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BLOOD WORK Send This Review to a Friend
The twist to this Clint Eastwood suspense thriller is that the veteran star and director casts himself as an FBI profiler who gets a heart attack, is saved by a heart transplant but has to retire. Not to worry. Clint can still not only get his man, but even with a substitute ticker and a long scar down his chest, he can still get the girl, who, feminists will hardly be overjoyed to know, is a lot younger, as usual.
There's more of a kicker to this screenplay, based on the novel by Michael Connelly and written by Brian Helgeland. Terry McCaleb (Eastwood) is coaxed out of retirement by a woman whose murdered sister's heart is the one he received. Walking around with her organ, how can he refuse to find her killer even though he should be enjoying life comfortably on his boat, moored at a marina?
Since the woman, Graciella Rivers, a Latina, is attractive, personable and convincing, there's an extra incentive. She's played by Wanda De Jesus, who also makes her interesting and compelling. Besides, she is caring for the bereft and emotionally needy son of the victim-donor. Anjelica Huston has a strong supporting role as McCaleb's cardiologist Dr. Bonnie Fox, who bristles with impatience and anger at his willingness to risk his recovery by getting so involved. Huston amusingly portrays her as one tough lady.
The plot is broadened by McCaleb's relationship with his harbor neighbor, Buddy Noone (Jeff Daniels), who doesn't work, loafs around on his boat and offers to help McCaleb. And what out-of-retirement yarn would be complete without a cop who opposes McCaleb's meddling? That role, detective Ronaldo Arrango, is handled with bluster to spare by Paul Rodriguez. The large supporting cast is also well-chosen and we meet a variety of types along the way.
As director, Eastwood makes good use of the Los Angeles, Long Beach, San Pedro and other locations that provide a firm sense of place. He also paces the film well, building to the inevitable life-and-death struggle at the climax, while not neglecting the growing relationship between McCaleb and Graciella.
Of course, the viewer seasoned to the ways of moviemaking and scriptwriting may be able to suspect who the killer may be. That's the playful challenge, and "Blood Work," a title which stems from the importance blood types play in the sleuthing, is a better-than-average suspense film that gains immeasurably by the good old, seasoned presence of Eastwood, who continues to fascinate, even as he ages. A Warner Brothers release.
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