Gran Torino Film Analysis Final Scene

Posted on November 22, 2010 by nevnewton

Gran Torino (USA 2008; Clint Eastwood) tells of a Korean War veteran whos the only American left
living on the street while other families and people from different cultures move in around him. He is
represented throughout as a tough, worn, old man whos had enough of the people around him,
constantly telling tales from the war to establish this. The plot develops, with a linear structure, as he
decides to help the Hmong family that have moved next door and end the terrorisation from relative
gangsters.
A particular scene which is powerful and emotive is the penultimate one where Walt Kowalski (Clint
Eastwood) confronts the gang members outside their house at night.
An establishing shot is used showing the audience the gang members house with Walt walking
towards it from behind the camera to the right. The shot is a slight low angle. In doing this it makes
Walt look more intimidating and more powerful than, what the audience can only assume, he is going
to confront. The shot uses very low-key lighting, although enough artificial light is used to highlight
what the audience need to see. It could be said that the light source is just coming from the moon,
however it seems highly unlikely. Crickets and general noise from around the neighbourhood such as
a dog barking and people shouting can be heard very faintly. This bring across to the viewer that the
place he is at is not one which most people would like to go. A quick one second shot is then shown of
Walt looking at the house, only his face properly lit. It cuts back to a shot from behind him, the camera
moving towards him very slowly. This is just one very subtle device which is used in Hollywood films
to create tension and build the suspense for the viewer.
The gang members are then seen walking out of the house as they have noticed Walt outside looking
at them. Both parties walk towards each other slightly, almost like a spaghetti western film, which
obviously Clint Eastwood is renowned for. A double over the shoulder shot from behind the two gang
members is used as Walt asks Any swamp rats about? This type of shot is used to give the viewer an
understanding of where the characters are in the setting. In the lines that he says, it also shows the
bravery of him.
The gang members begin talking with Walt and the camera cuts back to a wide shot of him. In the
background neighbours can be seen coming out of their rooms onto their balconies to see what is
happening outside. This may give the viewer the impression that nothing will happen because people
will witness it. It could also be interpreted that this is the final show down and the audience, the
neighbours, are waiting for it to commence. The leader of the gang pulls out a weapon; Walt still
insists on insulting them and standing up for others. This attitude has slowly developed throughout
the film which shows that deep down he is genuinely a good man.
When he addresses the main situation vocally, a medium close up of Walt is used, with him a little to
the right of the shot. In making the subject slightly to the right or sometimes left, it looks better
compositionally rather than them in the centre. The change in shot to a closer one is made because the
reason he is there is bought up, which is serious involving his new neighbour being raped by the gang.
Half of Walts face is lit which adds suspicion to the viewers minds.

The conversation between the two parties continues as several shots of neighbours coming out of their
homes or looking out of windows can be seen. This is to emphasise a point which is made clear later
on.
Walt picks a cigarette from his jacket pocket, unnerving the gang slightly as they are still unsure about
his intentions. Three shots are shown of all the gang members drawing their weapons, as Walt says,
Kind of jumpy arent we? In saying this it shows he is not threatened by these people nor does he
feel guilty about being there. A short phrase such as this is quite popular in many Hollywood action
films. A line delivered by the main character at a pivotal point in the story lets the audience know
something is about to happen. Walt then makes a gun shape with his finger and pretends to shoot
each gang member, which is a common action of his throughout this film. Familiarity such as this is
used because it is registered with the audience and they understand why he is doing it. This is his way
of being a threat and warning people who cross the line with him.
After asking if anyones got a light, the non diegetic sound of drums comes in to bring across a military
feel for this part. The short rhythmic roll of the snare drum only lasts for a few seconds at which it
then turns to a single string instrument just as he begins talking again. Under this the diegetic sound
of the neighbourhood can still be heard, giving the sound more depth within this sequence.
When saying Ive got a light, he slowly begins to reach into his jacket pocket. The string instrument
goes up a note and the rhythmic snare comes back in. This is all to help to build the tension for the
audience, another popular technique used in cinema.
Walt then reaches into his jacket and quickly withdraws his hand. In doing this it startles to gang
members and they believe hes pulling out a gun. The soft tense music then stops with the harsh and
violent sound of gunfire. The gang begin shooting at Walt and shot of his torso is shown as bullets fly
into him. This is slowed down slightly to show the impact while the gunfire continues very loudly. A
shot from behind him is shown with the bullets leaving his body. This is proving to the audience that
theres no bullet proof vest and the lead character is dying before them. Cuts are made to show the
gang members still shooting at Walt even though its obvious he wouldnt survive. The camera
throughout uses a large depth of field to show everything that is happening.
A cut to a medium shot is used to show Walt being gunned down. This shot is used as a reaction shot
because its confirming for the viewer that hes dead. Cutaways of the gang continuing to shoot are
seen as it cuts to the next shot of Walt falling down eventually in slow motion with the sound of air
brushing by him to emphasise the fall. The camera doesnt move in the shot, it is Walt leaving the
shot, another way of emphasising the fall.
With a still medium shot, the hero, Walt, is seen falling down onto the grass face up. As he lands the
faint sound of his last breath can be heard. Both of his arms lay out either side of him, thus letting the
audience see what he did draw from his jacket. The deep focus is changed to bring his hand focused
more into the foreground and as his hand opens up, the viewer can see it was the lighter that he was
given buy the service while in Korea. In this part his hand is the most well lit part of the screen. This is
obviously because it is a message to the audience. Hints such as these are not always welcomed by
audiences in Hollywood cinema. Its almost as though the director is literally telling the viewer what is
happening, even though the audience can understand for themselves.

A medium shot is again used, but this time from an aerial perspective. This shot starts at his hand and
them begins panning across his body slowly, slightly turning to give the shot a better look
compositionally. Here the audience can see the way Walt is laying with his arms out either side. This
could suggest that its showing he was giving up; he had nothing to lose in doing what he did. Soft
piano starts playing which is very typical of almost any film where a loved character by the audience
dies. The shot moves away upwards very slowly revealing the whole of Walts body. This is done by
using a crane, which allows for much more interesting shots. This is then dissolved out to the sight of
police lights flashing and the music continues to build with vocals appearing. The final 30 seconds of
the scene are quite shocking and moving for the viewer. This is the effect that the director wanted to
achieve.
During this film, here is no real dominant female character which could be seen as an object or desire
or used as a source of anxiety. This has to come from somewhere or someone else to give the film the
feelings and emotions the director wants the audience to feel. This being the actions and wise telling of
Walt and is achieved.
Clint Eastwood is one of American films greatest legends both on screen and off. He is an auteur,
meaning that its his personal creative vision that is being seen in the film. Eastwood is the one
responsible for the creative processes that makes the finished product. In Gran Torino this can be
seen because is features some aspects from other films of his. The frequent use of shadow lighting is
one which is common, as is that most of his films start with a death and end with one too. This is
defiantly the case in Gran Torino as the opening scene is his late wifes funeral and in the end of the
film he is killed

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