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Blood Work (2002)

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229 comments in total

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26 out of 31 people found the following comment useful :-
All around enjoyable murder mystery and human interest drama, 1 January 2003

Author: George Parker from Orange County, CA USA

In "Blood Work" Eastwood plays an FBI agent, recovering from a heart transplant, who is asked by the sister of the murdered woman whose heart he received to find her killer. The result is surprisingly even and interesting murder mystery in which we see Eastwood piece together the evidence pointing to the killer while dealing with heart transplant issues and making nice with his pro bono client. The film has fewer plot holes than most murder mysteries; leans more toward human interest than derring-dos; and is another example of Eastwood successfully pushing out the age envelope in a self-directed film product. Recommended for more mature couch potatoes into murder mysteries. (B)

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26 out of 31 people found the following comment useful :-
Still grand to see Eastwood be his old cool self, albeit with a bad ticker, 10 August 2002

Author: Filmjack3 from United States

Clint Eastwood's 20th feature directed and starring himself, Blood Work, is a good sign in times of recent thriller drek. Here is Clint, 72 years old, and actually doing the right thing; being the old sort of Dirty Harry-esquire type of cop while still being realistic with himself. Truth be told, he won't do movies forever, much less be a cop with almost all the right moves, and here we see him as FBI Agent Terry McCaleb in the beginning try and climb a fence to catch a code killer (which resonates from past Eastwood projects) and he collapses from a heart attack (sad but oddly accurate). He retires, and two years later a woman comes forth to him asking for help in finding a killer.

And anyway, what makes Blood Work so fascinating (if only up to a point if seen more than once) is that it's a well crafted thriller, one that has the usual police procedural from many years back, a bit of a romance with Wanda DeJesus, and comic relief from Jeff Daniels. So, if you decide to see this latest installment in the sprawling career of Clint Eastwood, keep in mind that it has all the style, music, and nostalgia even in donuts that it had back in the day 30 years ago. And maybe it's just me, but it will be hard not to grin when you see him grab a gun. B+

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17 out of 24 people found the following comment useful :-
Good For One Viewing, 8 December 2005

Author: ccthemovieman-1 from Lockport, NY, United States

I found this to be one of those films I really enjoyed on the first viewing, but once you know the surprise ending, the second viewing isn't nearly as good.

It's a typically-entertaining Clint Eastwood film. He makes few dull movies, I'll say that for him. Now that he's gotten older, his weather-beaten face makes him all the more interesting to view.

I didn't find Anjelica Huston's weather-beaten face, however, as believable. Her tough demeanor, including vocabulary, is not something a doctor would have, as she plays here. Paul Rodriguez also is stupidly profane in his role but he does have a few funny lines.

The main attraction of the story is the twist near the end so, as mentioned, one look is just about right for this film...and it is worth one look f you want a decent diversion for one night.

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19 out of 28 people found the following comment useful :-
Blood Runs Dry by the Latter Acts., 27 April 2003
Author: tfrizzell from United States

Clint Eastwood's direction sadly loses its way late in this otherwise suspenseful drama from the co-writer of "L.A. Confidential" (Brian Helgeland). Eastwood is a famous detective, but a massive heart attack just as he is about to catch a crazed serial killer forces him to an early retirement. Fast-forward a bit and Eastwood has received a new heart from a woman who has recently passed away. Slowly, but surely Eastwood's body is accepting the new organ and it appears that a healthy recovery is imminent. Things change though as a Hispanic woman (Wanda De Jesus) pays Eastwood a visit one day and explains that his new heart come from her younger sister, a woman who was killed in a convenient store. Quickly it becomes crystal clear that the killer in the store is in fact the same man who eluded Eastwood earlier. Now Eastwood is back one last time with a score to settle. Through Eastwood's journey he has to indulge a pesky neighbor (Jeff Daniels) who wants to assist in the case, dodge cops Paul Rodriguez and Dylan Walsh and convince doctor Anjelica Huston that he owes De Jesus his time and help. "Blood Work" does do well for the majority of its running time, but the punchline comes way too fast and the finale is unsatisfying to say the least. Eastwood is pretty good as usual and Daniels is excellent in a comical supporting turn. Everyone else though ends up struggling to keep their intensity up as the production progresses. The "Hardy Boys" routine and the unnecessary blossoming romance between Eastwood and De Jesus make "Blood Work" play more like a television movie of the week than a theatrical release. With all this said, "Blood Work" does do enough good things to keep the audience watching and intrigued---most of the time anyway. 4 stars out of 5.

