Walt Kowalski: Difference between revisions
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{{short description|Fictional character in the 2008 film Gran Torino}} |
{{short description|Fictional character in the 2008 film Gran Torino}} |
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{{Infobox character |
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[[File:WaltKowalski1.jpg|thumb|Walt Kowalski, as portrayed by [[Clint Eastwood]], in the film ''[[Gran Torino]]'']] |
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| name = Walt Kowalski |
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'''Walter ''' "'''Walt'''" '''Kowalski''' is a [[character (arts)|fictional character]] and the [[protagonist]] of the 2008 American film ''[[Gran Torino]]''. He was portrayed by [[Clint Eastwood]]. |
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| image = WaltKowalski1.jpg |
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| caption = Walt Kowalski as portrayed by Clint Eastwood'' |
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| full_name = Walter Kowalski |
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| first = ''[[Gran Torino]]'' (2008) |
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| last = ''[[Gran Torino]]'' (2008) |
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| portrayer = [[Clint Eastwood]] |
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| nationality = [[Americans|American]] |
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| gender = Male |
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| occupation = [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] auto-assembly-line worker (retired) |
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| family = Mitch Kowalski (son)<br />Brian Kowalski (son) <br />Karen Kowalski (daughter-in-law)<br />Ashley Kowalski (granddaughter)<br />Josh Kowalski (grandson) |
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| significant_other = Dorothy Kowalski (wife; deceased) |
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| affiliation = [[United States Army]] (1951–53) |
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}} |
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'''Walter Kowalski''' is a [[character (arts)|fictional character]] portrayed by [[Clint Eastwood]] in the 2008 American film ''[[Gran Torino]]''. Walt is depicted as an irritable and [[prejudice]]d [[Korean War]] veteran whose aging [[Metro Detroit]] neighborhood has become home to [[Hmong people|Hmong]] immigrants and is plagued with [[gang violence]]. |
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The character of Walt and Eastwood's performance have garnered positive reception. |
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==Character biography and creation== |
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Walt is a misanthropic and irritable [[Polish-American]] former auto worker who becomes embroiled in a conflict involving a [[Hmong people|Hmong]] family and a gang. Walt had served in the [[Korean War]] and had killed a teenage North Korean soldier who had been trying to surrender to him; despite having killed numerous other enemy soldiers in the war, the teen’s death especially haunts him, and has ever since. He is a retiree who formerly worked at a [[Ford]] automobile plant, and he owns a Gran Torino he had helped assemble. He also owns an [[M1 Garand]] rifle and an [[M1911A1]] pistol, both of which he kept from the Korean War. Walt's wife, Dorothy Kowalski, is dead by the beginning of the film. |
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==Character overview== |
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| ⚫ | [[Nick Schenk]], the writer of the script of the film, said "Walt is like a lot of shop teachers and coaches that you have in school. He's the kind of guy who's just waiting for you to screw up so he can roll his eyes at you."<ref name="GoldsteinRainey">Goldstein, Patrick and James Rainey. "[http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/the_big_picture/2008/11/rookie-screenwr.html Rookie screenwriter finds the right mentor: Clint Eastwood]." ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''. November 26, 2008. Retrieved on March 22, 2012.</ref> Eastwood has said that the car is "sort of a symbol of his days with the Ford plant" and that the gun "is sort of a symbol of his days in the military. … He's clinging to the memory of the war. You'll find out when you see it, some of (the memories) are not as pleasant as others. That helps make him even tougher to get along with."<ref name="Breznican">Breznican, Anthony. "[https://www.usatoday.com/printedition/life/20081023/d_strip23_torino.art.htm Eastwood puts his scowl into high gear]." ''[[USA Today]]''. October 23, 2008. Life 1D. Retrieved on March 16, 2012.</ref> |
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Walt is introduced as an elderly [[Polish-American]] whose wife of 50 years dies, leaving him alone in his [[Rust Belt]] neighborhood of [[Highland Park, Michigan]]. Adhering to [[Conservatism|conservative]] values and openly prejudiced, he dislikes that his neighborhood has become home to poor immigrants. Adding to his isolation, Walt is retired and does not have a close relationship with his family. His only companions are fellow members of the [[VFW]] and his elderly [[labrador retriever]], Daisy. A [[handyman]], Walt spends his days maintaining his property. He is a heavy drinker and tobacco user; often seen drinking [[Pabst Blue Ribbon]], chewing [[America's Best Chew|Red Man tobacco]], and smoking [[Marlboro Reds]]. |
