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Clint Eastwood knows a thing about establishing a tough guy role from his numerous Spaghetti Western roles to the Dirty Harry days to aged killer William Munny in "Unforgiven."

With his latest film, "Gran Torino," in which he both stars and directs, Eastwood pays tribute to the kind of person who won't look the other way in the eyes of injustice and finds redemption where he least expects it. It's vintage Eastwood in another timeless tale.

Eastwood ("Million Dollar Baby") plays Walt Kowalski, a Korean War veteran who buries his beloved wife as the film opens. He portrays Walt as a time bomb set to go off.

Eastwood the director makes sure Walt's disdain for the world; whether it's the increasingly diverse neighborhood, punk kids who think they're tough, or neighbor who matches his every steely-eyed glare, is clearly obvious.

There's not a lot that makes Walt happy and he's quick to let everyone know how annoying he finds them and frequently refers to people in the most jaw-dropping racist terms imaginable.

When the wet behind the ears Father Janovich (Christopher Carley, "Lions for Lambs") comes by to offer a listening ear and get him to confessional, Walt insists he doesn't have time for "fairy tales" and slams the door in his face.

It's not all that surprising then that Walt's family has to prepare themselves when visiting him, yet constantly find themselves wondering why they bother in the first place. It is to Eastwood's credit that he manages to make such an unlikable grouch an equally intriguing lead character.

Seeking to get his gang-banging cousin off his back, Walt's teenage neighbor Thao Vang Lor (Bee Vang in his film debut) goes into Walt's garage and tries to steal his prized Gran Torino. This, of course, doesn't set well with Walt, who initially turns his wrath on Thao, but upon realizing he's just as much as victim, warns the gang with a rifle – in true tough-guy fashion – to get off his yard.

The noble act makes him a neighborhood hero and Thao's family. In keeping with their cultural traditions, they start showering him with food and plants, much to Walt's chagrin as he just wants to be left alone.

Thao's older sister, Sue (Ahney Her, also making her film debut), takes to Walt after he saves her from an encounter with some other gang bangers. After the family forces Thao to work for Walt to restore his honor, Walt finds himself stuck and begrudgingly has Thao do various chores around the neighborhood.

It's at this point where Nick Schenk's screenplay fully takes shape as it transforms from a simple story into a multi-layered one in which Walt begins to see Thao as a reclamation project that gives his own life new meaning.

The change in the tone works largely because Eastwood is so compelling. It's a treat watching Walt gradually become sociable to his neighbors, actually smiling and cracking jokes. As he continues mentoring Thao on basic tenets of being a man, such as taking a girl out and talking smack at the barber shop, the feel good moments mean more because we've seen how far both Walt and Thao have come.

So when the gang resurfaces threatening to reign terror on the neighborhood again, Walt realizes he has to put an end to them before they ruin Thao and Sue's hopes for a peaceful future.

The showdown doesn't play out like you might expect but results in a satisfying conclusion. It's because they don't make movies like this anymore that you'll appreciate Eastwood's increasingly more refined spin on the tough guy in the modern world. It's definitely worth going for a ride with this Gran Torino.

Rating: ****

Gran Torino

R; Drama;

116 minutes

Director: Clint Eastwood

Cast: Clint

Eastwood, Bee Vang, Ahney Her and Christopher Carley