“Blood Work” (Warner Brothers)
Clint Eastwood is the Director and star of the new film “Blood Work.” Even in his seventies Eastwood still has the power to grab the attention of audiences and hold it through a full movie. He is aided in this film by the powerful book by Michael Connelly on which the movie is based. Eastwood plus Connelly adds up to a thrilling and intriguing two hours.
In the film Eastwood plays Terry McCaleb, a retired FBI profiler. He is not only retired but is also the recipient of a new heart. His physical condition to some extent precludes him from doing any detective work,. Still he does take the case offered by Graciella Rivers (Wanda De Jesus). She wants him to investigate the murder of her sister, Gloria (Maria Quiban).
McCaleb takes this case because Gloria Torres was the woman whose heart he got after she died. He and she shared the same rare blood type. With her heart in his chest, McCaleb feels obligated to find out what he can about her death. This outrages his doctor (Anjelica Huston) who feels he will be jeopardizing his life if he does anything strenuous.
McCaleb enlists the assistance of his friend Buddy (Jeff Daniels) who lives and lounges on a boat in the marina where McCaleb lives. Buddy gets a check from his father each month so he doesn’t have a real job to complicate his life. He is free to help McCaleb all he wants.
The plot moves slowly but piles up information and suspense. When the revelations about the killer and his motive are revealed, it makes for a satisfying end to the story.
The plot is the plus of this movie; the acting by Eastwood is the minus. In some scenes he seems to be reading cue cards he is so wooden. In the past Eastwood has never been a tremendous actor but he has been adequate. In this film he is barely competent.
The movie is rated R for violence and profanity.
Eastwood still has some of the “Dirty Harry” charm going for him, but it is dwindling. If he didn’t have the excellent story by Connelly this movie would have flopped big time. But as it is, the plot twists manage to keep everything going with the audience enthralled.
I scored “Blood Work” a non-anemic 6 out of 10.
©2003 Jackie K. Cooper