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4 out of 4 people found the following comment useful :-
The cast make it work but the ending is just so disappointing, 5 July 2008
Author: The_Flesh_Eating_Vegan from Fraggle Rock

Clintwood's 'Blood Work' may not be the best nor most stylish of its genre but it remains enjoyable for the most part mainly because of the cast. It's quite a simple film but I found the end revelation disappointing and the last half hour is a little too dramatic. During the entire first hour, Eastwood cleverly avoids excessive violence and gore and smoothly lets the tension build. Clintwood is supported by a brilliant cast that includes the fabulous Anjelica Huston, the elegant Wanda de Jesus, the charming Tina Lifford and the funny Jeff Daniels. The cast does well but Daniels's performance is ruined by the overdone last half hour. The film rests on Eastwood and it's great to see him play such a role at 71 and pull it off so well. The jazzy background score gives 'Blood Work' a classy touch. Thus, to sum it up, one can expect a simple but engaging whodunnit thriller which is ruined a bit by the ending but Eastwood and his cast prevent it from being a waste of time.

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10 out of 16 people found the following comment useful :-
Eastwood is the Anti-Dirty Harry in this elegant and classy thriller..., 8 August 2002
Author: giancarlorocks from Montreal, Canada

While it might not be the most stylish or fast paced manhunt thriller, Clint Eastwood's 'Blood Work' is still a very enjoyable piece of film. Stylish in its' own manner, this drama returns to the yesteryears of filmmaking and displays Eastwood's talent as an accomplished Director. Today's cinema heavily relies on nifty editing effects and fast paced dialogue to retain the interest of the impatient audience, yet Eastwood gives us a refreshing and simplistic tale revolving around the resolution of various dastardly murders.

Eastwood stars and directs in this manhunt thriller that still manages to retain the intriguing effect in a film in which the characters; not actions, drive the film. Based on the novel by Michael Connelly, Brian Helgeland (A Knight's Tale, Payback) transforms the novel into a great script. In this film, Eastwood plays the anti-Dirty Harry in typical Eastwood fashion as he is thrust back onto the case of a vicious serial killer two years after retirement.

As FBI Agent Terry McCaleb, he is forced off the case after suffering from a near fatal heart attack. Two years after, he is given a new heart and through a freak occurrence with the donor's heart, he is forced back onto the case allowing for an interesting cat and mouse chase.

Eastwood has his imprints all over the film as he sticks with Musical composer Lennie Niehaus for his film once again. Niehaus' sporadic and rare musical additions are usually jazz based and open the film in an elegant manner instead of the usual commercialist propaganda that is not needed when opening a film of this nature.

Instead, Eastwood treats us to a good old-fashioned hunt in which the mystery slowly unravels in front of the viewer allowing for only the clues to be deciphered. The plot is seemingly eerie and for some reason reminded me of Screenwriter Andrew Kevin Walker's work (Sleepy Hollow, Seven) for how deliciously evil and calculated the motives for the crimes are. As a true professional, Eastwood lays low on the violence and while there are only a handful of action scenes, the tension builds as the clues become available and the audience begins to piece the puzzle together.

The ingenious script calls for some sold acting and the casting is excellent as Eastwood calls upon Angelica Huston as his perseverant Doctor and Jeff Daniels who at first seems to be only present for comic relief but has a surprisingly more important and unexpected role. Wanda De Jesus and Tina Lifford are also excellent as they round out the important cast members who all play a giant role in the serial killer's meticulous and mischievous plot.