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Walt is a decorated Korean War [[combat veteran]], having served in the United States Army's [[1st Cavalry Division (United States)|1st Cavalry Division]]. He was awarded the [[Silver Star]] for valor, having been the only survivor of his unit's assault on an enemy [[machine gun nest]]. By his own admission, he killed thirteen or more enemy soldiers during the conflict, but is particularly haunted by his unordered killing of a teenage [[North Korean army|North Korean soldier]] who had been trying to surrender to him. After the war, Walt returned to Michigan, worked at a [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] automobile factory, got married and had two sons. In 1972, he put the steering column in a [[Ford Torino]] he helped assemble, and at some point obtained the car for himself. |
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| ⚫ | Anthony Breznican of ''[[USA Today]]'' said that even though Clint Eastwood had served in the |
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==Character arc== |
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In 2008, Dorothy Kowalski dies after a prolonged illness, leaving Walt a widower. Walt rebuffs his two sons when they express concerns for his well-being, and instead chooses to remain alone in his aging home and neighborhood. His neighbors, the Vang Lor family, are poor Hmong immigrants with whom he does not get along. Walt also rejects multiple attempts by Dorothy's [[Catholic priest|priest]] to comfort him. |
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One night, Walt catches 15-year-old [[Thao Vang Lor]] attempting to steal his Ford Torino as part of a Hmong [[gang initiation]]. He nearly shoots Thao, who narrowly escapes. The following day, the gang attempts to abduct Thao; Walt intervenes and threatens the gang at gunpoint. Much to Walt's dismay, the local Hmong bring him gifts out of respect. Additionally, Thao's mother requires Thao to do work for Walt as penance. |
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Walt has Thao perform various jobs around his home and the neighborhood, and the two begin to form a mutual respect. Walt also rescues Thao's sister Sue from the unwanted advances of African American gangsters. He begins to bond with the Vang Lor family, recognizing their traditional values are more in line with his own beliefs than he originally thought. Walt, plagued by coughing fits and occasionally spitting up blood, visits the doctor and seemingly receives a poor prognosis. |
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==Racism and intolerance== |
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Walt becomes a mentor to Thao, helping him to gain a construction job. When the gang assaults Thao, Walt responds by attacking and threatening one of the members. The gang retaliates by committing a [[drive-by shooting]] on the Vang Lor household and raping Sue. Thao begs Walt to help him retaliate. |
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Walt holds many prejudices towards Asians because of his experience in the [[Korean War]], and more recently because of the success of Japanese automakers (which is somewhat responsible for the struggle of Ford and other US marques, leading to the decimation of the auto industry in Michigan) and his dislike of [[rice burner]]s (in contrast to traditional American [[muscle cars]]). He frequently calls the Asians in his community ''[[gook]]s'', though his usage of the slur appears to be less insulting as the film progresses. |
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Recognizing that Thao and his family will never be safe from the gang, Walt develops a plan. Thao, wanting revenge, looks to Walt for guidance. After making some preparations including a [[Catholic confession]], Walt locks Thao in his basement, expressing that he wants to save him from being haunted by violence. |
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| ⚫ | Todd McCarthy of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' said that Walt's "racist mutterings, which employ every imaginable epithet for Asians, are blunt and nasty, but Eastwood grunts them out in an over-the-top way that provokes laughs, and his targets are no less sparing of him."<ref name="McCarthy">McCarthy, Todd. "[https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117939157?refcatid=31 Gran Torino]." ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]''. Thursday December 4, 2008. Retrieved on March 17, 2012.</ref> Walt originally perceives his Hmong neighbors as being generic Asians rather than as the Hmong that they are.<ref name="McCarthy"/> Mark Jenkins of [[National Public Radio]] says "He hates everything new or foreign, so much so that he growls at the modern world like a junkyard dog."<ref name="Jenkins">Jenkins, Mark. "[https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98088072 Clint Eastwood, A Reluctant Savior In 'Gran Torino']". [[National Public Radio]]. December 11, 2008. Retrieved on March 16, 2012.</ref> Charity says that the character's "racist [[Archie Bunker| |
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Walt presents himself at the gang's residence and begins insulting them. As the gang draws their firearms, Walt places a cigarette in his mouth and quickly reaches into his jacket; the gang opens fire and shoots Walt dead. Walt was unarmed and reached for his [[Zippo lighter]]. When Sue and Thao arrive, police reveal that witnesses have come forward and that the gang will be going to prison. |
