Blood Work Review
by Shannon Patrick Sullivan (shannon AT morgan DOT ucs DOT mun DOT ca)August 13th, 2002
BLOOD WORK (2002) / ** 1/2
Directed by Clint Eastwood. Screenplay by Brian Helgeland, based on the novel by Michael Connelly. Starring Eastwood, Jeff Daniels, Wanda De Jesus. Running time: 111 minutes. Rated AA for offensive language and violent scenes by the MFCB. Reviewed on August 13th, 2002.
By SHANNON PATRICK SULLIVAN
Synopsis: FBI agent Terry McCaleb (Eastwood) is on the trail of a serial killer when he suffers a massive heart attack while chasing a suspect. Two years later, McCaleb is still recovering from a heart transplant when he is visited by Graciella Rivers (De Jesus), the sister of the woman whose organ McCaleb received. It turns out Graciella's sister was murdered, and she wants McCaleb to investigate. Despite the protestations of his doctor (Anjelica Huston), McCaleb agrees and with the help of his neighbour (Daniels) begins to uncover a far deeper mystery.
Review: "Blood Work" is a diverting if ultimately forgettable entry into the Eastwood crime drama oeuvre. As a mystery, the film sustains the audience's interest without ever really switching into high gear. It's a medium-grade puzzler which unravels in a very standard manner; viewers will probably find themselves figuring out the clues long before the characters do. A final showdown following the revelation of the killer's identity is nicely shot by Eastwood, but surprisingly lacks tension. Perhaps it's because we've seen it all before; very little here will catch genre aficionados off guard. Instead, the movie's real highlight is Eastwood's performance as Terry McCaleb. Unlike some of Hollywood's aging elite, Eastwood has recognised that he can't credibly play the same roles he enjoyed thirty years ago, and has turned this fact of life to his advantage. McCaleb, then, comes across as a brilliantly realised character. His health problems help to drive the story and involve the audience without coming across as simply a plot device. As a character who possesses weaknesses which he is nonetheless able to overcome, McCaleb appears far more heroic than a dozen of the unstoppable machines trudging through action flicks these days. Only a series of rather gratuitous romantic developments feel tacked on and distracting.
Copyright © 2002 Shannon Patrick Sullivan.
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