The Mule * * * 1/2
Good old Clint Eastwood is a man of the 70's; a time when scripts were a bit clunkier - and I think that's the way he likes them - spelling things out. There is just something a bit old fashioned about a Clint Eastwood film, like it could have been made forty years ago. But that's okay, I like a good story well told in building block style.
And I'll say this for Clint. He acts his age. In The Mule he plays a 90 year old guy who's career is finished - and he looks it. He plays a once successful florist who missed the internet revolution and suddenly found himself deprived of a clientele.
You'd feel sorry for him except the story shows him to be a bit of an anti-hero. His relationship with his family is damaged. And although he claims its because he worked long hours, we get the impression he was happier doing that than being with his family. Now most of them have ostracised him.
But his Granddaughter is still happy to see him. At her engagement party he meets a young man who learns that he is down at heel and offer him a job as a "courier."
Using his old pick-up truck he collects a mysterious bag from one city and drives it to another. He asks no questions about the contents but he is aware that it's probably dodgy. At the other end he is given an envelope for his troubles. He's expecting a couple of hundred but the generosity of the contents stuns him. With rewards like that he is happy to do another run - in a new pick up truck.
Soon this is his job. Being an old boy in a pick-up and always staying within the speed limit he dawdles along unnoticed and under the radar. Plus he has a relaxed manner, dropping off for a hamburger or to admire the view somewhere. Basically he's really good at transporting "goods" whilst attracting minimum attention to himself. One day curiosity gets the better of him and he examines the contents of the bag to learn he is definitely on the wrong side of the law.
But he's hooked on the money now. And he is doing good things with it, making himself Mr.Popular in his town as he pays for renovations to community buildings etc.
Meanwhile, a new DEA cop who is aware that masses of narcotics are being moved around, is on his tail: and so a game of cat and mouse begins.
It's a nicely done story which can be a bit soapy at times with occasional overly simplified dialogue but ultimately it's quite a charming film. For old boys on the wrong side of the law it certainly works a lot better than The Old Man and The Gun.
And I'll say this for Clint. He acts his age. In The Mule he plays a 90 year old guy who's career is finished - and he looks it. He plays a once successful florist who missed the internet revolution and suddenly found himself deprived of a clientele.
You'd feel sorry for him except the story shows him to be a bit of an anti-hero. His relationship with his family is damaged. And although he claims its because he worked long hours, we get the impression he was happier doing that than being with his family. Now most of them have ostracised him.
But his Granddaughter is still happy to see him. At her engagement party he meets a young man who learns that he is down at heel and offer him a job as a "courier."
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| Clint delivers |
Soon this is his job. Being an old boy in a pick-up and always staying within the speed limit he dawdles along unnoticed and under the radar. Plus he has a relaxed manner, dropping off for a hamburger or to admire the view somewhere. Basically he's really good at transporting "goods" whilst attracting minimum attention to himself. One day curiosity gets the better of him and he examines the contents of the bag to learn he is definitely on the wrong side of the law.
But he's hooked on the money now. And he is doing good things with it, making himself Mr.Popular in his town as he pays for renovations to community buildings etc.
Meanwhile, a new DEA cop who is aware that masses of narcotics are being moved around, is on his tail: and so a game of cat and mouse begins.
It's a nicely done story which can be a bit soapy at times with occasional overly simplified dialogue but ultimately it's quite a charming film. For old boys on the wrong side of the law it certainly works a lot better than The Old Man and The Gun.
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