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| ⚫ | John Serba of ''The Grand Rapids Press'' says that the intolerance demonstrated by Walt "goes deeper than skin color" since he is also against stupidity, "trait that transcends superficialities".<ref name="Serba"/> Serba adds that "his definition of unintelligent is broader than the average person's, thus, his conversations tend to become confrontations quickly, and perhaps surprisingly, to our amusement."<ref name="Serba"/> |
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After Walt's funeral, his [[will and testament]] is read; he leaves his Ford Torino to Thao and everything else to the church much to the dismay of his family who were looking forward to taking possession of Walt's house and belongings for themselves. |
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==Morality== |
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==Views and morality== |
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| ⚫ | Wanda Teays, author of ''Seeing the Light: Exploring Ethics Through Movies'', said that Walt originally is a "moral absolutist" who believes that values are universal and do not differ at all even if the context is different. She said that after Walt beats a gangster in retaliation for an attack on |
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Walt initially is depicted as openly prejudiced, specifically toward [[East Asian people]], often using [[ethnic slur]]s such as "[[gook]]" to describe them. He also dislikes [[Automotive industry in Japan|Japanese automakers]] and is vocal about his dislike of [[rice burner]]s (in contrast to traditional American [[muscle cars]]). Over the course of the film, Walt comes to appreciate the Hmong culture and people. |
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He also utilizes slurs when bantering with others, including his [[Italian-American]] barber Martin whom he calls a "[[wop]]" and "dago", as well as his [[Irish-American]] friend whom he calls a "[[mick]]". |
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| ⚫ | Todd McCarthy of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' said that Walt's "racist mutterings, which employ every imaginable epithet for Asians, are blunt and nasty, but Eastwood grunts them out in an over-the-top way that provokes laughs, and his targets are no less sparing of him."<ref name="McCarthy">McCarthy, Todd. "[https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117939157?refcatid=31 Gran Torino]." ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]''. Thursday December 4, 2008. Retrieved on March 17, 2012.</ref> Walt originally perceives his Hmong neighbors as being generic Asians rather than as the Hmong that they are.<ref name="McCarthy"/> Mark Jenkins of [[National Public Radio]] says "He hates everything new or foreign, so much so that he growls at the modern world like a junkyard dog."<ref name="Jenkins">Jenkins, Mark. "[https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98088072 Clint Eastwood, A Reluctant Savior In 'Gran Torino']". [[National Public Radio]]. December 11, 2008. Retrieved on March 16, 2012.</ref> Tom Charity says that the character's "racist [[Archie Bunker|Bunker]] mentality thaws" when Sue introduces him to [[Hmong food]].<!-- Tom Charity says "the pleasures of Thai food" but even though many Hmong come from Thailand, the food in the film is food of the *ethnic* Hmong, and not *ethnic* Thai--><ref name="Charity2"/> |
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| ⚫ | John Serba of ''The Grand Rapids Press'' says that the intolerance demonstrated by Walt "goes deeper than skin color" since he is also against stupidity, "trait that transcends superficialities".<ref name="Serba"/> Serba adds that "his definition of unintelligent is broader than the average person's, thus, his conversations tend to become confrontations quickly, and perhaps surprisingly, to our amusement."<ref name="Serba"/> |
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| ⚫ | Wanda Teays, author of ''Seeing the Light: Exploring Ethics Through Movies'', said that Walt originally is a "moral absolutist" who believes that values are universal and do not differ at all even if the context is different. She said that after Walt beats a gangster in retaliation for an attack on Thao Vang Lor, the gangsters retaliate by attacking Sue Lor. Teays said that this causes him to rethink his tactics.<ref>Teays, p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=XkbFqvDb7AkC&dq=Walt+Sue+Hmong+food&pg=PA141 142].</ref> |
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==Similarities and differences with other Eastwood characters== |
==Similarities and differences with other Eastwood characters== |
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[[Tania Modleski]], author of "Clint Eastwood and Male Weepies |
[[Tania Modleski]], author of "Clint Eastwood and Male Weepies", said that "[f]or many reviewers, Gran Torino represents the final step in |
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Eastwood's repudiation of the [[Dirty Harry]]<!--Not capitalized in the original-->{{sic}} persona. If ''[[Unforgiven]]'' ends up being equivocal in its attitude toward violence and vigilantism, ''Gran Torino'' appears to accept the impotence of the lone avenging hero" and that the impotence "is perhaps underlined by Walt's repeated gesture of pointing his finger at villains as if it were a gun."<ref name="Modleski149">Modleski 149.</ref> Amy Biancolli of the ''[[Houston Chronicle]]'' said that even though Walt, an "old fart |
