Explaining How The Movie Captures The Concept Of The American Dream (Movie Review Sample)

GRAN TORINO REVIEW
The movie is about Walt Kowalski, a recently widowed Korean War veteran living in an area formerly populated by working-class white families, but now dominated by poor Asian immigrants and commonplace for gang violence. While trying to adapt to these changes, he helps a Hmong family living next door who are recent immigrants to secure a future in America. Characterized by Walt taking Thao to his barber so he can learn on how Americans talk and also giving him dating advice, being introduced to the Hmong culture by Thao’s sister who helps him bond with the Hmong community. Thao’s family soon becomes more of a family to Walt than his own family, as seen in his last will and testament where he leaves his family nothing while he leaves his Gran Torino to Thao. The film portrays Americans of different races learning to live together.
THE AMERICAN DREAM
Jalao, Ly Chong. "Looking Gran Torino in the Eye: A Review." Journal of Southeast Asian American Education and Advancement5.1 (2015): n. page. Web.
This review shows the movie as bringing out the theme of redemption, while repackaging it for the modern era of change and racial transition. It also depicts Walt as a racist living in a neighborhood overrun by Asians and other minorities who becomes a father figure to the ‘newcomers’ while guiding them through the process of becoming Americans (2). This is seen when he guides Thao, a Hmong teen whom he advises on how to become a man. The review also shows the redemption of Walt as turning Thao into a vehicle for his salvation. When Walt is killed at the end of the movie, his body falls in a Christ-like posture, depicting that the path towards legitimacy and legibility in America has been hallowed and made s...