The Mule

[peter]

This softly done tale, produced and directed by octogenarian legend Clint Eastwood proceeds at a slow pace, befitting the age and mobility of it's star (Eastwood himself in case you didn't know). The story concerns a down at heel horticulturalist, who having sacrificed a good family life on the alter of business success, is finally defeated in the face of internet competition, and turns by chance meeting, to running drugs over the boarder for a Mexican drug cartel. Initial success predictably turns sour as the police close in on his activities and his problems are compounded by a change of leadership in the cartel, throwing up a much more vicious experience than he had hitherto been used to.

A strong performance from Eastwood (in the main at least - there were one or two points where his age got the better of him) was complemented by his co-stars Bradley Cooper and Lawrence Fishburne, and while not exactly rattling along, the film does slowly get inside you until you find yourself rooting for the old guy as he plods his bemused and often confused way through the plot. Pulling family issues together with taught gangster stuff, you are kept with it until an ending that..........

See it for yourself!

[Skyweir]

I saw this last night. I like Eastwood and was surprised how frail he is looking these days. But clearly that WAS part of the appeal and why you end up rooting for a guy that makes some rather foolhardy then Criminal life choices.

I had a question though that I didnt find crystal clear in the watching.

Spoiler

Did HE kill the cartel members that were instructed to kill him?

It was noted in the trial but wasnt entirely sure.

And just HOW did he manage that? 80 plus aged frail human and all?

Yes he was a Korean War veteran but ... they had guns, were a quarter or a third his age AND there were two of them

[peter]

Spoiler

Don't think so Sky. If I get it right, didn't the guy's get told by the new badass boss, on their mobile iirc, to let him complete his run before killing him? If so, I'm thinking that they just beat him up then sent him on his way. I wondered to what degree such a cartel would let a guy like home alone, even in prison I'd have thought his card would be marked, so the gardening ending could be a bit wishful thinking. Also, seems a bit ragged that the DEA or whoever Bradley Cooper's guys were, would be happy with only nabbing the mule and letting the rest of the huge drug peddling operation walk away. Would this really be considered a successful operation?

[Skyweir]

Really I didnt get that .. on the phone didnt the gang members boss give him an order?

Ya know extermination order. Then we see evidence of foul play .. then in court his legal council says Eastwood did a service?????? right?

[peter]

Sorry Sky - must have my dumb head on! Not following you there? I'll try to get to watch the last half hour again shortly and try to tighten this up!