Eastwood's repudiation of the [[Dirty Harry]]<!--Not capitalized in the original-->{{sic}} persona. If ''[[Unforgiven]]'' ends up being equivocal in its attitude toward violence and vigilantism, ''Gran Torino'' appears to accept the impotence of the lone avenging hero" and that the impotence "is perhaps underlined by Walt's repeated gesture of pointing his finger at villains as if it were a gun."<ref name="Modleski149">Modleski 149.</ref> Amy Biancolli of the ''[[Houston Chronicle]]'' said that even though Walt, an "old fart", does not have the same name as Inspector Harry Callahan, the protagonist of ''Dirty Harry'', played by Eastwood, "there's no mistaking the rasp in his voice or the uncompromising crankiness of his ''[[World view|Weltanschauung]]''."<ref name="Biancolli">Biancolli, Amy. "[https://www.chron.com/entertainment/movies/article/Gran-Torino-1739339.php Gran Torino]." ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. Thursday January 8, 2009. Retrieved on March 16, 2012.</ref> Tom Charity of ''[[CNN]]'' said that Walt, "Like other Eastwood heroes before him, Walt sacrifices his independence by accepting that others depend on him."<ref name="Charity2">Charity, Tom. "Review: 'Gran Torino' offers great Eastwood." ''[[CNN]]''. January 9, 2009. [http://articles.cnn.com/2009-01-09/entertainment/review.gran.torino_1_eastwood-heroes-bee-vang-iwo-jima/2?_s=PM:SHOWBIZ 2] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130119200206/http://articles.cnn.com/2009-01-09/entertainment/review.gran.torino_1_eastwood-heroes-bee-vang-iwo-jima/2?_s=PM:SHOWBIZ |date=2013-01-19 }}. Retrieved on March 16, 2012.</ref> Serba said that Walt, who is "bitter, hopelessly cranky", "shares a sense of moral certainty" with Callahan, but that Walt "is infused with the wisdom and weariness" that Callahan does not have.<ref name="Serba">Serba, John. "[http://www.mlive.com/movies/index.ssf/2009/01/scowls_subtlety_make_gran_tori.html Scowls, subtlety make 'Gran Torino' classic Clint Eastwood]." ''[[The Grand Rapids Press]]''. Friday January 9, 2009. Retrieved on March 16, 2012.</ref> Jenkins said that Walt is similar to Frankie Dunn, a character played by Eastwood in ''[[Million Dollar Baby]]''.<ref name="Jenkins"/> |
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| ⚫ | [[Nick Schenk]], the writer of the script of the film, said "Walt is like a lot of shop teachers and coaches that you have in school. He's the kind of guy who's just waiting for you to screw up so he can roll his eyes at you."<ref name="GoldsteinRainey">Goldstein, Patrick and James Rainey. "[http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/the_big_picture/2008/11/rookie-screenwr.html Rookie screenwriter finds the right mentor: Clint Eastwood]." ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''. November 26, 2008. Retrieved on March 22, 2012.</ref> Eastwood has said that the car is "sort of a symbol of his days with the Ford plant" and that the gun "is sort of a symbol of his days in the military. … He's clinging to the memory of the war. You'll find out when you see it, some of (the memories) are not as pleasant as others. That helps make him even tougher to get along with."<ref name="Breznican">Breznican, Anthony. "[https://www.usatoday.com/printedition/life/20081023/d_strip23_torino.art.htm Eastwood puts his scowl into high gear]." ''[[USA Today]]''. October 23, 2008. Life 1D. Retrieved on March 16, 2012.</ref> |
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| ⚫ | [[Anthony Breznican]] of ''[[USA Today]]'' said that even though Clint Eastwood had served in the Korean War (in a non-combat role) he "has little in common with Kowalski."<ref name="Breznican"/> Jenkins explained that Walt is "a man of action who's offended by the [[Catholic church]]'s dogmatic insistence that it understands mortality better than a grizzled vet who's seen comrades die."<ref name="Jenkins"/> Jenkins added that Walt also "learned firsthand that self-sacrifice is not transcendent" in a similar manner to [[John Bradley (Navy)|John Bradley]], the protagonist of ''[[Flags of Our Fathers (film)|Flags of Our Fathers]]'', and [[Tadamichi Kuribayashi]], the protagonist of ''[[Letters from Iwo Jima]]''.<ref name="Jenkins"/> Jenkins explained that Walt ultimately "assumes a [[Christ]]-like posture, both to save his new friends and to put Janovich in his place."<ref name="Jenkins"/> John Serba of ''[[The Grand Rapids Press]]'' argues that Eastwood in ''Gran Torino'' "finds his focus on" Walt and "When Walt wields his weapons with righteous fury, Eastwood the actor shows us a damaged man suffering a horrible wartime flashback, without stating it outright."<ref name="Serba"/> Serba argues that the "suggestiveness makes it easier to overlook the inexperience of his supporting cast and the occasionally overstated, transparent dialogue."<ref name="Serba"/> Biancolli said that Eastwood, as Walt, "just keeps doing his [[Dirty Harry]] glare, whipping out guns real and imaginary. But it's hard not to see him as Mr. Wilson [George Everett Wilson] — [[Dennis the Menace (United States)|Dennis the Menace]]'s crotchety neighbor. Skinnier, hairier, no mustache."<ref name="Biancolli"/> |
