SSC Film Studies

Clint Eastwood’s Gran Torino: The death of America’s hero. By Robert Alpert.

I chose this article because I like Clint Eastwoo


d and his movies, and the articles title, “Death of America’s hero,” intrigued me.

The Article makes the point of Eastwood’s view, the "best" of the United States but a United States, which could not prevent the loneliness inevitably suffered by its own heroes. It is also arguing the fact that as Eastwood gets older, his films become more heart-breaking, than his early fun, shoot ‘em’ up, westerns.

The article state the following:
• That Clint Eastwoods characters embody the stereotype of what’s “macho.”
• As he grows older his films become more ground in reality.
• The downfall or “disappearance” of westerns.

The article uses Eastwoods Gran Torino as a case study, to show his evidence that his films are becoming more heart breaking, and real; instead of just fun Westerns.

“Eastwood has always been understood as an actor who embodies what is stereotypically macho; the title of the movie, Gran Torino, tells us all. It was an ordinary car but viewed as a "muscle car" for men.” – I agree with this sateen as in his old films, he was a manly hero, who saved the day. He even looked stereo typically manly: Beard, Cigar, Tall, Broad shoulders etc. 

“There is despair at the centre of Eastwood’s recent films. Characters inevitably sit alone in mostly dark space, conjuring up the loneliness of a Hopper painting.” – this is very true, all you have to do is watch Gran Torino, and there is your evidence. 

“Eastwood, the actor, now 78 years old, self-consciously mouths the line “Ever notice how you come across somebody you shouldn’t have messed with? That’s me.”  Gran Torino is an acknowledgement that these icons are part of a mythology which has self-destructed, disappeared in the same way that the U.S. mythic frontier did. In that respect Gran Torino mourns a past both historic and imaginary.”

- This is perfect quote that rounds up the article, as it is so true. Westerns aren’t as popular as they used to be, and Eastwood has realised this. 

My opinion of the article is that it is very true, and is perfectly explanatory. He gets everything right, about the manliness of his characters, the disappearance of westerns, and that as he grows older his films are more real and shocking.

However I wouldn’t say it is the death of America’s hero, I would possibly say the death of Westerns, If Tarantino stopped making westerns such as Django and the new Hateful 8 (great movies by the way).