tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163321594858726822.post3998712461790566499..comments2024-01-30T04:32:47.585-05:00Comments on The Cooler: Utterly Offensive: Gran TorinoJason Bellamyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18150199580478147196noreply@blogger.comBlogger70125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163321594858726822.post-76733712551384070502013-12-18T01:11:39.981-05:002013-12-18T01:11:39.981-05:00Why is nigger in quotes?Why is nigger in quotes?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163321594858726822.post-203496220745341672012-09-27T21:12:16.565-04:002012-09-27T21:12:16.565-04:00Lindsay: I can't tell if your comment is based...Lindsay: I can't tell if your comment is based on this single review or several of them. Either way, fair enough. Jason Bellamyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18150199580478147196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163321594858726822.post-44321561172866319542012-09-26T14:50:00.154-04:002012-09-26T14:50:00.154-04:00I understand a review is supposed to be an opinion...I understand a review is supposed to be an opinion, but in the future it would be much more enjoyable to read your reviews if you were more aware of how your opinion comes off as if you think you are the worlds greatest film critic. Maybe you are not rereading your work, maybe you are not taking enough time to really consider your points, but whatever it is, it is hard to take seriously. I am not saying you are wrong in what you are saying, but your tone is not enjoyable as a reader.Lindsay Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08446931609024328564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163321594858726822.post-28305188249289474732012-02-24T16:51:13.134-05:002012-02-24T16:51:13.134-05:00The tone of this review is so 'holier than tho...The tone of this review is so 'holier than thou' that it makes me want to vomit! Are you serious? Have you ever written a script or made a film which at least honestly attempts to show the full range of realistic human emotion and behaviour WITHOUT preaching? I think not! I can imagine that the kind of film you might actually endorse would be along the lines of a 'Reefer Madness' type catechism for racists: didactic, moralistic and totally boring beyond belief. Don't you think we as an audience are sophisticated enough to know that this guy's language and attitudes are outdated and outmoded? Sure the films depiction of Hmong people could have perhaps been better - a little less idealised but this is a film which at least attempts to show real life issues in a way which captures us as an audience and doesn't PREACH the way people like you do!!!Poatanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163321594858726822.post-43502209645202811872011-12-08T09:35:21.256-05:002011-12-08T09:35:21.256-05:00this review sucks. the reason he uses those words ...this review sucks. the reason he uses those words is because he is trying to show how people can change from being racist, to understanding of different people. it is meant to be offensive.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163321594858726822.post-55838975320431998322011-10-05T19:56:27.793-04:002011-10-05T19:56:27.793-04:00At the end he sticks up for his Hmong neighbors an...At the end he sticks up for his Hmong neighbors and is killed and in his will, gives his famous car to the Hmong boy. What this movie shows is that this racist man learns from the Hmong race and ends up helping them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163321594858726822.post-3735534963986624932011-06-29T09:12:23.495-04:002011-06-29T09:12:23.495-04:00I'm still waiting for someone to review the fi...I'm still waiting for someone to review the film.UK Iannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163321594858726822.post-81065342516154453882010-11-04T07:58:41.477-04:002010-11-04T07:58:41.477-04:00If you can't deal with it, ignore it and keep ...<em>If you can't deal with it, ignore it and keep it to yourself.</em><br /><br />Michael: Couldn't I say the same thing about your reaction to my review? Just saying. Moving on ...<br /><br /><em>...the truth isn't always pretty and clean, it can be unpleasant.</em><br /><br />I completely agree. I wouldn't disagree for a moment that <em>Gran Torino</em> is loosely representative of the kind of racial conflict that exists in this country. But if the conflict is "unpleasant," then it is. And thus treating it like it's a cartoon, like it's "just words," wouldn't be "showing what's really happening," would it? So, which is it: racial conflict is unpleasant, or it's "just words"? I find it odd that you'd praise the film for demonstrating the unpleasantness of racism and then suggest I'm "over-sensitive" for objecting to the way <em>Gran Tornio</em> presents racism as a harmless joke.<br /><br />And that leads me here: If you truly believe that belittling an African-American by calling him/her a nigger is "just words," I doubt I'm going to be able to convince you otherwise, so I won't try. What I will say is this: You accused me of spurting my "righteousness," but if words don't matter, then what is Walt Kowalski other than a "righteous" figure -- the guy who saves the day, the guy who fights anyone who violates his moral code?