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| ⚫ | Schenk said that he got the inspiration for Walt Kowalski from several war veterans he met while working as a clerk in a liquor store.<ref>Yuen, Laura. "[http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/01/08/nick_schenk/ 'Gran Torino' a movie made in Minnesota, almost]." ''[[Minnesota Public Radio]]''. January 9, 2009. Retrieved on May 14, 2012.</ref> Schenk explained that "I just knew this character well. When I was working construction, I'd meet a lot of guys like Walt Kowalski. Because I liked history, I'd always be the one that the older guys on the site would tell their stories to."<ref name="GoldsteinRainey"/> He originally intended for Walt's car to be a Ford because a Ford assembly line was near Schenk's location in the Minneapolis area. He was not aware that Harry Callahan, the main character in ''Dirty Harry'', drove a Gran Torino. Schenk said that the vehicle could have been a [[Crown Victoria]] but he preferred the sound of the name "Gran Torino".<ref name="GoldsteinRainey"/> Schenk said that individuals<!--Not specified in the article--> told him that he would not be successful in selling a script that had an elderly man as the main character, and especially one who sounds like he has racist views.<ref name="GoldsteinRainey"/> |
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==Reception== |
==Reception== |
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Tania Modleski, author of "Clint Eastwood and Male Weepies |
Tania Modleski, author of "Clint Eastwood and Male Weepies", said that "by melodramatically sacrificing his life, Eastwood as Walt and as himself becomes God" because "Eastwood is in a sense resurrected by the reviewers who appear to want to immortalize him" and so "many reviewers accord him the masculine qualities that old age has threatened to take away from him."<ref name="Modleski150">Modleski 150.</ref> Modleski said that three female reviewers, Manohla Dargis, Ann Hornaday, and Stephanie Zacharek, "seem particularly invested in shoring up "Clint's" masculinity, denying, in a sense, the impotence that his character's failure to use violence except to beget more violence against those he would defend might appear to suggest" and that "[t]he attention they lavish on Eastwood's body is noteworthy."<ref name="Modleski150"/> |
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Serna said that "Walt's [[Archie Bunker]]-ish sandpaper brusqueness" gives the film "a refreshing, if not outright surprising, levity."<ref name="Serba"/> Jenkins argued that Walt "is just not convincing, even as a semi-comic character" because the racism espoused by Walt "is as one-dimensional as his reluctant heroism".<ref name="Jenkins"/> Peter Howell of the ''[[Toronto Star]]'' said that Eastwood "transforms a stereotypical racist into a fully realized character."<ref>Howell, Peter. "[https://www.thestar.com/article/556124--gran-torino-showdown-in-motor-city Gran Torino: Showdown in Motor City]." ''[[The Toronto Star]]''. Friday December 19, 2008. Retrieved on March 16, 2012.</ref> |
Serna said that "Walt's [[Archie Bunker]]-ish sandpaper brusqueness" gives the film "a refreshing, if not outright surprising, levity."<ref name="Serba"/> Jenkins argued that Walt "is just not convincing, even as a semi-comic character" because the racism espoused by Walt "is as one-dimensional as his reluctant heroism".<ref name="Jenkins"/> Peter Howell of the ''[[Toronto Star]]'' said that Eastwood "transforms a stereotypical racist into a fully realized character."<ref>Howell, Peter. "[https://www.thestar.com/article/556124--gran-torino-showdown-in-motor-city Gran Torino: Showdown in Motor City]." ''[[The Toronto Star]]''. Friday December 19, 2008. Retrieved on March 16, 2012.</ref> |
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==See also== |
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* [[List of Gran Torino characters]] |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{Portal|Film|United States}} |
{{Portal|Film|United States}} |
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* "[http://hmongstudies.org/ScheinVangHSJ11.pdf ''Gran Torino''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s Hmong Lead Bee Vang on Film, Race and Masculinity Conversations with Louisa Schein, Spring, 2010]." ([https:// |
* "[http://hmongstudies.org/ScheinVangHSJ11.pdf ''Gran Torino''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s Hmong Lead Bee Vang on Film, Race and Masculinity Conversations with Louisa Schein, Spring, 2010]." ([https://web.archive.org/web/20120311002439/http://hmongstudies.org/ScheinVangHSJ11.pdf Archive]) ''[[Hmong Studies Journal]]''. (northern hemisphere) Spring 2010. Volume 11. p. 4. |
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* Modleski, Tania. "[http://alh.oxfordjournals.org/content/22/1/136.full Clint Eastwood and Male Weepies]." ''[[American Literary History]]''. 2010. Volume 22, Issue 1. p. 136-158. {{ |
* Modleski, Tania. "[http://alh.oxfordjournals.org/content/22/1/136.full Clint Eastwood and Male Weepies]." ''[[American Literary History]]''. 2010. Volume 22, Issue 1. p. 136-158. {{doi|10.1093/alh/ajp051}}. First published online on November 20, 2009. |
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* Schein, Louisa and Va-Megn Thoj. "[http://hmongstudies.org/ScheinThojHSJ10.pdf ''Gran Torino''’s Boys and Men with Guns: Hmong Perspectives]." ([https:// |
* Schein, Louisa and Va-Megn Thoj. "[http://hmongstudies.org/ScheinThojHSJ10.pdf ''Gran Torino''’s Boys and Men with Guns: Hmong Perspectives]." ([https://web.archive.org/web/20120309193949/http://hmongstudies.org/ScheinThojHSJ10.pdf Archive]) ''[[Hmong Studies Journal]]''. Volume 10. p. 25-26. Retrieved on March 16, 2012. |
