Believe
it or not, it has been a decade since the release of “Gran Torino” that the
Hollywood icon directed, produced, and starred in a movie, until the release of
2018’s “The Mule”. While Eastwood’s
return to the screen drew me to the theater, he is also surrounded by an
impressive supporting cast featuring Bradley Cooper, Michael Pena, Laurence
Fishburne, and Andy Garcia.
“The
Mule” is inspired by the true story
of a World War II veteran named Leo Sharp, who became a drug mule for the
Sinaloa Cartel. In the film, Eastwood portrays a version of this character
named Earl Stone, a man alienated by his family and desperate for money due to
the foreclosure of his plant business. Stone takes the opportunity to become a
mule and begins moving large amounts of illegal drugs across the Midwest,
hoping to use the earnings to repair the deteriorating relationship with his
family. Meanwhile, he is being heavily pursued by a pair of DEA agents (Bradley
Cooper & Michael Pena).
“The
Mule” is a very gripping drama,
especially in the first half of the movie. As the plot progressed, there were a
few far-fetched moments that made the story seem a little bit unconvincing in
parts. However, this didn’t take away from an overall positive theme of
redemption on display throughout the film. This character represented a
near-perfect role for a distinct actor like Eastwood and he absolutely
capitalized on it. There was a surprising amount of humor blended in as well,
particularly in some of the generational barriers that the title character
encounters. Additionally, Bradley Cooper and Michael Pena supplemented the
movie with their own charismatic performances and quality acting chemistry.
All
things considered, I think that “The Mule”
is well worth a viewing and does a very good job of pulling the drama out
of this interesting true story. More importantly, the film genuinely
illustrates that it is never too late for a positive change in life. Time will
only tell if Mr. Eastwood has another project of this sort in store for us.
That being said, I certainly think this would be a respectable final
performance of a truly legendary career.
