Post by Rob W. Case on Apr 15, 2019 22:58:03 GMT -6
The Story:
Clint Eastwood is Earl Stone, a well accomplished horticulturist and Korean War veteran who lives in Peoria Illinois. His accomplishments and awards come at a cost though, in that he always put his work before family. Because of this, he is divorced from his wife Mary (Dianne Wiest) and estranged from his daughter Iris (played by Clint Eastwood’s real-life daughter Alison Eastwood). When a pre-wedding brunch is thrown for his granddaughter Ginny (Taissa Farminga) Earl shows up for it, and emotions run high with his ex-wife and daughter due to his presence. Because of this, a scene erupts, and a guy named Rico (Victor Rasuk), who is a friend of one of Ginny’s bridesmaids, approaches Earl and tries to make conversation with him. In the conversation, the subject comes up about Earl’s immaculate driving record, and Rico is inquisitive about it. Earl’s cautious driving prompts Rico to offer Earl a lucrative proposition. Due to the internet’s negative effect on Earl's business, causing him to be cash strapped and in danger of losing his house, Earl considers it. In that, he becomes a mule for the Mexican drug cartel.
Upon the first transaction, Earl is given a tremendous amount of money. He is given so much money in fact, that he is able to get himself out of his financial issues, save his house, buy a new truck, and pay for his granddaughter’s wedding. The ease of just going to and fro, doing what he likes to do (i.e. driving out on the open road), and making tremendous amounts of money allows him more time and freedom to enjoy life, try to make amends with his family, and try to make a difference for the better (like paying for the renovations of the VFW hall). In addition to all of these things, his reputation and disposition gets the attention of the cartel’s boss Laton (Andy Garcia), who invites Earl to a party and entrusts him with bigger loads, which amounts to more money. And while everything appears to work in Earl’s favor, Earl will find that everything is about to come at a higher cost and greater risk.
A Drug Enforcement Administration task force is cracking down and monitoring deliveries to Chicago. In this effort, Colin Bates (Bradley Cooper), a DEA agent ambitious in making a name for himself, investigates, makes arrests, and even comes in contact with Earl in ways that are unsuspecting. Amidst the growing danger of getting caught, power struggles develop within the cartel causing a “change in management”, micromanagement on account of Earl, and power trips that complicate everything. This causes matters to spin out of control, and make everything difficult, dangerous, and uneasy. In that, what started out to be a simple and easy job ends up turning into a private hell for Earl. Meanwhile, in the midst of all of these things, and as he continues to spend more time with his family, he realizes where his joy really is, and what it always should have been.
My Take:
I really liked this movie for a variety of reasons. The movie is very interesting to start off with. The situation and developments that occur keeps you engaged and attentive from start to finish. It also carries within it a sort of wise spiritual element in that it through all of the toils and difficulties of life, a temptation comes about offering a way out of them and promising an easier way. From there, acting on what appears to be a “better alternative”, the person takes the “bait” and gets hooked, is promised pleasure and ease, and then once you’re in, and deep, it becomes a prison that is extremely difficult to get out of, and does some serious damage to one’s soul and fate in the process. This concept alone reminded me of an underlying concept conveyed in the 2012 drama/thriller “Flight.”
Out of 4 stars, I give The Mule 3 and a half stars.
The film is rated R for language and two scenes involving some risqué adult content.
It runs 1 hour and 56 minutes.
To view a trailer for The Mule, please click on the “play” button below.
“The Mule” is available to own and rent on Blu-ray and DVD, as well as multiple streaming services. “The Mule” is also available at RedBox kiosk machines everywhere.
Clint Eastwood is Earl Stone, a well accomplished horticulturist and Korean War veteran who lives in Peoria Illinois. His accomplishments and awards come at a cost though, in that he always put his work before family. Because of this, he is divorced from his wife Mary (Dianne Wiest) and estranged from his daughter Iris (played by Clint Eastwood’s real-life daughter Alison Eastwood). When a pre-wedding brunch is thrown for his granddaughter Ginny (Taissa Farminga) Earl shows up for it, and emotions run high with his ex-wife and daughter due to his presence. Because of this, a scene erupts, and a guy named Rico (Victor Rasuk), who is a friend of one of Ginny’s bridesmaids, approaches Earl and tries to make conversation with him. In the conversation, the subject comes up about Earl’s immaculate driving record, and Rico is inquisitive about it. Earl’s cautious driving prompts Rico to offer Earl a lucrative proposition. Due to the internet’s negative effect on Earl's business, causing him to be cash strapped and in danger of losing his house, Earl considers it. In that, he becomes a mule for the Mexican drug cartel.
Upon the first transaction, Earl is given a tremendous amount of money. He is given so much money in fact, that he is able to get himself out of his financial issues, save his house, buy a new truck, and pay for his granddaughter’s wedding. The ease of just going to and fro, doing what he likes to do (i.e. driving out on the open road), and making tremendous amounts of money allows him more time and freedom to enjoy life, try to make amends with his family, and try to make a difference for the better (like paying for the renovations of the VFW hall). In addition to all of these things, his reputation and disposition gets the attention of the cartel’s boss Laton (Andy Garcia), who invites Earl to a party and entrusts him with bigger loads, which amounts to more money. And while everything appears to work in Earl’s favor, Earl will find that everything is about to come at a higher cost and greater risk.
A Drug Enforcement Administration task force is cracking down and monitoring deliveries to Chicago. In this effort, Colin Bates (Bradley Cooper), a DEA agent ambitious in making a name for himself, investigates, makes arrests, and even comes in contact with Earl in ways that are unsuspecting. Amidst the growing danger of getting caught, power struggles develop within the cartel causing a “change in management”, micromanagement on account of Earl, and power trips that complicate everything. This causes matters to spin out of control, and make everything difficult, dangerous, and uneasy. In that, what started out to be a simple and easy job ends up turning into a private hell for Earl. Meanwhile, in the midst of all of these things, and as he continues to spend more time with his family, he realizes where his joy really is, and what it always should have been.
My Take:
I really liked this movie for a variety of reasons. The movie is very interesting to start off with. The situation and developments that occur keeps you engaged and attentive from start to finish. It also carries within it a sort of wise spiritual element in that it through all of the toils and difficulties of life, a temptation comes about offering a way out of them and promising an easier way. From there, acting on what appears to be a “better alternative”, the person takes the “bait” and gets hooked, is promised pleasure and ease, and then once you’re in, and deep, it becomes a prison that is extremely difficult to get out of, and does some serious damage to one’s soul and fate in the process. This concept alone reminded me of an underlying concept conveyed in the 2012 drama/thriller “Flight.”
Out of 4 stars, I give The Mule 3 and a half stars.
The film is rated R for language and two scenes involving some risqué adult content.
It runs 1 hour and 56 minutes.
To view a trailer for The Mule, please click on the “play” button below.
“The Mule” is available to own and rent on Blu-ray and DVD, as well as multiple streaming services. “The Mule” is also available at RedBox kiosk machines everywhere.