Bloodwork - A Review 08/26/2002
This is the latest film from Clint Eastwood, in which he stars, directs and produces. It concerns Terry McCaleb, a convalescing retired FBI profiler that is brought out of retirement to catch the person that murdered the woman whose heart he received in a transplant. Jeff Daniels also stars as Buddy, the local marina's loafer and McCaleb's friend. Wanda De Jesus is Graciella Rivers, the sister of the murdered heart donor and the woman that badgers McCaleb into finding her sister's killer. Anjelica Huston has a few scenes as Mccaleb's heart surgeon.
This is NOT a Dirty Harry flick. If anything it's anti-Dirty Harry - the movie opens with Clint pursuing a killer and having a heart attack in the process. Now we all know that Harry wouldn't have let a little thing like that slow HIM down! Clint plays the role with his usual minimalist style. When Rivers (De Jesus) approaches McCaleb who is only 60 days out of surgery and living on his boat, he resists being drawn out of retirement as he is fairly happy and content. Her protestations grow more heated until he gives in. Ms. De Jesus, while very easy on the eyes, really overacts quite a bit in her role which wound up distracting from the overall feel of pace and the steady rhythm the film moves in. Jeff Daniels adds a good bit of easygoing comic relief as McCaleb's sometimes driver and escort.
Visually and audio-wise nothing in this film really stands out above average, and nothing really falls far below except the afore-mentioned breakdown in Ms. Rivers' acting. It's all basic solid stuff that doesn't get in the way of the story.
That's too bad because the storyline needs a little something. The story in itself moves along almost sedately with a few peaks of action to keep your attention. Again nothing really distinguishes itself in this film. Hmmm, I'm repeating myself. Overall, it was worth a matinee viewing only. I really can't say I recommend this as a full-price ticket. If you don't catch it in the theater, then once it's released on DVD, I recommend a rental viewing before you purchase.
I give Blood Work :25: out of :5:
David - HTGuide flunky
Our "Theater"
Our DVDs on DVD Tracker
This is the latest film from Clint Eastwood, in which he stars, directs and produces. It concerns Terry McCaleb, a convalescing retired FBI profiler that is brought out of retirement to catch the person that murdered the woman whose heart he received in a transplant. Jeff Daniels also stars as Buddy, the local marina's loafer and McCaleb's friend. Wanda De Jesus is Graciella Rivers, the sister of the murdered heart donor and the woman that badgers McCaleb into finding her sister's killer. Anjelica Huston has a few scenes as Mccaleb's heart surgeon.
This is NOT a Dirty Harry flick. If anything it's anti-Dirty Harry - the movie opens with Clint pursuing a killer and having a heart attack in the process. Now we all know that Harry wouldn't have let a little thing like that slow HIM down! Clint plays the role with his usual minimalist style. When Rivers (De Jesus) approaches McCaleb who is only 60 days out of surgery and living on his boat, he resists being drawn out of retirement as he is fairly happy and content. Her protestations grow more heated until he gives in. Ms. De Jesus, while very easy on the eyes, really overacts quite a bit in her role which wound up distracting from the overall feel of pace and the steady rhythm the film moves in. Jeff Daniels adds a good bit of easygoing comic relief as McCaleb's sometimes driver and escort.
Visually and audio-wise nothing in this film really stands out above average, and nothing really falls far below except the afore-mentioned breakdown in Ms. Rivers' acting. It's all basic solid stuff that doesn't get in the way of the story.
That's too bad because the storyline needs a little something. The story in itself moves along almost sedately with a few peaks of action to keep your attention. Again nothing really distinguishes itself in this film. Hmmm, I'm repeating myself. Overall, it was worth a matinee viewing only. I really can't say I recommend this as a full-price ticket. If you don't catch it in the theater, then once it's released on DVD, I recommend a rental viewing before you purchase.
I give Blood Work :25: out of :5:
David - HTGuide flunky
Our "Theater"
Our DVDs on DVD Tracker
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