‘The Mule’ is slow but never lags or drags

In what might be the final movie in Clint Eastwood’s long career, the 88-year-old veteran is stretching his thespian chops by playing a 90-year-old drug mule. Earlier this year, the 82-year-old Robert Redford wrapped up his career by playing a septuagenarian bank robber in “The Old Man & the Gun.” The handsome geezer didn’t look a day over 78.

We’re not sure why both iconic actors chose to play criminals in their final roles, but the anti-hero is no stranger to Dirty Harry or the Sundance Kid. Here, Eastwood plays a 90-year-old horticulturist and Korean War veteran from Peoria, Illinois, caught transporting three million dollars worth of cocaine from El Paso, Texas, for a Mexican drug cartel.

The film was inspired by the New York Times Magazine article, by Nick Schenk (“Gran Torino”). Schenk told the story of the world’s oldest and most prolific drug mule that worked for the Sinaloa Cartel. Eastwood plays Earl Stone, the charming road warrior, who spends more time on the road with business associates than with family.

Unlike the cranky old guy in “Gran Torino,” Eastwood, as Stone, is charismatic and wins business awards, while yukking it up with jokes like, “Why did the horticulturalist cross the road? To get to the bar, which is where I’m going now.” This modest crime drama might be one of the more passive action films we’ve seen in a while.

This guy isn’t mean or cranky; he’s mostly self-absorbed and irresponsible. He misses his daughter Iris’ wedding (Clint’s real-life daughter, Alison Eastwood) and grows further distant from his estranged wife, Mary (Dianne Wiest). Stone prefers being on the road with friends and colleagues. Eastwood, who also directed and produced the film, is fully credible as a frumpy senior whose clothes don’t necessarily fit or match all that well.

When Stone’s business fails and house foreclosed, due to new fangled Internet sales, he admits, “I’ve never been a Plan B kind of guy.” Out of nowhere, he is offered an opportunity to drive the same roads from his business territory. Narcotics agents would never suspect an old man, without even a parking ticket, to be a drug mule. So you’ve got to ask yourself one question, “Do I feel lucky, well do ya, punk?”

Driving a raggedy two-toned Ford F150, Stone soon upgrades to a shiny black Lincoln Mark LT with chromed “twice pipes.” With a very generous cash flow, he can now provide more financial support for his family and town. His new “position” doesn’t allow any more time for family, but at least it counts for something, right? Maybe not.

The question is how realistically could a never-at-home husband, father and grandfather redeem himself with his family, especially at 90 years old? We wonder how much of the story aligns to Eastwood himself, who includes his own daughter in the movie. Eastwood also just announced a “secret” daughter he gave up for adoption 64 years prior.

Andy Garcia is brilliant in his small role as the mob boss but the fascination is on the culture clash, between the Hispanic gang bangers and the frumpy old white guy they employ. Upon arriving at the lush mansion, Stone asks, “Who do you have to kill to get a place like this?” Meanwhile, the DEA team (Laurence Fishburne, Bradley Cooper, Michael Pena) is hot on Stone’s tail.

“The Mule” is 116 minutes and rated R for language, brief sexuality and nudity. This movie carries a slower pace than most. You might say it meanders or even moseys. However, it never lags or drags. It’s mildly entertaining and fun to watch the disheveled Eastwood hobble, stammer and wisecrack his way through the story, as only he can.

If this is Eastwood’s swansong, we would like to have seen more from the superstar. However, the charming curmudgeon offers a moving message for those (himself?) with a needed personal day of reckoning. It may be too little, too late for full redemption at this age, but given the opportunity, we think Eastwood would say, “Make my day!”

Ron’s Rating: B-
Leigh’s Rating: C+




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