<br /><br />Walt is allowed to be righteous within the film precisely because it takes the "it only hurts if you let it hurt" mentality to racial insensitivity, which puts the responsibility for racism not on the speaker but on the target. Just because the target might decide not to justify insensitive or hateful behavior by recognizing it, that doesn't erase what it is.<br /><br /><em>Gran Torino</em> is a billboard for the "just words" mentality. So if that's how you feel about belittling racial slurs, then, yes this film shows what's "really happening."Jason Bellamyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18150199580478147196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163321594858726822.post-22077287915472598942010-11-04T07:02:50.609-04:002010-11-04T07:02:50.609-04:00I'm sorry but you are an over-sensitive, uptig...I'm sorry but you are an over-sensitive, uptight whinger who just spurts his rightiousness to anyone who will listen. I really think it's people like you who blow up racism and make it more than it is. It's just words, it only hurts if you let it hurt. It's not up to you to decide what's right or wrong, especially if the insults arn't directed at you. I'd also like to add the fact that the truth isn't always pretty and clean, it can be unpleasant. If you can't deal with it, ignore it and keep it to yourself. Gran Torino is one of the best movies i have seen and it's because it's not afraid to show what's really happening.Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05392059018051192201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163321594858726822.post-47402000207278766892010-09-09T22:19:38.374-04:002010-09-09T22:19:38.374-04:00worst review ever. how did you get your job?!?!?!?...worst review ever. how did you get your job?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163321594858726822.post-25632936564406784322010-07-25T02:08:46.704-04:002010-07-25T02:08:46.704-04:00im sorry but worst review ever!
movie was classic...im sorry but worst review ever! <br />movie was classic!Anonymoushttp://StaceyHammond@google.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163321594858726822.post-59513415698133318422009-08-27T20:25:00.032-04:002009-08-27T20:25:00.032-04:00I think your review is overwrought hand-wringing. ...I think your review is overwrought hand-wringing. If you are looking for a anti-racial reality, get to the moon or Mars, perhaps. <br /><br />This is an "honest review" for someone looking down their long enlightened nose at the plebian hardworking character that Walt represents in this movie. <br /><br />I would rather have a beer with Walt than white wine with you. High horse, indeed. Walt is entitled to have his racial views. He is a veteran of the United States of America. He is, indeed imperfect, but he is a real person with real character (so to speak).<br /><br />Your contention that the movie propogates the notion that slurs don't matter is mistaken.<br /><br />Words do not matter. Actions matter. I would rather have Walt as a neighbor than a hand-wringing well-meaning pontificating politically correct whiner. Walt might call me a slur, but he might pull me out of a fire. <br /><br />You could have saved yourself the "Utterly Offensive" title and just titled your review, "Waaaaaaaahhhh!"Voice of Reasonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00135353864054084823noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163321594858726822.post-16914457833579236042009-08-03T10:54:36.138-04:002009-08-03T10:54:36.138-04:00Get off of your high horseGet off of your high horseDon K Shownoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163321594858726822.post-27236008196710359752009-06-30T09:42:28.415-04:002009-06-30T09:42:28.415-04:00Anon: I’m not quite sure how taking offense to a f...Anon: I’m not quite sure how taking offense to a film’s contradictions reflects immaturity. Nor do I understand why you believe that having an opinion alternate to yours means that someone is a phony (the term you explicitly said you wouldn’t ascribe to the group before going ahead and doing so implicitly). You’ll also have to explain why depicting the “truest sense of real life” is “really funny.” If this is an accurate, not a cartoonish, depiction, then what is there to laugh about?<br /><br />You are free to disagree, but I would argue that this film does pander. It panders to those who want to believe that they are above being respectful of others. I do agree with you that <i>Gran Torino</i> accurately reflects sentiments that exist in pockets of the population. Here’s where I disagree: I believe that <i>Gran Torino</i> positions itself as an anti-xenophobia film. Along the way, it creates the bulk of it’s “entertainment” by celebrating the colorfulness of a man’s xenophobia. I find that disingenuous. That’s where I take offense.Jason Bellamyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18150199580478147196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163321594858726822.post-13356218225621605132009-06-30T02:43:01.423-04:002009-06-30T02:43:01.423-04:00i cant believe all the