Journalistic Movies

I watched Gran Torino Saturday night and I was surprised at its intentionally and unintentionally comedic qualities. Clint Eastwood's character is a Korean War veteran and recent widow who must confront the growing Hmong population in his own neighborhood. I told someone shortly after that it was an interesting mix of "whimsical and violent."

Recommended...and it might have been highly recommended save for some "forced" efforts from Eastwood and cast. Sometimes, Eastwood fits the tough guy role, but sometimes it seems like he's forcing his spew of racial epitaphs. Because the film used a lot of non-professional actors, the film comes off as natural but unpolished. Torino does redeem itself by balancing out whimsical, lighthearted moments with action and suspense.

Even though Eastwood hurls constant demeaning insults, viewers should avoid pigeonholing the story as racist. A viewer could make the valid argument that in the film, Asian American men are emasculated; Asian American scholar Helen Zia once said that Asian American entertainment roles are limited to geeks, gooks, gangstas and geishas, all of which are in the film. But I feel that comprehensively deconstructing the story would prove mostly fruitless. The film touches upon race relations and fluctuating demographics, but I feel that the story would have been similar had Eastwood been confronted with a Latino or African American family. The story's writers are from Minnesota, so it makes sense that they focused on the state's growing Hmong population and resulting racial tensions. But the film really seems more like a power struggle between Eastwood and "minority" neighbors, not necessarily Asian Americans.


While watching the previews, I couldn't help but notice that films are focusing on journalists as lead characters. The Soloist describes the true story of Los Angeles Times reporter Steve Lopez and his relationship with classical musician Nathaniel Ayers. State of Play is based off the BBC drama series and centers on journalists investigating a scandal-laden politician.

Add those to movie playing right now.
Frost/Nixon dramatizes the heavyweight encounter between David Frost and President Richard Nixon. In Marley & Me, John Grogan pens humorous and sentimental columns on his rambunctious mutt Marley.

Why the boon in journalist-movies?

One reason is that viewers easily relate to onscreen journalists because viewers can join these journalists on their discoveries to uncover truth. The viewers are learning at the same time as their journalistic counterparts. The viewers immerse themselves in the journalists' stories.

Another reason is that a journalist as a lead character can lend credibility to the film. All of the aforementioned films except for State of Play are based on true stories. But that does not mean that any of these films portray "pure" truth.

I find it interesting that before the Illinois House voted on Gov. Rod Blagojevich's impeachment, a couple of legislators explained that they had seen Frost/Nixon and cited it as a warning against corrupt politicians.

Of course, the film is a dramatization, as one of the original researchers for David Frost (and a consultant for the film) notes.

But legislators cited the film because it was based on true events.

Films that dramatize journalism nonetheless contain legitimacy. Journalism lends that credibility.

Finally, journalist movies are feel-good movies. Journalists are portrayed as tireless, persistent do-gooders whose sole fault is their stubbornness. Note how with these journalistic movies, the journalists are always the "good" guys? Not a single bad apple among them.

Which is how journalists are in reality, too.