The Mule

       Produced, directed and starring Clint Eastwood, this crime drama is based on the true story of a 90 year old man who became a drug mule for the Mexican Cartel. As an Actor, Mr. Eastwood still has a spark running through him but it's time to let another director handle the workload.

        The story itself is an interesting one but as directed by Mr. Eastwood, the film moves at a snail's pace. We are treated to far too many shots of Mr. Eastwood singing along to the oldies, while driving down the highway with a stash of cocaine in the back of his pickup. To keep us from being lulled to sleep by the open road and his crooning, we get frequent cuts to the DEA agents trying to identify and catch the mule.

         Laurence Fishburne plays the DEA agent in charge and his two field agents are played by Bradley Cooper and Michael Pena. Both excellent actors, Mr. Cooper and Mr. Pena sleep walk through their roles, just collecting a paycheck this time out. Andy Garcia also co-stars as the Mexican drug lord, who I'm sure in real life would never want to meet any of his "mules" but here, insists on bringing Mr. Eastwood to his home in Mexico.    

         The subplot involves the family he left behind because he was too caught up in his work. Dianne Wiest plays his ex-wife Mary, Mr. Eastwood's real life daughter Allison plays his estranged daughter Iris, and Taissa Farmiga plays his granddaughter. Mr. Eastwood's heavy handed message is "family should be everything" and he spends most of the film seeking redemption for past sins, when he's not driving, driving, driving.....