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* Teays, Wanda. ''Seeing the Light: Exploring Ethics Through Movies''. [[John Wiley & Sons]], March 29, 2012. {{ISBN|1444355856}}, {{ISBNT|9781444355857}}. |
* Teays, Wanda. ''Seeing the Light: Exploring Ethics Through Movies''. [[John Wiley & Sons]], March 29, 2012. {{ISBN|1444355856}}, {{ISBNT|9781444355857}}. |
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==Notes== |
==Notes== |
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{{reflist}} |
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<references/> |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Kowalski, Walt}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kowalski, Walt}} |
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[[Category:Film characters introduced in 2008]] |
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[[Category:Fictional Korean War veterans]] |
[[Category:Fictional Korean War veterans]] |
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[[Category:Scottish male characters in film]] |
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[[Category:Male characters in film]] |
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[[category:Fictional Polish-American people]] |
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Latest revision as of 00:53, 20 June 2024
| Walt Kowalski | |
|---|---|
 Walt Kowalski as portrayed by Clint Eastwood | |
| First appearance | Gran Torino (2008) |
| Last appearance | Gran Torino (2008) |
| Portrayed by | Clint Eastwood |
| In-universe information | |
| Full name | Walter Kowalski |
| Gender | Male |
| Occupation | Ford auto-assembly-line worker (retired) |
| Affiliation | United States Army (1951–53) |
| Family | Mitch Kowalski (son) Brian Kowalski (son) Karen Kowalski (daughter-in-law) Ashley Kowalski (granddaughter) Josh Kowalski (grandson) |
| Significant other | Dorothy Kowalski (wife; deceased) |
| Nationality | American |
Walter Kowalski is a fictional character portrayed by Clint Eastwood in the 2008 American film Gran Torino. Walt is depicted as an irritable and prejudiced Korean War veteran whose aging Metro Detroit neighborhood has become home to Hmong immigrants and is plagued with gang violence.
The character of Walt and Eastwood's performance have garnered positive reception.
Character overview
[edit]Walt is introduced as an elderly Polish-American whose wife of 50 years dies, leaving him alone in his Rust Belt neighborhood of Highland Park, Michigan. Adhering to conservative values and openly prejudiced, he dislikes that his neighborhood has become home to poor immigrants. Adding to his isolation, Walt is retired and does not have a close relationship with his family. His only companions are fellow members of the VFW and his elderly labrador retriever, Daisy. A handyman, Walt spends his days maintaining his property. He is a heavy drinker and tobacco user; often seen drinking Pabst Blue Ribbon, chewing Red Man tobacco, and smoking Marlboro Reds.
Walt is a decorated Korean War combat veteran, having served in the United States Army's 1st Cavalry Division. He was awarded the Silver Star for valor, having been the only survivor of his unit's assault on an enemy machine gun nest. By his own admission, he killed thirteen or more enemy soldiers during the conflict, but is particularly haunted by his unordered killing of a teenage North Korean soldier who had been trying to surrender to him. After the war, Walt returned to Michigan, worked at a Ford automobile factory, got married and had two sons. In 1972, he put the steering column in a Ford Torino he helped assemble, and at some point obtained the car for himself.
Character arc
[edit]In 2008, Dorothy Kowalski dies after a prolonged illness, leaving Walt a widower. Walt rebuffs his two sons when they express concerns for his well-being, and instead chooses to remain alone in his aging home and neighborhood. His neighbors, the Vang Lor family, are poor Hmong immigrants with whom he does not get along. Walt also rejects multiple attempts by Dorothy's priest to comfort him.
One night, Walt catches 15-year-old Thao Vang Lor attempting to steal his Ford Torino as part of a Hmong gang initiation. He nearly shoots Thao, who narrowly escapes. The following day, the gang attempts to abduct Thao; Walt intervenes and threatens the gang at gunpoint. Much to Walt's dismay, the local Hmong bring him gifts out of respect. Additionally, Thao's mother requires Thao to do work for Walt as penance.
Walt has Thao perform various jobs around his home and the neighborhood, and the two begin to form a mutual respect. Walt also rescues Thao's sister Sue from the unwanted advances of African American gangsters. He begins to bond with the Vang Lor family, recognizing their traditional values are more in line with his own beliefs than he originally thought. Walt, plagued by coughing fits and occasionally spitting up blood, visits the doctor and seemingly receives a poor prognosis.
Walt becomes a mentor to Thao, helping him to gain a construction job. When the gang assaults Thao, Walt responds by attacking and threatening one of the members. The gang retaliates by committing a drive-by shooting on the Vang Lor household and raping Sue. Thao begs Walt to help him retaliate.
Recognizing that Thao and his family will never be safe from the gang, Walt develops a plan. Thao, wanting revenge, looks to Walt for guidance. After making some preparations including a Catholic confession, Walt locks Thao in his basement, expressing that he wants to save him from being haunted by violence.
