Blood Work Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES
He's a heartbeat away from catching the killer
The key to catching a killer is only a heartbeat away.
A serial killer is just a heartbeat away
Retired FBI profiler Terry McCaleb (Eastwood), who has recently had a heart transplant, is hired by Graciela Rivers (De Jesus), to investigate the death of her sister, Gloria, who happens to have given McCaleb his heart. On the case, he soon deducts that the killer, who staged the murder to look like a random robbery, may actually be a serial killer Terry was trailing for years in the FBI. Can the elderly and feeble McCaleb, who had intended to spend his retirement living on his boat in the Los Angeles harbor, and who can't drive, and has to nap regularly, muster up the endurance to find the killer?
| Clint Eastwood | Terry McCaleb |
| Jeff Daniels | Jasper 'Buddy' Noone |
| Anjelica Huston | Dr. Bonnie Fox |
| Wanda De Jesus | Graciella Rivers |
| Tina Lifford | Detective Jaye Winston |
| Paul Rodriguez | Detective Ronaldo Arrango |
| Dylan Walsh | Detective John Waller |
| Mason Lucero | Raymond Torres |
| Gerry Becker | Mr. Toliver |
| Rick Hoffman | James Lockridge |
| Alix Koromzay | Mrs. Cordell |
| Igor Jijikine | Mikhail Bolotov |
| Dina Eastwood | Reporter #1 |
| Beverly Leech | Reporter #2 |
| June Kyoto Lu | Mrs. Kang |
| Clint Eastwood |
6.30 out of 10 (11434 votes)
Visitor Reviews
Eastwood's been way better
posted on 28 Aug 2009I went to Blood Work expecting action, some good Clint one-liners, and SUSPENSE. I have to say this movie fails to deliver those aspects. "Blood Work" is based on a novel by Michael Connelly, a good one at that. While the flick has the potential to be all those things that make us spend five dollars to feel, overall it is lacking. Some of the scenes are downright ridiculous. After Eastwood and his female partner shoot up a street while trying to hit a "parked" car that is high-tailing it out of there (I would have to if Eastwood was walking towards me with a shotgun!) she says "we shot up the whole valley" to this Clint says "did you hit anything? Me either, let's go!" For some reason that line had me busting up in the theater. Gee could it be just how hilarious the scene is? Clint has been better in 98% of his work. I give Blood Work 4/10. JF
will make the even the dumbest person feel smart
posted on 28 Aug 2009After suffering a heart attach while chasing a murder suspect, Terry McCaleb (Eastwood) is hired by miss Rivers to look into the death of her sister. He think it may be linked to his prior case. Call me old fashion, but I'd like to think that mystery films should have an element of, I don't know... MYSTERY!! This film is very formulaic, very easy to solve in record time as well. The acting performances are all good, but with the talent involved you expect as much. Clint Eastwood has done SO MUCH better, both earlier, as well as later in his career.My Grade: D DVD Extras: 18 minute Making of; 14 minute Spanish interview with Eastwood, Wande De Jesus & Paul Rodriguez; Cast & Crew filmographies; Teaser & Theatrical Trailers
slowing down in plot also
posted on 18 Aug 2009Was really excited to pick up new Eastwood film and then found myself yawning through it at half way point. I love Eastwood and he was a great icon in the movie business but this whole movie was a conglomerate of old plots, old action scenes and old endings from various other movies in the past 25 years. Eastwood has typecast himself again but almost seems to lack the energy to do it freshly.
Please, stop the pain.
posted on 06 Aug 2009I have to say, that I am pretty sure this is the WORST film I have ever seen. I would have walked out of the theater, but I was too busy writhing on the floor in agony. LilStar basically summed it up well, check out that review if you want to know why we hated this movie so. Please, save your money, and if you are really interested, donate your eight bucks to a charity or something.*blech*
entertaining but predictable
posted on 06 Aug 2009I am a big fan of the thriller genre and CSI-esque films. This film, though not steller, did fit the bill. It was definitely an entertaining film and I would highly recommend it to any Eastwood fan since he gives a great performance - as expected. Unfortunately I found the plot itself a little convoluded and the killer was fairly obvious from the get go. Also, Wanda De Jesus had the habbit of repeating all of Clint's realizations as if the audience wasn't quick enough to get them the first time.i.e. Clint "There, that's an apple" Wanda "Oh my god, that's an apple!" Okay, there are no apples in the movie, but you get the point :)Overall I give it a 3/5. It is a good movie once but not something I would watch a second time.