people that are "shock...i cant believe all the people that are "shocked" and "Offended" im not saying all of you are phonies but the matter of fact is that most of you are too willy nilly, hissy sissy, new yorker elitist type of people that feel you should be offended because your a different race and its "bad" to make such jokes, you are the people that will laugh at a black man telling a racist joke but gasp when a white man does it, Eastwoods movie is genius, it shows a retired vet who has seen his neighborhood go to a different culture and he refuses to move or change his own ways, its really funny cause i have seen this exact thing aswell in my own grandmother, i have a few black friends and she asks me constantly if they are good people and law abiding, i know she is not racist but she grew up in a time when school were just starting to become less segregated, and its true the older you get the more steadfast you get in your beleifs this is as some of you have said made in the truest since of real life it doesnt hold back and it doesnt pander to those ridiculous race based groups, its real, its raw, its genius, now a lot of you need to really grow up and a sense of humor along with itAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163321594858726822.post-35172668617385994362009-02-22T14:12:00.000-05:002009-02-22T14:12:00.000-05:00Haha, you know, thinking about it, nothing illustr...Haha, you know, thinking about it, nothing illustrates my point better than that great scene from <I>Mean Streets</I> where Joey Clams says to Jimmy, "We're not payin' because this guy's a mook, and we don't pay mooks!" Jimmy looks at his friends and says, "I'm a mook? What's a mook?" His friends shrug, and he turns back to Clams and says with mock-outrage, "You can't call me a mook!"<BR/><BR/>The scene is hilarious because Jimmy knows he should be offended by something that sounds vaguely like an ethnic slur, but without any sort of historical understanding of the term, he lacks the capacity to be offended yet pretends he's offended anyway. Funny stuff.Richhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02763694456597443987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163321594858726822.post-78638389920396628932009-02-22T13:50:00.000-05:002009-02-22T13:50:00.000-05:00Hey, Jason. Nice to see the discussion still goin...Hey, Jason. Nice to see the discussion still going. Thought I'd drop by again.<BR/><BR/>I disagree with your persistent assertion that "a slur is a slur is a slur." Maybe in the absolute sense, you are correct, but not in the real world. Every individual slur has its own history and thus evokes emotion accordingly.<BR/><BR/>I think most people agree that "nigger" represents the most offensive, foulest of the foul slur usage imaginable. But calling someone a "nigger" in a historical vacuum is about as offensive as calling them a "stupid-face." It might still possess a derogatory meaning, but there's no extra baggage.<BR/><BR/>The reason "nigger" offends is due to history -- because of the institution of slavery and its still-lingering ramifications. It re-opens old wounds and evokes a time when African Americans were considered property, not human beings. The term "cracker" recalls the same period of history, but it's not as offensive because the balance of power in black/white relationships always favored whites -- "crackers" enslaved, "niggers" _were_ slaves. Calling an African American a "nigger" produces rage and resentment. Calling a Caucasian American a "cracker" produces guilt -- maybe. See how historical context matters?<BR/><BR/>I think the film probably _did_ sidestep the word "nigger" because Clint and his screenwriter smartly recognized that scenes would have played out differently, and they wanted to avoid that. If Walt says "spook," he's ridiculous. (It's okay to laugh.) If he says "nigger," then he's cruel and inhuman. (It's not okay to laugh.) In fact, some scenes _do_ seem crueller and more inhuman than other scenes. And, at least at my screening, the audience wasn't laughing during these scenes.Richhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02763694456597443987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163321594858726822.post-25980962369938197922009-02-20T05:56:00.000-05:002009-02-20T05:56:00.000-05:00Thanks, Dan. I think your comparison to "The Simps...Thanks, Dan. I think your comparison to "The Simpsons" is a smart one. True enough, any single-episode sampling of that show might suggests a different underlying message that it delivers bit by bit, yet effectively. Good argument.<BR/><BR/>Again, I just don't think "Gran Torino" works. I think the fact that the film isn't bold enough to have him say "nigger" (he says "spook" instead), shows that. If he had black neighbors next door, I think audiences would be rolling their eyes and shifting uncomfortably in their seats. "Gran Torino" tries to pass itself off as slur clever, or slur lite. But a slur is a slur is a slur.