Walt Kowalski (Clint Eastwood) is very similar to our Novi.
Alien, you just nailed it.
Rich just earned a new nick, "WALT". lmao
Walt Kowalski has built some strong, powerful defenses to his ego. He's really alone and in slavery to his misguided attempts to experience life - he's caught up in the only way he knows how - and in a sense, he's simply living out his life until he dies a very lonely and angry old man. Every once in a while, he breaks into a coughing fit and begins to see blood coughed up. After finally going to a clinic for blood tests, he informed he's dying of lung cancer. With no one really around him anymore because he's driven them all way, he's having to face an isolated and painful ending.
This review of the movie describes the life of Rich but in the end, Walt caught on with spiritual alignment where Rich hasn't yet.
gregorypnelson.com/blog/gran-torino-and-the-process-of-spiritual-alignment