It's understatement to say I would rather watch a movie like Gran Torino than Edmond. Clint Eastwood's bravery, gallantry and lovable prejudices made me feel like being white, at its best, was a chance to shine. I'd like to see more Gran Torino's.
If one wants to shine, though, it helps to know that sparkling coin has a dark flip side that is anything but lovable. William Macy, as Edmond, left his wife and - before the night was over - had a head on collision with his dark side and a lot more shit that most of us don't like to think about until it can no longer be avoided. At first I was chuckling at his ineptitude and his notion that life was simpler for black people, but when things got bloody I couldn't help cringing. Macy is great in that kind of role. When things get really bad it's as if he's helpless to do anything other than make them worse. The last scenes of the movie aren't necessarily bad but it's the sort of stuff that us red blooded white guys would just as soon not look at.
I might have to dig out my Gran Torino DVD and watch it as an antidote.
Never thought of thinking about Edmond and Gran Torino together -- but it does make some sense.
Although I'm not sure Edmond has a collision with his dark side, so much as Edmond has a collision with just himself in that movie (in that way I have always found Gran Torino to be, eventually, just a little too nice in many ways -- which probably is what people do indeed want and need).
Maybe watching both together is a good idea. Perhaps it goes along the lines of contemplating Washington and Jefferson together??
It's understatement to say I would rather watch a movie like Gran Torino than Edmond. Clint Eastwood's bravery, gallantry and lovable prejudices made me feel like being white, at its best, was a chance to shine. I'd like to see more Gran Torino's.
ReplyDeleteIf one wants to shine, though, it helps to know that sparkling coin has a dark flip side that is anything but lovable. William Macy, as Edmond, left his wife and - before the night was over - had a head on collision with his dark side and a lot more shit that most of us don't like to think about until it can no longer be avoided. At first I was chuckling at his ineptitude and his notion that life was simpler for black people, but when things got bloody I couldn't help cringing. Macy is great in that kind of role. When things get really bad it's as if he's helpless to do anything other than make them worse. The last scenes of the movie aren't necessarily bad but it's the sort of stuff that us red blooded white guys would just as soon not look at.
I might have to dig out my Gran Torino DVD and watch it as an antidote.
Never thought of thinking about Edmond and Gran Torino together -- but it does make some sense.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I'm not sure Edmond has a collision with his dark side, so much as Edmond has a collision with just himself in that movie (in that way I have always found Gran Torino to be, eventually, just a little too nice in many ways -- which probably is what people do indeed want and need).
Maybe watching both together is a good idea.
Perhaps it goes along the lines of contemplating Washington and Jefferson together??
PW