<BR/><BR/>Anyway, thanks again for stopping by and adding to the discussion.Jason Bellamyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18150199580478147196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163321594858726822.post-23949997348101924692009-02-19T23:00:00.000-05:002009-02-19T23:00:00.000-05:00Reasonable rebuttals. However, I still stand that...Reasonable rebuttals. However, I still stand that the racist language is secondary to the message that "like finds like," regardless of race, sex, religion, etc. Without an extremely strong contrast, you couldn't get that message across. With no contrast, it would come across like some afterschool special. I think of the Simpsons with an outrageous foreground sketch while the background message is about love, family, marriage. They may be in the background, but those messages are the point. If you are a Simpsons fan then you know what I mean. Not everybody gets it.<BR/><BR/>Nice to interact with you, danAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163321594858726822.post-91211690699053040452009-02-18T08:25:00.000-05:002009-02-18T08:25:00.000-05:00Dan: Thanks for the comment. I'm happy to have you...Dan: Thanks for the comment. I'm happy to have your lengthy argument stand as a dissenting opinion.<BR/><BR/>That said: I think you see the film as what it wants to be. I don't think that Eastwood is racist nor that the film intends to be. My argument is that the things you have identified that the film <I>aims</I> to be about are not what it's about in terms of what actually happens on screen. I am not blind to many of your observations. I think you too casually dismiss that a large majority of this film, in practice, is nothing more than an attempt for laughs through the use of slurs. You cannot dismiss what is on the screen just because it conflicts with the deeper message you think the film is aiming to explore. That contradiction is significant.<BR/><BR/>A few specific replies:<BR/><BR/><I>"everyone wants to focus on the racism of an angry white guy while ignoring the same behavior by Blacks, Asians, women, and Mexicans"</I><BR/><BR/>Sorry, but this film isn't about Blacks, Asians, women and Mexicans. It's about Walt. He's white. That's why the focus is on him.<BR/><BR/><I>They miss that his friends are of other nationalities.</I><BR/><BR/>Please. Walt's other friends are both white. Don't tell me that there's this large friction between whites of Polish, Irish and Italian descent in this country that in any way compares to the friction between different skin colors. All you have done here is prove my point: <I>Gran Torino</I> tries to justify Walt's behavior by suggesting that it's "just what guys do," and showing him react this way among friends.<BR/><BR/><I>"he can’t stand half-assed people, period. If Walt was simply a racist, he wouldn’t have a problem with the white kid in the scene with the black kids. However, the film portrays the kid as a fake who tries to create bonds and his ultimate rejection.</I><BR/><BR/>The first sentence is entirely true. The second, not so much. You think if a white person hated blacks that he'd be fond of a white person who, in his mind, adopted a "black" cultural persona? I think not. As for the last sentence: Yes, Walt sees the light about Thao. And that's great. But why did Walt doubt Thao in the first place? His skin color. He doesn't expect to share anything in common with these people because of their skin color.<BR/><BR/><I>They miss angry young men who use their guns while missing the part about who doesn't use his gun.</I><BR/><BR/>Nowhere above do I condemn Walt for violence and imply gang violence is OK. Though now that you mention it: Why is it acceptable that Walt can stick a gun in someone's face (regardless of whether he pulls the trigger) and others cannot? And please don't ignore the fact that in the end it takes a white man to settle the score with the Hmong gang. <BR/><BR/><I>Never have I heard a statement so clear of what America did in Vietnam.</I><BR/><BR/>Yes. America "quit." I'm not going to get into politics here and argue whether that was the right decision or not. But let's remember that "quit" isn't a nasty four-letter word. See also: "I quit drinking." "I quit smoking." "I quit lying." "I quit sending troops off to die in a war that couldn't be 'won.'" "I quit pretending that 'Gran Torino' is little more than an effort to make whites feel better about their mistreatment (past or present) of minorities." Etc.<BR/><BR/><I>Her review stating "As the daughter of Vietnamese refugee..." </I><BR/><BR/>Thanks for the link to the review. And, again, thanks for the points you have left here. If the film actually looked like what you have described, it would have been less offensive.<BR/><BR/>As for this white guy of British and German descent, I remain offended by <I>Gran Torino</I>.Jason Bellamyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18150199580478147196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163321594858726822.post-13684340506083502762009-02-16T15:25:00.000-05:002009-02-16T15:25:00.000-05:00I went to see this movie without reading any revie...I went to see this movie without reading any reviews and am glad I did. After seeing the movie I searched reviews to see what others thought. The reviews are predictable. As far as the movie goes, it was pretty good. The acting was average and the story line was also. It seems like most of the comments here try to make a case for or against racism as the film's focus. Did you folks see the same movie?