he didn't take a second job or do odd jobs to provide for his family. In that sense, he's right about you being a lazy P. Especially when the truck driving industry needs drivers, pays well, but can't find enough workers who will actually work.

And his whole hang up about the Korean war only worked against him. How many years ago had then been? Time to get over it.

Yes. Because your grandfather is EXACTLY like everyone else. It is too bad the Holocaust survivors didn't get to know him so they could have learned to just get over watching their families get sent to the gas chambers...

So this whole virulent, incessant hatred of Asians after so many years after the war had ended just did not feel realistic.

And yet he became friends with them.

All in all I found Walt's character loathsome and pitiful.

That's only because he wasn't marching in a LGBT parade or espousing all of the liberal talking points.

And Clint Eastwood's portrayal...Talk about cardboard. He literally had the same facial expression and vocal inflection through the entire movie.

Yeah, because most 80 year old are really fluid and able to look chipper and fresh.

To the point where MY face started to hurt from watching his twisted, skeletal expression.

No. Your face hurt because you had your head shoved so far up your anus that you couldn't breath.

All in all you are the typical, liberal hypocrite who is open and accepting of all who agree with you.

[–] edward_the_longshanks 9 years ago

Remind me never to upset you, good sir.

For the record I love Clint and his character.

[–] justanicknamed 9 years ago

Meh. If the a-hole would have just made one post about it I would have let it go. But to continue being a hateful, judgmental douche-bag like he was...

[–] averagejoeman2013 9 years ago

I wish more people like you ran for office :)

"You are in China. Get out, go see the sights, climb the great wall, stand in front of a tank."

[–] FloridaSunshine 8 years ago

No. Your face hurt because you had your head shoved so far up your anus that you couldn't breath.

All in all you are the typical, liberal hypocrite who is open and accepting of all who agree with you.

   

...

[–] memphis-19091 7 years ago

You said it better than I could.

[–] Destinata (2599) 10 months ago

Magnificent rebuttal!

[–] Lyrakill 9 years ago

He reminds me a lot of my grandfather, except for the part where Kowalski becomes kinder and more empathetic. That never happened with my grandpa. My grandfather never referred to blacks as anything but "coloreds" or worse. Yet, he had some good qualities, and my grandmother and father loved him. Do you think everyone in the world is one-dimensional? All good, or all bad?

[–] legnadibrom (5702) 3 years ago

that's what blacks were called back then

[–] childer_orion700 9 years ago

Right, I'm the hateful one. Not guys like Walt. That is some logic you have there. The fact that you just automatically go for this "LIBERAL! GAY! DEMOCRAT!" shows how truly uneducated you are. I never said anything about being liberal and especially never mention LGBT. The fact that you immediately jump to these conclusions is actually very revealing. It sheds light on the hatred you hold inside yourself.

As I state in another topic, I knew and still know plenty of "Walt's" as I grew up in a small town. The Walt you saw in this movie is pure fiction. In reality, they are much more akin to Lyrakill's grandfather, who by his own admittance, did not repent. I find this very telling and very truthful. Very seldom do these types ever repent. They go to the grave with hearts seething with blind hatred for people they don't even know, have never even met.

It is apparent Justanickname, that you feel attacked by my posts on this board. This proves that you identify with the character of Walt, which all in all is very sad. That fact that you identify with a bygone, violently hateful old fart, is contemptible (Big word, I know) but then you have the audacity and sheer lack of insight to accuse ME of being hateful. It is apparent by your own post how you feel about others who differ from yourself. I truly pit you, and I hope someday you can find happiness.

[–] justanicknamed 9 years ago

I'm the hateful one.

That is the ONLY thing you've ever gotten right.

It is apparent Justanickname, that you feel attacked by my posts on this board.

Nope, just disgusted by your hypocrisy, hatred, bigotry and stupidity.

accuse ME of being hateful. It is apparent by your own post how you feel about others who differ from yourself. I truly pit you, and I hope someday you can find happiness.

Seriously. Have you not even read your own posts??? Is there a single positive point anywhere in any of them??? Everything you post is hate filled and you attack people who disagree with you.

You have serious issues. Seek help.

[–] Snoppkaka 8 years ago

I like you.

[–] justanicknamed 8 years ago

😀

[–] [email protected] (1623) 4 years ago

You do come across as a very hateful person. I wonder how this film and Walt's character went over your head that you didn't see his regret, his change of opinions, and his sacrifice for the love of a neighbor. He didn't seem as bigoted as you are in your post tbh.

