"Man at 'Work'"
by Scott Mantz

"Blood Work"
Clint Eastwood, Wanda De Jesus,
Jeff Daniels
Directed by Clint Eastwood

Make my day! Clint Eastwood gets a clean bill of health from Anjelica Huston in "Blood Work"

So old, in fact, that the prospect of seeing him take on such a physically challenging role is not as plausible as it used to be. Sure, he's gotten to the point in his incredible career where he can do anything he wants, but as evidenced by his recent films--from 1992's Academy Award-winning "Unforgiven" to 2000's box office hit "Space Cowboys"--at least he knows enough to make his mortality work in his favor.

That's certainly the case with "Blood Work," a solid crime caper that marks the 72-year-old screen legend's 23rd time behind the camera. Although the pace tends to drag at times (as Eastwood's movies often do), the film ultimately triumphs as a steady, intelligent cat-and-mouse game that's sure to please adult moviegoers and long-time Eastwood fans.

Terry McCaleb (Clint Eastwood) was one of the FBI's top profilers until a heart seizure forced him into retirement. Two years and one transplant later, he receives a visit from Graciela Rivers (Wanda De Jesus), the sister of a murdered woman whose heart is now beating inside his chest. Much to the chagrin of his strict doctor (Anjelica Huston), McCaleb hits the streets in an effort to help Rivers find her sister's killer, but in doing so, he discovers a motive that's far more personal than he ever could have imagined.

Despite being based on the 1998 novel by Michael Connelly, "Blood Work's" Terry McCaleb could easily have been a close relative to some of Eastwood's other characters in films like "Tightrope," "In the Line of Fire" and especially "Dirty Harry." Like Harry Calahan, McCaleb is seen as a legend who likes to work alone and play by his own rules. The moment he shows up on the scene, everyone stands aside, and even though he's made his share of enemies, there are a select few who admire him as well.

At this point in the summer (August), seeing a Clint Eastwood movie is like slipping on your favorite pair of slippers after a grueling 5-mile run. At a time when most studio films are concerned with breaking new ground, Eastwood's movies are more comforting because you know exactly what to expect. They are what they are, and all the usual suspects are here: the slow-building suspense, moments of humor, the climactic gunfight, and of course, Eastwood as the flawed hero.

That's not to say that "Blood Work" doesn't have its problems. Like most actors who direct themselves, Eastwood may have been too close to see the need to tighten up certain scenes. That's the case here, as moviegoers with shorter attention spans will likely find themselves challenged by the intense pace. And even though Eastwood shines with one of his most vulnerable on-screen performances, he still falls into the trap of pairing himself off with a much-younger female co-star.

Eastwood has a knack for complimenting his movies with solid supporting roles, and for the most part, "Blood Work" is no exception. Wanda De Jesus gives an endearing performance as the sister of the murdered woman, while Jeff Daniels (who looks a lot like his character from 1994's "Dumb and Dumber") provides some comic relief as Eastwood's easygoing, but somewhat suspicious neighbor. Angelica Huston makes the most of an undemanding bit role as Eastwood's hard-nosed doctor, while Paul Rodriguez plays the now-cliched combative cop who's always giving Eastwood a hard time.

There's a scene where De Jesus asks a payphone-using Eastwood why he doesn't have a cell phone. His reply is "I don't believe in them," and it makes perfect sense. Like his character, Eastwood is proud of his old school heritage, and that's what makes "Blood Work" so appealingly old-fashioned. The film can be slow and predictable at times, but it still represents a fine piece of work from an assured, confident filmmaker who's still at the top of his game.

Like I said, Clint Eastwood may be getting old, but at least he's aging gracefully.

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