<BR/><BR/>From my standpoint the movie is about action not words, individualism, loyalty, character, integrity, honor, self sacrifice, and absolutely most importantly, earned respect. These messages are best spelled out in the line "I have more in common with these gooks than with my own spoiled, rotten family."<BR/><BR/>The film depicts a truth that people gravitate to their own kind regardless of race, nationality, color, or anything else. Like minded people find each other and get along. People of vastly different character do not develop strong bonds. The film even brings this out with the violent rejection of the Hmong gang to their own people.<BR/><BR/>This blog misses a good deal of the film's messages because everyone wants to focus on the racism of an angry white guy while ignoring the same behavior by Blacks, Asians, women, and Mexicans. Don’t you think that is odd? Here are some obvious things that these reviewers notice and miss in no particular order:<BR/><BR/>- They notice "A war veteran with a silver star locked away in his basement, Walt is a proud American with a not so proud past. He’s haunted by his memories of fighting in Korea, and in the faces of his neighbors he sees the dead Korean soldiers that he and his compatriots “stacked like sandbags.” but they miss that he is not embarrassed or ashamed of his past. He simply has memories of the terrible things that go on in war, things done by all sides. There is no need for redemption of the past. This is proved in his confession with the priest. His ending actions are about giving a kindred spirit a chance in life since he knows he is on the way out. Did you forget about the hospital papers?<BR/><BR/>-They notice an angry white guy who can't stand his children or grandchildren as depicted from the very beginning in a funeral scene but they miss the fact that they are disrespecting their "mother/grandmother”, not Walt. They miss the other scenes which show the sons to be typical middle America consumers but with little character. The movie portrays life as pretty good for one of them but gained by questionable ethics.<BR/><BR/>-They see xenophobia, a man that hates just about everyone. They miss that his friends are of other nationalities. They miss the obvious; he can’t stand half-assed people, period. If Walt was simply a racist, he wouldn’t have a problem with the white kid in the scene with the black kids. However, the film portrays the kid as a fake who tries to create bonds and his ultimate rejection. It again proves Walt’s character is against dumbass behavior. Another proof is his admiration of Toad who helps the lady who drops her groceries when other kids don't.<BR/><BR/>-They see a perfectly tidy house, behind his perfectly swept front porch and his perfectly manicured lawn, and mock or put down the character's work ethic. How curious. They miss that the kid has no skills or direction but has the same work ethic and values.<BR/><BR/>-They see an angry white guy who uses racial slurs but they miss the parts where Black guys throw racial slurs, Mexicans throw racial slurs, Asians throw racial slurs, old ladies throw racial slurs, Irishmen throw racial slurs, and Poles throws racial slurs. As a matter of fact, the only ones that don't throw slurs are the brother and sister.<BR/><BR/>-They see guns, but only as a angry old white guy's weapon of destruction. They miss Mexicans with guns and Asians with guns. They miss angry young men who use their guns while missing the part about who doesn't use his gun.<BR/><BR/>-They see a troubled neighborhood but they don't see bullies who don't go away just because you stand up to them. They see an angry white guy who takes the law into his own hands but miss the part where he says "he fixes things" and means it. The fact is that in real life cops don't mess in these areas of life because thugs shoot back. They play with radar guns instead. The storyline doesn't bring this message out because it is generally understood.<BR/><BR/>-They completely miss the lines “We fought on your side and when America quit, the communists started killing the Hmong so we came over here.” Never have I heard a statement so clear of what America did in Vietnam. We didn't lose, we didn't win either, we quit! Those who cause politics to enter war take no responsibility for its outcome. I've always felt that the "Killing fields" fall on the backs of the 60's activists. The same will be true in the Middle East when we quit and leave them hanging. (last part is my opinion. BTW, no, I am not old enough to have fought in Vietnam.)<BR/><BR/>-They see a funeral in the end but they don't see that it is about honor and who it is that shows respect to Walt.<BR/><BR/>Finally I offer a much better review, far more eloquent than I could ever state from Paulette Chu Miniter. Her review stating "As the daughter of Vietnamese refugee..." http://www.feer.com/authors-corner/2009/january/Gran-Torino-and-the-Drive-Toward-Liberty is a much better review in my opinion.