[–] Darren (1121) 4 years ago

Right, I'm the hateful one. Not guys like Walt.

Yes. Correct. Exactly. Because even noble deeds don't motivate you to forgive bad words or thoughts. There's no room for redemption in your view of things. Once you've slapped your label on someone, they're forever dehumanized as a lesser being. That's pretty hateful.

Is Walt a bigot? Undoubtedly. He's a product of his time, when open expression of racial slurs was mainstream and accepted, unlike today; and like a lot of people, only got more stubborn and set in his ways as he got older. A lot his racism is defensive self-justification, to cope with things he had to do during the Korean War, and which still haunt him. It's also from seeing his world change around him, and his neighborhood turn into a crime-ridden slum, leaving him feeling lonely and isolated, and hence somewhat bitter.

But all his racism amounts to things he said. You apparently utterly failed to notice the things he did. He called Thao and the other Hmong mean names. But then he took on the role of mentor to Thao when he saw how the boy was turning out without a male role model, helped him get a job, helped him learn how to romance the girl he was interested in, and in the end, gave his life to put an end to the gang that was threatening Thao, Thao's whole family, and the entire neighborhood. Deeds count for far more than words. Except to an SJW, who values superficial appearance and empty virtue-signalling over meaningful acts that actually help people.

Bottom line is, Walt found it easy and natural to be racist when his Hmong neighbors were just nameless foreigners to him. When he got to know them, he found a lot in common with them, and came to like them. The whole point of the movie -- which you seem have utterly failed to grasp -- is that getting to know each other will bridge gaps between us, and motivate us to become better people.

[–] Ace_Spade (9343) 4 years ago

You're 100% right. I think that's the point of the movie, isn't it? To let go of that stuff, put our bad qualities behind us, and move ahead. The whole message of the film is that everybody's a human being. The immigrants? Just nice people trying to have a good life. The racist old guy? He's just feeling lonely and has some rough stuff in his past. Get to know each other and respect and friendship can grow.

I don't think that excuses his behaviour, but the film clearly shows it as being reprehensible and then shows him growing out of those prejudices. It's a great character arc. But, maybe OP just couldn't get past it.

[–] Tabbycat (748) 10 months ago

Agreed.

Much better than other grumpy-old-man-reluctantly-befriends-different-youngsters films because it was willing to honestly portray a real bigot and yet also his humanity, with no pulled punches. A brave movie that probably only Clint could get made.

[–] Ace_Spade (9343) 10 months ago

Yeah, most movies these days seem to want everything this-or-that. You can't have a character who is a bigot and otherwise a good person. What's weird is that older movies acknowledge that there are people who are firmly planted in the fields of grey morality of the real world. I've been on a watch/re-watch film noir kick and a lot of those have far more subtle and nuanced characters than more modern films. Clint does it because Clint's "old school." I think there are a few other filmmakers who would go to that place, but they're rare.

The biggest negative here is not that the arts and entertainment industries are a bit less meaningful than they were/could be, it's that people are reinforcing these behaviours, ideas, and attitudes through less nuanced stories looked at with a far less-understanding lens. Instead of, "My friend Jack has some negative qualities, but he's still my friend," we get cancel culture-style reactions.

[–] Tabbycat (748) 10 months ago

Me too.

Take another look at “Magnum Force,” which also has an excellent commentary by original screenwriter John Milius. Harry Callahan is not a very nice guy, and as we saw in the first “Dirty Harry,” pretty right-wing. The big irony in the sequel that I somehow missed the first four times, is that he comes across a group of rookie cops who are too right-wing for him and whose crusade he must therefore stop — without much help.

I also was surprised how much I now liked “The Gauntlet.” The cop he plays is a washed-up loser whose weary cynicism has reduced him to almost nothing, but he is reborn through saving this one critical witness from assassination. It’s a silly movie, but I found his character credible and compelling.

Speaking of silly, “Every Which Way But Loose” starts with Clint’s character walking into an L.A. bar and rudely grabbing someone’s peanuts, then insulting him and punching him out. How could I have not noticed in previous viewings what a jerk he was? I think we’re supposed to like this guy, but I didn’t stick around to find out why.