A letdown for an Eastwood fan
posted on 17 Jun 2009I can see that some might admire the simplicity of this film, and it's hearkening back to an older murder/mystery style, but the acting was so atrocious, the dialogue so canned, that for me it simply didn't float. I'm a HUGE Eastwood movie fan, and some of his latest have been masterpieces: The Unforgiven, and In The Line of Fire, but this is really a letdown. First of all, I knew who the murderer was within the first 15 minutes or so, it was painfully obvious. Secondly, it felt like even Eastwood himself was just reading off of cue cards. The concept of an aging man as hero was interesting, but again the dialogue and supporting characters were so plastic and banal and badly conceived that it ruined any hope for belief. Jeff Daniels had a little spark in him, at least. The ending resulted in laughter amongst most of the audience at the showing I went to, it being about as tense and suspenseful as a wet napkin. And that's another problem - I wasn't anywhere near the edge of my seat -- In fact, I was slumped back in a near sleeplike state due to the poor pacing. Now, I love a good, slow buildup, but I'm sorry, this simply was not done well and does not deserve a place amongst Eastwood's better films. A letdown, overall.
Pedestrian, unconvincing
posted on 05 Jun 2009The film has a limping quality almost from the beginning: stock characters - like the wise-cracking, envious cop; the black police officer who has come up through the ranks thanks to Eastwood's character - and dialog straight out of "Dick & Jane." That there was going to be a romance between Eastwood & the Graciella was as obvious as her cleavage and improbable in terms of what either character had in the way of interest for the other.
PRIMER CLINT
posted on 03 Jun 2009BLOOD WORK (2002) *** Clint Eastwood, Jeff Daniels, Wanda De Jesus, Anjelica Huston, Tina Lifford, Paul Rodriguez, Dylan Walsh. Old school Eastwood flick with Clint as an ex-FBI agent recovering from a heart transplant only to be coerced out of semi-retirement when he learns the organ donor was the woman of the sister seeking justice for her slain sibling by a relentless serial killer he was chasing at the time of his coronary. What plays as an essential Greatest Eastwood Hits amalgam – `Dirty Harry', `Tightrope', `In the Line of Fire' – isn't necessarily a bad thing since he directs with great economy and skillful get-to-the-point action and drama with the twist as a truly vulnerable hero. Brian Helgeland's adaptation of Michael Connelly's bestseller is at times stiff with its dialogue but keeps the suspense in fine potboiler form. Look sharp for Clint's real-life telejournalist wife Dina as a reporter on a crime scene.
Bloody good
posted on 30 May 2009It's hard to release movies like these nowadays, and expect great box office receipts. Am I bashing this film? Far from it. I'm simply saying that many audiences just aren't in the mood for a good old-fashioned mystery.
They prefer braindead actioners like "Fast and the Furious" and "XXX." I, on the other hand, appreciate a solid mystery-thriller that compliments my intelligence, instead of insulting it. "Blood Work" didn't get me bored for one minute. Like the character of McCaleb I was constantly wrapped up in this investigation, dedicated to uncovering the identity of this killer, and the plot twist really blew me away. This is one of the few times I've watched a film a second time, after knowing its twists and turns, and it was a great experience. This time I kept looking for evidence pointing to why this person turned out to be the killer, and it made quite a bit of sense to me. I was just as wrapped up in the film as I was when I first watched it. I've been fascinated by forensic detective work, which this movie has a lot of. So that's one of the reasons I loved it so much. I'm always intrigued to see these investigators pick up on the most minute pieces of evidence that the average person would take for granted, and use them as keys in cracking the case. **********SPOILER AHEAD*********One element of plot I felt was too far-fetched was the kid pointing out a key piece of evidence. The killer left a code, which was a set of nine numbers. Every single number was featured, except for the number "1."
Sure, that doesn't sound too complicated to figure out, but the average person would probably overlook that tiny detail. But having the kid point out there was no "1" is a contrived idea, simply put in to surprise the audience by having them think, "Wow, this little kid cracked the code.
Impressive."**********END OF SPOILER**********In the comic relief department, we have Paul Rodriguez and Jeff Daniels.
