Blood Work [2002] [DVD]

McCaleb is not well; we know this because everybody constantly tells him and his doctor (Anjelica Huston) has a fit every time he even spends time thinking hard. But McCaleb has a debt to repay, and as he investigates the murder he, of course, uncovers things that none of the other cops are picking up on. I know exactly what I want to say about this type of thriller, but even announcing in general terms what is happening here would give the game away. I caught on about five minutes before McCaleb did and while I liked the revelation of what exactly had been done and why, I have to admit the film is all downhill by that point. From there on "Blood Work" is less about McCaleb using his brains and more being able to do what needs to be done to bring down the villain before he needs another heart transplant.

Clint Eastwood is in his seventies now and is deservedly up for an Oscar nomination for his work as director on "Mystic River." I have much less of a sense of Eastwood the director on this 2002 film, but mainly because Eastwood the actor is more noticeable. When you look back on the films in which Eastwood has acted in the past few years ("Space Cowboys," "True Crime," "Absolute Power") it becomes clear that that he is cognizant of his age and consciously making films suitable to a man his age. That is not meant as a slight, because most actors his age are not still running around at all, let alone as leading men in theatrical films.

The only persons that come to mind from my lifetime would be Spencer Tracy, who was 67 when he died after making "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner," and John Wayne, whose last film, "The Shootist," was really the only one that showed him as a figure in decline before his death at the age of 72. You would think the better comparison would be to Wayne, given Eastwood's history with the western, but it was Tracy who had four Oscar nominated performances in his last decade, playing older men (add "The Old Man and the Sea," "Inherit the Wind" and "Judgment at Nuremberg" to the aforementioned film). Eastwood has only received one acting nomination, for "Unforgiven," yet he is carving out a body of work as an older leading man. Paul Newman has been doing mostly supporting roles since he finally won his long-overdue Oscar. Only Clint Eastwood has really been making a lot of movies, a list to which "Blood Work" gets added, about an old guy trying to hang on to his Alpha-male role.

McCaleb is not well; we know this because everybody constantly tells him and his doctor (Anjelica Huston) has a fit every time he even spends time thinking hard. But McCaleb has a debt to repay, and as he investigates the murder he, of course, uncovers things that none of the other cops are picking up on. I know exactly what I want to say about this type of thriller, but even announcing in general terms what is happening here would give the game away. I caught on about five minutes before McCaleb did and while I liked the revelation of what exactly had been done and why, I have to admit the film is all downhill by that point. From there on "Blood Work" is less about McCaleb using his brains and more being able to do what needs to be done to bring down the villain before he needs another heart transplant.

Clint Eastwood is in his seventies now and is deservedly up for an Oscar nomination for his work as director on "Mystic River." I have much less of a sense of Eastwood the director on this 2002 film, but mainly because Eastwood the actor is more noticeable. When you look back on the films in which Eastwood has acted in the past few years ("Space Cowboys," "True Crime," "Absolute Power") it becomes clear that that he is cognizant of his age and consciously making films suitable to a man his age. That is not meant as a slight, because most actors his age are not still running around at all, let alone as leading men in theatrical films.

The only persons that come to mind from my lifetime would be Spencer Tracy, who was 67 when he died after making "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner," and John Wayne, whose last film, "The Shootist," was really the only one that showed him as a figure in decline before his death at the age of 72. You would think the better comparison would be to Wayne, given Eastwood's history with the western, but it was Tracy who had four Oscar nominated performances in his last decade, playing older men (add "The Old Man and the Sea," "Inherit the Wind" and "Judgment at Nuremberg" to the aforementioned film). Eastwood has only received one acting nomination, for "Unforgiven," yet he is carving out a body of work as an older leading man. Paul Newman has been doing mostly supporting roles since he finally won his long-overdue Oscar. Only Clint Eastwood has really been making a lot of movies, a list to which "Blood Work" gets added, about an old guy trying to hang on to his Alpha-male role.

Clint Eastwood is legendary F.B.I. profiler Terry McCaleb. He is tracking a serial killer when this film opens known as 'Code Killer', as he has been enjoying the chase, leaving Terry messages written in blood at each crime scene. But Terry finds him and will surely catch him in a foot chase, only he suffers a heart attack so massive during the pursuit that only a heart transplant saves his life, forcing his retirement from the Bureau. The killings stop when Terry retires.

Terry is taking the advice of his cardiologist Bonnie (Angelica Huston) and taking it easy on his boat. Jeff Daniels is great as his next door pal Buddy. Things are going smoothly in the immediate days after the transplant when the darkly beautiful Graciella shows up and wants the former F.B.I. Agent to go look into the murder of her sister, killed at random during a robbery. Terry knows he is not up to the task even though he feels sorry for her and her sister's son, who has lost his mother. But his attraction to Graciella and his own guilt and sense of honor force him to risk everything when he learns the heart beating in his chest belonged to the murdered woman.

Buddy becomes his sidekick as he slowly begins to get up to speed. Terry knows he is not the same man anymore, but somehow he can get part of himself back if he can find her killer and survive the chase. Paul Rodriguez gives a very funny performance as the exasperated L.A. Detective Arrango who thinks Terry should stay retired and stay out of his case.

But Terry still has connections, including the pretty Tina Lifford in a nice role. It is obvious she and Terry had more than a casual relationship in the past and she gives him more leeway than she probably should in his pursuit of justice for his heart donor's killer. Terry begins to have feelings for Graciella and though some have found Clint's performance in the brief love scene rather stoic, his reaction, or rather lack of it, at Graciella's advances in the scene are in keeping with his condition and the fear Terry probably has due to his recent transplant and the health complications brought on by his investigation. It is realistic.

As his old nemisis returns and Terry discovers the reason for all the killings it complicates matters no end, both investigation wise, and in his personal life, which have become intertwined. Eastwood gives a thoughtful performance as an actor and adds some humor and good music as director to round out this entertaining film. His final exchange with Rodriguez and the final shot on the water are worth the protracted confrontation scene. Like Steve McQueen, Eastwood can elevate a good movie to seem a little better than it is, which is exactly what he does here.

This is definitely one you'll want to go see at the theatre and pick up once it comes out on DVD. Clint never lets you down..