As aforementioned, while it might not elicit the suspense thrills one would find in the Eastwood - Wolfgang Petersen collaboration 'In the Line of Fire', the film still is a well-crafted and engineered film that calls for attention. Yet, one point of contention is a love relationship that happens in the film. True: Eastwood is a legend and could do whatever he wants with his films, but somehow seeing a man his age hook up with a younger woman under those circumstances seemed to yell out 'insanity'. Perhaps to others it fit the film, but in this particular context, it seemed trivial and contrived and can make many wonder if Eastwood simply puts those scenes in to make himself appear to be the epitome of masculinity. In any event, it was a treat to see a 'back-to-basics' thriller that pays off at the end and avoids the formulaic clichés usually attached to these projects.

Giancarlo's Rating: **1/2

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3 out of 3 people found the following comment useful :-
Never watch a movie with my parents, 4 June 2006

Author: Superunknovvn from Austria, Vienna

I was spending this evening at home watching TV with my parents. "Blood Work" was on and it seemed to be a movie that could even be understood by two over 60 year olds who usually only watch made for TV-crime stories that a 10 year old could have thought up. Well, I made a terrible mistake. Although "Blood Work" is really not too complicated and as predictable as can be - if you waste as much time watching movies as I do you'll figure out who the killer is and why about halfway through - my folks just didn't get it. Even worse, my father just didn't want to enjoy the movie for pointing out it's logical flaws. Yes, I know that it doesn't make sense that Eastwood would start shooting at a suspect in the middle of the road, but what can you do about it? Yes, it is a bit annoying that every American thriller has to end with the hero and the villain fighting against each other. It isn't very realistic, but hell, if the police just came and arrested the bad guy it wouldn't be very entertaining, right? The most annoying thing about this was that I had to defend a mediocre movie against my father who rants against everything as a matter of principle. The truth is that "Blood Work" is about as cumbersome as its main character. It's a miracle that Clintwood was still capable of directing great movies like "Mystic River" after such a lukewarm piece of work. "Blood Work" isn't a complete failure but there are more exciting things to watch in your spare spare time. Whatever you do, just don't watch it with my parents.

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7 out of 11 people found the following comment useful :-
Decent with unbelievable ending, 1 September 2003

Author: jstu9 from USA

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

I found the first 3/4 of this movie actually pretty solid. I quite enjoyed it. Though much of it is quite predictable, I found myself interested in the film... until the end.

It's just the complete unbelievability of the ending that ruined the movie for me. I won't put spoilers here, but I just shook my head on some of the scenes...

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3 out of 4 people found the following comment useful :-
Satisfying, non-think thriller; not a blockbuster for Eastwood, 25 September 2005

Author: moonspinner55 from redlands, ca

Retired FBI detective helps a young woman solve the murder of her sister--but he's got a personal motive: he himself received a heart transplant from the victim! Not a bad vehicle for producer-director-star Clint Eastwood, convincingly raspy and worn, and still imposing when he has to be. The script is full of police clichés, and the denouement isn't terribly surprising, but Clint has become a reassuring presence on the screen, and his human flaws and realistic aches and pains make him delightfully human. Supporting cast is quite good, making the best out of a routine, unmemorable script. **1/2 from ****

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3 out of 4 people found the following comment useful :-
See it before, 2 January 2003

Author: Bryce Rumbles from Plantation, Florida

There's really nothing new in this cop drama. Eastwood plays his patented Tough Cop, mellowed by age and a brand new heart, and does everything you expect him to, including (but not limited to) defying his doctor's advice; chasing a suspect then shooting him while suffering a heart attack, but without once shouting, "Stop in the name of the law," or whatever is required, even by the LAPD; having the female lead fall for him, despite an age difference Anna Nicole Smith could relate to; solving the case despite all the obstacles the authorities can throw at him.

This is not a bad movie, it's just not a particularly good one. If you're hoping for another Unforgiven, or even a Dirty Harry, look elsewhere.

But even Clint can't bat 1.000.

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