Both actors helped temper the film's dark tone. I definitely recommend "Blood Work" to anyone in the mood for a good film with a good plot. Yes, a good plot--that's something you don't hear everyday. My score: 8 (out of 10)
A Poor Showing By Clint Eastwood
posted on 26 May 2009This is one of Clint Eastwood's poorer efforts. It might have been better if he hadn't both directed and acted. The plot has lots of potential, but it gets lost in unrealistic scenes. Based very loosely on FBI profiling, it scarcely introduces the concept. Several of the crime scenes are obviously staged, even to a non-police eye. The movie also contains some very lame and borderline racist jokes involving a Latino detective. Clint's "love interest" also comes across not as a believable plot element but more as an example of Hollywood pandering to the prerogatives of rich, powerful, and old white male director/actors. Speaking of pandering, watch for a couple bit parts played by Eastwood progeny. If you are a die-hard Clint Eastwood fan then you can probably be excused for wanting to see this movie. Otherwise, give it a miss.
WORTH SEEING
posted on 10 May 2009When I read the critics in the medias and on IMDb I expected an average movie. This one was better than I thought and it´s not that bad as many people said here. There is from the first minute to the last one suspense. It´s a fast paced thriller where the audience is involved finding the murder till the surprisingly end. The story is well explained but you have to pay attention to the details of the crime. The picture is very fine and the film well produced. I have only one critic to Clint Eastwood: your voice is not the best one but your direction is superb. My vote: 7/10.I find "Bloodwork" is better than "Absolute Power" that was too long and at times slow paced. I am very curious for Eastwood's next "Mystic River" which is perhaps his best movie as director.
Terrible adaptation of a good book
posted on 02 May 2009I understand that in translating book to film the story has to be shortened and 'dumbed down' to a certain extend, but this adaptation sets a new low. Why did Mr. Helgeland make the killer a different character? The plot and the clues make little sense that way. The new and definitely not improved plot is highly predictable and littered with clues that are far from subtle.I usually like Eastwood's style as a director, but he is not on top of his game this time. Some of the scenes are so badly directed/edited/acted that it is painful to watch. As someone already pointed out, the doughnut scene is a particular highlight.2/10, maybe slightly higher if you don't know the book.
Pass the Geritol
posted on 28 Apr 2009In hot pursuit of a killer, FBI profiler Terry McCaleb is felled by a heart attack. Flash forward a year or two, and McCaleb is retired and recovering from a heart transplant. But he won't be inactive for long. You see, the ticker in his chest came from a Mexican woman and - a Dragnet style "dum, de, dum, dum, dum" is in order here - she was MURDERED! (Gasp!)McCaleb is played by Clint Eastwood, and the then 71-year-old star looks fit and healthy no matter what his doctor says. He punches Dylan Walsh, woos the much younger Wanda DeJesus (the sister of the woman whose heart now pounds in his chest), and faces the killer in a showdown without ever seeming tired or short of breath. It's Eastwood the director who's on life support. This thriller is in critical condition from the start, and the cast acts like they know it. Anjelica Huston, playing Eastwood's physician, always seems to be avoiding eye contact, as if she hopes we might not notice she's in this movie. Paul Rodriguez overacts and might as well be doing a stand-up routine with no connection to his role as a police officer. Jeff Daniels is more appealing, but his attempts to pump some life into this thing are not successful. Even though the running time is only 104 minutes, considerably shorter than the average Eastwood film, "Blood Work" drones on forever. Its dullness may be its only attribute. When your mind starts to wander (perhaps to thoughts of a better movie), you may not notice the story's many plot holes.
Slow-paced but worth seeing
posted on 06 Apr 2009Clint Eastwood isn't weak. Even playing a character 60 days past a heart transplant, he can still kick major butt. Although this movie takes a bit to get going and appears to have some slow parts, it's very misleading. The mystery is revealed step-by-step with the viewer often figuring it out only a step ahead of the characters, and that makes it fun. I highly recommend this if you have the patience to sit it out--and, sadly enough, Paul Rodreguez' rather forced effort at being a sarcastic cop (who woulda thunk it?).