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163321594858726822.post-24806150036774333752009-02-03T11:57:00.000-05:002009-02-03T11:57:00.000-05:00I don't think there's much I can add to this conve...I don't think there's much I can add to this conversation, but I did want to say this:<BR/><BR/>"That’s why it’s a shame that Walt is a widower, because otherwise Thao’s next lesson could have been in wife-beating – that’s what guys do, right? Please."<BR/><BR/>Hilarious line, Jason. And excellent review.Fletchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17299302086449086987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163321594858726822.post-52932379370265203182009-01-18T02:57:00.000-05:002009-01-18T02:57:00.000-05:00First, Anon/Tara: "Problematize"? I just looked it...First, Anon/Tara: "Problematize"? I just looked it up to make sure, and I see that yes, officially, it is a word. But come on! Not in my Wop neighborhood.<BR/><BR/>Jason, I haven't stopped by The Cooler in a while -- I'm sorry to have been missing out -- but I'm glad to be catching up now with such a raucous discussion and a sharp review. Well done, everyone.<BR/><BR/>I agree with your generally negative review of this film, Jason. I've loved Clint's movies for decades and really appreciate much of his work as a director, so I was surprised by how little I cared for this one. A lot of my reaction, like yours, was driven by the racism. <BR/><BR/>But I also think the problems run far deeper than the off-putting language. A film about a racist old man confronting (or not) his demons and finding redemption (or not) could be good, even if it made me squirm. I haven't minded a number of other movies with foul characters. In "Gran Torino," though, everything felt stale and formula to me. For all its color the writing didn't sing. The characters didn't engage. The direction -- from framing the performances to framing the shots -- felt perfunctory and obvious, ham-handed. (Sloppy too; I saw a boom mic in two shots.)<BR/><BR/>The word in your review that really resonated with me, Jason, and that I used to describe the movie to friends, was "trite."<BR/><BR/>It feels to me like the hype GT is generating comes from two impulses: celebrating the re-emergence of a Dirty Harry-style character (updated only subtly for our time); and giving Clint a lifetime-achievement kind of valedictory standing O. <BR/><BR/>Sadly, he's had a couple of those already that were much more deserving. I wish he had let "Iwo Jima" be his Ted Williams moment.<BR/><BR/>In any event, it's cool to see such a great community of film lovers developing here. Thank you, everyone. I won't wait so long between visits ...Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07735634558776498316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163321594858726822.post-68173301967990871332009-01-16T16:10:00.000-05:002009-01-16T16:10:00.000-05:00Clint Eastwood used his outward crankiness to come...Clint Eastwood used his outward crankiness to come across as tough and yet also heroic at the same time, well done i'd sayAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163321594858726822.post-75881155945780775292009-01-16T10:40:00.000-05:002009-01-16T10:40:00.000-05:00On this, I most definitely disagree. Here’s what W...<I>On this, I most definitely disagree. Here’s what Walt says to Thao in the basement: “You know you’re letting Click-clack, Ding-dong and Charlie Chan just walk out with miss What’s Her Face?”<BR/><BR/>Let's look at that: At least three of those nicknames are slurs in this context. I would like to know if anyone, anyone at all, thinks that this line isn’t meant to be humorous. I would like to know if anyone, anyone at all, thinks that in this instance that the joke is on Walt.</I><BR/><BR/>I'll begin with a quote from Eastwood in a recent New York Times article:<BR/><BR/>“A lot of people are bored of all the political correctness. You’re showing a guy from a different generation. Show the way he talks. The country has come a long way in race relations, but the pendulum swings so far back. Everyone wants to be so sensitive.”<BR/><BR/>The humor in the scene comes from Walt's audacity. The slurs spewing forth from his mouth don't register as overly offensive (to this viewer) for two reasons: 1) prior scenes have already established Walt as a somewhat decent guy underneath the bigotry and 2) his words feel like they are from another era and are clearly inapplicable to the realistically portrayed, non-stereotypes populating the gathering. <BR/><BR/>There's a kid with dyed, spiky hair, who probably hangs out at Hot Topic on the weekends, sitting on the couch. He doesn't look much different than Walt's own daughter who wore a pretty outrageous get-up (oh, kids these days!) to the funeral at the beginning of the film. And Walt's gonna call a kid like this "Charlie Chan?" Again, Walt's bigotry is turned into something ridiculous.<BR/><BR/>To hear this guy lecturing Thao the way he does is certainly incongruous with what we believe is reality. Yet, despite the obvious cultural gap between Walt and Thao, there's a familiar cross-cultural dynamic at work here (the old crank lecturing the inexperienced youth) that instinctively makes us laugh. I think that's the key.Richhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02763694456597443987noreply@blogger.com