From All Movie Guide: The first time we see Walt Kowalski, Clint Eastwood's character in Gran Torino, he looks like he's about to explode -- literally -- as in spontaneously combust. Standing at his wife's funeral and growling to himself as his family files in, he looks as if he could go nuclear at any given second, like he might take off sprinting through the pews, snapping as many necks as possible in a grim attempt to ensure that his recently deceased wife isn't lonely in the afterlife. The impression that his character makes is direct and unmistakable, and the whispered conversation that takes place between his two sons as they ponder what will become of the rancorous war veteran ensures that we know exactly where he's at in life before the end of the first scene. It's plain to see that Walt has precious little tolerance for foolishness, and now that he's alone, there's no buffer between his bitterness and the outside world.

Walt Kowalski is a Korean War veteran who worked the assembly lines in Det...

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