In all three movies, Clint seemed to have no fear playing leads with deep flaws. For the most part, that was relatively unheard of even back then.

[–] Ace_Spade (9343) 10 months ago

I'll try to throw Magnum Force into my film diet sometime. Thing about Dirty Harry is that, like most questionably moral protagonists, he does have a solid sense of "fairness". We tend to like characters who abide by ethics and aren't hypocrites, even if their ethics are messed up. Harry Callahan might be morally dubious, but he's an honourable sort of dubious, so we like him.

Walt in Gran Torino is a bit more nuanced, because it's not about presenting somebody who is "likeable" necessarily, it's about presenting someone who is vulnerable and human, and Clint does a great job with that.

Yes, deeply flawed leads are never the norm, but I feel like they were more common a while ago, as well as more tolerated. Audiences almost seem more mature. Like, they understood that they could watch a movie about a scumbag learning to be a hero or a hero struggling with being a scumbag and they'd still watch the movie and look for the good and the bad. These days it seems like everybody is on a morality crusade, stuffed to bursting with tribalism and self-righteousness that they can't relax and enjoy art or allow a little shade of grey into their lives.

[–] Tabbycat (748) 10 months ago

“ These days it seems like everybody is on a morality crusade, stuffed to bursting with tribalism and self-righteousness that they can't relax and enjoy art or allow a little shade of grey into their lives.”

+1

[–] Iconoclast321 (375) 4 years ago

Very nice comment. I wish Moviechat had upvotes, cause you'd get one.

[–] charleyhydel 9 years ago

I thought Eastwood's portrayal was great.

He was a total prick but I felt sorry for him cuz he couldn't even relate to anyone in his family. His time is done and is practically an afterthought in everyone's view. His wife dying in the beginning signaled that he truly was alone. As much as he used his anger to hide himself, he could not be this way anymore. I really liked watching him try to make a man out of toad.

One of my favorite movies.

[–] IMDB-Officer 9 years ago

You need to stop being so PC and come back down to the real word - this is how MANY MANY people are, even those who pretend not to be racist. They will be friendly to your face and insult you behind your back. As I always say, everyone is a little bit racist. Buts it ok because we all do it. Whats the big deal, if we can make sexist jokes and homophobic jokes and nationalist jokes and body-image jokes and joke about death and make all other types of stereotypes and generalizations then why they hell can't we make race jokes? I just don't *beep* get it??

If you can laugh at it, then you can live with it.

[–] Penhall99 9 years ago

Wow. I've read some stupid, idiotic things on here but this takes the cake. Congrats.

[–] Ite 9 years ago

Nope I loved Walt.

[–] catjoescreed 8 years ago

I'm with you. I loathed him. I know plenty of opinionated old people, but Walt takes the cake. By the time the movie "redeemed" him, I was already uninterested in his redemption. He just seemed like a jerk. Sorry about his wife and all, but maybe she just needed to get away from him.

And of course we see throughout the movie that unpleasantness runs in the family. . . .

[–] sonofbeach-sheet 8 years ago

I found Walt's son's and grandchildren more loathsome! I think they were an extreme parody of the Baby Boomer's and Generation Y'er's people love to hate. The grandchildren not close to being properly dressed for a funeral and the granddaughter really took the cake!

As for being a drunk, well, maybe Walt just had a REALLY high tolerance! He'd already gone through at least 6 PBR's on his front porch, but still gets beer at Thao's house and has enough appetite for a good meal there.

[–] justanicknamed 8 years ago

I don't remember if they went in to detail all of Walt's past, but his parents could have been immigrants. In Europe, drinking lots of beer and wine is normal so Walt could have easily grown up around his father who drank from the time he got home until he went to bed.

I worked with a guy who was like that. It was just how they did it - had a beer in his hand when he wasn't at work to the point where when he gave it up for Lent one year, he had health problems due to being dehydrated. His body got used to having a certain amount of fluids running through it and when he stopped drinking beer, he didn't drink any water or tea or anything else and had problems with dried skin splitting.

Also, my uncle worked for Anheuser-Busch as a machinist. Up until some time in the 1980's, workers could drink on the job. If they got drunk, they'd get sent home. But, guys would have a beer at lunch and/or a beer or two during the day.

[–] [email protected] (1623) 4 years ago

Agree, I couldn't stand the family. And the kids, they were so disrespectful only because their parents raised them to be, so I blame the parents for their kids behavior.