I think the language in this movie is a problem. Look...I get it... Part of what the movie is trying to do is to use racist terms so much that it desensitizes you to the use of those terms. You had Walt Kowalski (probably picked on for his polish background as a kid) who, although barked a lot, actually had a lot of integrity and cared about people when it counted. You had the scene with Walt and the Vietnamese grandmother exchanging slurs against one another, and although each couldn't understand the exact words that one another were saying, they both understood what the other meant. Great comedic moment.
But, let's face it, the abject racism of Walt was half of the movie. You could throw in some racism that the neighbors had, ageism and a whole bunch of other stereotypes, but Walt and his overcoming his prejudice was the biggest thing.
But, here's the rub...even Richard Prior gave up using the "N" word after traveling to Africa and seeing what real racism was like. In the end, we aren't left desensitized to racist terms and to pretend that you can go around making different slurs and yet somehow create racial harmony seems to be a bit of a farce.
So, I guess I couldn't connect to this movie like I should have.
I'll completely admit that the movie was well done, well acted and had an interesting story. I just disagree, fundamentally, with the message that this movie seems to want to project.
As a movie, I give it an A-
As a political statement, I give it a D.
