Search - Blood Work on DVD

William B. from NINETY SIX, SC
Reviewed on 1/22/2015...

This movie is one of those whodunit movies that keeps you guessing and you don't figure it out until close to the end. Good acting by Eastwood as usual.

1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.

Aging Gracefully

Bobby Underwood | Manly NSW, Australia | 08/15/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Clint Eastwood embraced growing older and more fragile in this leisurely paced and thoughtful cop film. Eastwood himself has grown older and wiser, both as an actor, a producer, and a director. Even though I guessed fairly early on who the killer was and the film ran a little long, this film is about the journey. Paced much like Line of Fire, it also is about the character as much as the crimes, and that, coupled with the charisma of Eastwood, makes this a good film.

Clint Eastwood is legendary FBI profiler Terry McCaleb. He is tracking a serial killer known as "Code Killer" when this film opens. Leaving Terry messages written in blood at each crime scene, the prey is enjoying the chase. When McCaleb finally has him within reach during a foot pursuit, Terry suffers a heart attack so massive that only a heart transplant saves his life, forcing his retirement from the Bureau. Then the killings stop.

Taking the advice of his cardiologist, Bonnie (Angelica Huston), he takes life easy on his boat. Jeff Daniels is excellent as his next door pal, Buddy. Things are going smoothly in the immediate days after the transplant darkly beautiful Graciella shows up wanting the former FBI Agent to go look into the murder of her sister. Since it appears to be a random act of violence during a robbery, and Terry has severe doubts as to whether he is even up to such a task, he tries to decline. But empathy for Graciella and the son who no longer has a mother, coupled with his his attraction to her, make turning her down problematic. When he discovers the heart beating in his chest belonged to the murdered woman, honor and guilt set him on the trail once again. Buddy becomes his sidekick as he slowly gets up to speed. Terry knows he is not the same man anymore, but might be able to get part of himself back if he can survive the chase. Paul Rodriguez gives a very funny performance as exasperated L.A. Detective Arrango who thinks Terry should stay retired and out of his case.

But Terry still has connections, including the pretty Tina Lifford in a nice role. It is obvious she and Terry had more than a casual relationship in the past and she gives him more leeway than she probably should in his pursuit of justice for his donor's killer. Terry begins to have feelings for Graciella and though some critics at the time found Clint's performance in the brief love scene rather stoic, his reaction, or rather lack of one, at Graciella's advances in the scene are in keeping with his condition and the fear the now fragile McCaleb has due to his recent transplant and the health complications brought on by his investigation. As his old nemisis returns and Terry discovers the reason for all the killings it complicates matters no end, both investigation wise, and in his personal life, which have become intertwined.

Eastwood gives a thoughtful performance as an actor and adds some humor and good music as director to round out this entertaining film. His final exchange with Rodriguez after a somewhat lengthy chase and confrontation with the killer, end the film on a high note. Like Steve McQueen, Eastwood can elevate a good movie to seem a little better than it is, which is exactly what he does here. Not a fantastic film, but a very good one."

A thriller acted, directed and produced by my favorite actor

Betty L. Dravis | Silicon Valley, CA | 07/23/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It was Clint Eastwood night in the Dravis household...again. Just can't get enough of that guy!

In Blood Work, Eastwood plays a retired, aging FBI profiler who recently had a heart transplant. Although not completely well, he's tough, gruff and smart as a whip. When his heart donor's grieving sister (Wanda De Jesus) asks him to find her dead sibling's killer, he feels obligated to do it even if it puts his health at risk.

This is a gritty, no-nonsense role and Eastwood is superb as Terry McCaleb. Jeff Daniels, who plays Eastwood's neighbor and younger sidekick, is well cast, also. Brian Helgeland, "L.A. Confidential" Oscar-winner, wrote a sharp, sensible script that is pure Eastwood all the way. "Blood Work" is adapted from a novel by Michael Connelly.

Some people may chuckle at a brief love scene between Eastwood and De Jesus, but I think he will always be a sensual man, so had no problems with that. It was a realistic portrayal... But I did giggle when his real-life wife, Dina Ruiz, popped up in a scene with microphone in hand, trying to get a quote from Eastwood's character, Terry McCaleb. That was a cameo role at its best. :-)

Eastwood is my favorite all-time actor, no matter what his age. The man has stamina and great box-office appeal at 72 or 22!

Blood Work is an exciting thriller with edge-of-your-seat pacing, great action and an excellent cast. I highly recommend it.

Reviewed by Betty Dravis, July 22, 2010
Author of "Dream Reachers" (with Chase Von) and other books
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