Walt presents himself at the gang's residence and begins insulting them. As the gang draws their firearms, Walt places a cigarette in his mouth and quickly reaches into his jacket; the gang opens fire and shoots Walt dead. Walt was unarmed and reached for his Zippo lighter. When Sue and Thao arrive, police reveal that witnesses have come forward and that the gang will be going to prison.
After Walt's funeral, his will and testament is read; he leaves his Ford Torino to Thao and everything else to the church much to the dismay of his family who were looking forward to taking possession of Walt's house and belongings for themselves.
Views and morality
[edit]Walt initially is depicted as openly prejudiced, specifically toward East Asian people, often using ethnic slurs such as "gook" to describe them. He also dislikes Japanese automakers and is vocal about his dislike of rice burners (in contrast to traditional American muscle cars). Over the course of the film, Walt comes to appreciate the Hmong culture and people.
He also utilizes slurs when bantering with others, including his Italian-American barber Martin whom he calls a "wop" and "dago", as well as his Irish-American friend whom he calls a "mick".
Todd McCarthy of Variety said that Walt's "racist mutterings, which employ every imaginable epithet for Asians, are blunt and nasty, but Eastwood grunts them out in an over-the-top way that provokes laughs, and his targets are no less sparing of him."[1] Walt originally perceives his Hmong neighbors as being generic Asians rather than as the Hmong that they are.[1] Mark Jenkins of National Public Radio says "He hates everything new or foreign, so much so that he growls at the modern world like a junkyard dog."[2] Tom Charity says that the character's "racist Bunker mentality thaws" when Sue introduces him to Hmong food.[3]
John Serba of The Grand Rapids Press says that the intolerance demonstrated by Walt "goes deeper than skin color" since he is also against stupidity, "trait that transcends superficialities".[4] Serba adds that "his definition of unintelligent is broader than the average person's, thus, his conversations tend to become confrontations quickly, and perhaps surprisingly, to our amusement."[4]
Wanda Teays, author of Seeing the Light: Exploring Ethics Through Movies, said that Walt originally is a "moral absolutist" who believes that values are universal and do not differ at all even if the context is different. She said that after Walt beats a gangster in retaliation for an attack on Thao Vang Lor, the gangsters retaliate by attacking Sue Lor. Teays said that this causes him to rethink his tactics.[5]
Similarities and differences with other Eastwood characters
[edit]Tania Modleski, author of "Clint Eastwood and Male Weepies", said that "[f]or many reviewers, Gran Torino represents the final step in Eastwood's repudiation of the Dirty Harry [sic] persona. If Unforgiven ends up being equivocal in its attitude toward violence and vigilantism, Gran Torino appears to accept the impotence of the lone avenging hero" and that the impotence "is perhaps underlined by Walt's repeated gesture of pointing his finger at villains as if it were a gun."[6] Amy Biancolli of the Houston Chronicle said that even though Walt, an "old fart", does not have the same name as Inspector Harry Callahan, the protagonist of Dirty Harry, played by Eastwood, "there's no mistaking the rasp in his voice or the uncompromising crankiness of his Weltanschauung."[7] Tom Charity of CNN said that Walt, "Like other Eastwood heroes before him, Walt sacrifices his independence by accepting that others depend on him."[3] Serba said that Walt, who is "bitter, hopelessly cranky", "shares a sense of moral certainty" with Callahan, but that Walt "is infused with the wisdom and weariness" that Callahan does not have.[4] Jenkins said that Walt is similar to Frankie Dunn, a character played by Eastwood in Million Dollar Baby.[2]
Nick Schenk, the writer of the script of the film, said "Walt is like a lot of shop teachers and coaches that you have in school. He's the kind of guy who's just waiting for you to screw up so he can roll his eyes at you."[8] Eastwood has said that the car is "sort of a symbol of his days with the Ford plant" and that the gun "is sort of a symbol of his days in the military. … He's clinging to the memory of the war. You'll find out when you see it, some of (the memories) are not as pleasant as others. That helps make him even tougher to get along with."[9]