Absolutely God-awful
posted on 19 Feb 2009I just had the unfortunate experience of staying up late to watch a sneak of this at the theatre where I work. The other employees and I were literally laughing through the entire thing. I don't know if I can get across in this review just how sloppy, sluggish, and amateurish this movie was made. To me, a movie does not have to have action to keep me interested, in fact, movies with mostly dialogue - good dialogue - hold my interest just as much if not more. But this...this crawled along to the point where we just didn't know and didn't care who was doing what or why. Not that the filmmakers didn't try: they literally repeated everything at least three times, in case we didn't get it the first time around. They spelled things out that, had they done their jobs right, we should have just gotten from visuals or just implications. And the story was absolutely trivial and, in a word, stupid. The funniest part about this drek was some of the lines. Allow me to recite: "She stood out like a whore in church." Wait, it gets better: "I like being jerked off." * "I don't think so. I don't know. But I don't think so." * And later, when a Hispanic cop screams to Eastwood - who had a heart transplant from a Hispanic woman - "Just because you got a Hispanic heart, don't make you one of us!" Eastwood retorts: "Next time you come around here, this Hispanic's gonna kick your ass." Real great filmmaking. The only reason I can think of as to why Anjelica Huston agreed to be in this - in a role that has three brief scenes that lead her nowhere - is that she must be a good friend of Eastwood's. He simply needs to learn how to act, choose scripts, and direct a film. This was a laughable experience. If I were everyone involved in this film, especially the writer, I'd be horrified right now as the release date draws near, chewing my nails and thinking "How the hell did I get involved with something like this?" Utter waste of time. And I don't like to say something like that about most movies - I try and find something good about it. I don't like being that negative most of the time, but that's how BAD this is.
good director, bad movie
posted on 17 Feb 2009First let me say that I have always enjoyed Clint's work. He's been an idol of mine since puberty. Not only as a tough-guy actor, but as a director too.Besides his kick-ass westerns, he's directed successful films as diverse and touching as; Bridges of Madison County (1995) A Perfect World(1993), White Hunter, Black Heart (1990), Bird (1988), and Honkytonk Man (1982).That's why I don't understand how he can turn around and make a films as disjointed and uncomfortable as Absolute Power (1997) or BloodWork (2002).Both movies were somehow "odd" with scenes where the acting was either "over the top" or out of synch with the script at that point. Both were predictable and both were definitely NOT his best work as a director. Both had plot holes and very unrealistic scenes (like in Bloodwork; shooting up the killer's car on a public street, which then crashes into an innocent person driving by, and the good guys just drive away without even chasing the killer, or at least tending to the innocent victim in the car who may be bleeding to death?)But who knows - maybe it's the screenplays to blame and no director could have saved them. There's no way to know what was going on at the time Clint was involved. SPOILER ALERT If you're a crime/drama movie fan, don't bother with this film. I didn't read the book and yet my guests and I had figured out the whole film almost instantly. (spoiler: as soon as they emphasized the anonymous "good samaritan" helping the victim survive til the ambulance got there, you knew that it was the killer and why he'd done it just by thinking about the title of the film; BLOODwork. Then, as soon as the kid points out there are no 1's in the code, you realized WHY they had emphasized the spelling of Buddy's last name SO much.)And, if you're a Clint fan, as I am, rent a classic like HonkyTonk Man instead. Bloodwork will only disappoint.
This again?
posted on 09 Feb 2009Another one of those "retired law enforcement agent is the only guy on the planet who can possibly solve this murder" flicks. Eastwood is fair in his role, at best. The film is simply too derivative of the countless "catch the wacko" flicks where the good guy/main character is hated by one of the local cops for re-opening a investigation. The guy who plays the cop, Eastwood's nemesis, is a major goon.*Spoiler*: The weakest scene (there are several) is the donut scene. Just plain bad....Overall: 5/10.
Disappointing Mystery
posted on 20 Jan 2009Clint Eastwood's fine directorial career stumbles in this lackluster thriller. From the title, which ultimately gives away too much, to the uninspired actors surrounding Eastwood's hero character, this movie failed to satisfy. The romantic element was uncovincing, the plot cliched and Eastwood's direction was as wooden as his character. Maybe Clint should stick with something other than thrillers as they have not been strong suit. Oh, for another Outlaw Josey Wales - though someone other than Eastwood should star!
Avoid at all cost... (laughable spoilers)
posted on 30 Aug 2009Do yourself a great favor and avoid this film. Unless you want to watch 2 hours of Clint Eastwood rubbing his heart transplant scar. Because that's about all he does. Things get too intense... he rubs his scar. He implausibly falls in love with the woman who's sister gave him the heart... he rubs his scar. He realized who the killer is even though it is painfully obvious to the audience from watching the trailer... he rubs his scar. He remembers he has a scar from a heart transplant... he rubs it. Oh and in the last scene he refers to himself as a Mexican. STAY AWAY!