Anthony Breznican of USA Today said that even though Clint Eastwood had served in the Korean War (in a non-combat role) he "has little in common with Kowalski."[9] Jenkins explained that Walt is "a man of action who's offended by the Catholic church's dogmatic insistence that it understands mortality better than a grizzled vet who's seen comrades die."[2] Jenkins added that Walt also "learned firsthand that self-sacrifice is not transcendent" in a similar manner to John Bradley, the protagonist of Flags of Our Fathers, and Tadamichi Kuribayashi, the protagonist of Letters from Iwo Jima.[2] Jenkins explained that Walt ultimately "assumes a Christ-like posture, both to save his new friends and to put Janovich in his place."[2] John Serba of The Grand Rapids Press argues that Eastwood in Gran Torino "finds his focus on" Walt and "When Walt wields his weapons with righteous fury, Eastwood the actor shows us a damaged man suffering a horrible wartime flashback, without stating it outright."[4] Serba argues that the "suggestiveness makes it easier to overlook the inexperience of his supporting cast and the occasionally overstated, transparent dialogue."[4] Biancolli said that Eastwood, as Walt, "just keeps doing his Dirty Harry glare, whipping out guns real and imaginary. But it's hard not to see him as Mr. Wilson [George Everett Wilson] — Dennis the Menace's crotchety neighbor. Skinnier, hairier, no mustache."[7]
Schenk said that he got the inspiration for Walt Kowalski from several war veterans he met while working as a clerk in a liquor store.[10] Schenk explained that "I just knew this character well. When I was working construction, I'd meet a lot of guys like Walt Kowalski. Because I liked history, I'd always be the one that the older guys on the site would tell their stories to."[8] He originally intended for Walt's car to be a Ford because a Ford assembly line was near Schenk's location in the Minneapolis area. He was not aware that Harry Callahan, the main character in Dirty Harry, drove a Gran Torino. Schenk said that the vehicle could have been a Crown Victoria but he preferred the sound of the name "Gran Torino".[8] Schenk said that individuals told him that he would not be successful in selling a script that had an elderly man as the main character, and especially one who sounds like he has racist views.[8]
Reception
[edit]Tania Modleski, author of "Clint Eastwood and Male Weepies", said that "by melodramatically sacrificing his life, Eastwood as Walt and as himself becomes God" because "Eastwood is in a sense resurrected by the reviewers who appear to want to immortalize him" and so "many reviewers accord him the masculine qualities that old age has threatened to take away from him."[11] Modleski said that three female reviewers, Manohla Dargis, Ann Hornaday, and Stephanie Zacharek, "seem particularly invested in shoring up "Clint's" masculinity, denying, in a sense, the impotence that his character's failure to use violence except to beget more violence against those he would defend might appear to suggest" and that "[t]he attention they lavish on Eastwood's body is noteworthy."[11]
Serna said that "Walt's Archie Bunker-ish sandpaper brusqueness" gives the film "a refreshing, if not outright surprising, levity."[4] Jenkins argued that Walt "is just not convincing, even as a semi-comic character" because the racism espoused by Walt "is as one-dimensional as his reluctant heroism".[2] Peter Howell of the Toronto Star said that Eastwood "transforms a stereotypical racist into a fully realized character."[12]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]
- "Gran Torino's Hmong Lead Bee Vang on Film, Race and Masculinity Conversations with Louisa Schein, Spring, 2010." (Archive) Hmong Studies Journal. (northern hemisphere) Spring 2010. Volume 11. p. 4.
- Modleski, Tania. "Clint Eastwood and Male Weepies." American Literary History. 2010. Volume 22, Issue 1. p. 136-158. doi:10.1093/alh/ajp051. First published online on November 20, 2009.
- Schein, Louisa and Va-Megn Thoj. "Gran Torino’s Boys and Men with Guns: Hmong Perspectives." (Archive) Hmong Studies Journal. Volume 10. p. 25-26. Retrieved on March 16, 2012.
- Teays, Wanda. Seeing the Light: Exploring Ethics Through Movies. John Wiley & Sons, March 29, 2012. ISBN 1444355856, 9781444355857.
Notes
[edit]- ^ a b McCarthy, Todd. "Gran Torino." Variety. Thursday December 4, 2008. Retrieved on March 17, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f Jenkins, Mark. "Clint Eastwood, A Reluctant Savior In 'Gran Torino'". National Public Radio. December 11, 2008. Retrieved on March 16, 2012.
- ^ a b Charity, Tom. "Review: 'Gran Torino' offers great Eastwood." CNN. January 9, 2009. 2 Archived 2013-01-19 at archive.today. Retrieved on March 16, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f Serba, John. "Scowls, subtlety make 'Gran Torino' classic Clint Eastwood." The Grand Rapids Press. Friday January 9, 2009. Retrieved on March 16, 2012.
- ^ Teays, p. 142.
- ^ Modleski 149.
- ^ a b Biancolli, Amy. "Gran Torino." Houston Chronicle. Thursday January 8, 2009. Retrieved on March 16, 2012.
- ^ a b c d Goldstein, Patrick and James Rainey. "Rookie screenwriter finds the right mentor: Clint Eastwood." Los Angeles Times. November 26, 2008. Retrieved on March 22, 2012.
- ^ a b Breznican, Anthony. "Eastwood puts his scowl into high gear." USA Today. October 23, 2008. Life 1D. Retrieved on March 16, 2012.
- ^ Yuen, Laura. "'Gran Torino' a movie made in Minnesota, almost." Minnesota Public Radio. January 9, 2009. Retrieved on May 14, 2012.
- ^ a b Modleski 150.
- ^ Howell, Peter. "Gran Torino: Showdown in Motor City." The Toronto Star. Friday December 19, 2008. Retrieved on March 16, 2012.