By Marc S. Sanders
Earl Stone (Clint Eastwood) was once considered one of the best horticulturalists in the country. In fact, he devoted more of his time to raising the most unique flowers and plants that anyone could find than he ever did to his wife, Mary (Dianne Weist) or his daughter, Iris (Alison Eastwood). He even missed Iris’ wedding, to attend an award reception in his honor. At age 90, though, Earl is quickly forgotten by his ardent fans thanks to the ease of ordering horticultural specimens off the internet. There’s no longer value in meeting the maker. Just as Earl never took account for his family like he did with his beloved occupation.
Clint Eastwood portrays Earl Stone in The Mule, which he also produced and directed. Written by the Nick Schenk, this film is one of Eastwood’s best directing efforts. It is inspired by a real life story where the forced to retire horticulturalist finds himself working as a drug mule for the Mexican cartel. Earl is corralled into making easy money by driving a duffel bag across country. At the destination, he leaves his truck and returns shortly thereafter to find large amounts of cash in his glove compartment for his trek.
Earl is so naive to all this activity though that he doesn’t even know how to use the various cell phones the dealers give him for each new journey. It’s only on the third drive that he opens the bag to find kilos of cocaine.
Earl is a perfect front for the cartel. The Don (Andy Garcia) sees the value of this camouflage. Who’d ever suspect a frail ninety year old Korean War veteran, who’s never gotten a traffic ticket, of doing their bidding? Certainly, the sharp witted FBI agents (Bradley Cooper, Michael Peña) could only get as close as determining this mule is driving a black pickup truck. Beyond that they are at a loss, despite the leeway and patience awarded to them by their superior (Laurence Fishburn).
This film boasts an outstanding cast from all four corners of its various stories.
The Mule works so well because of Eastwood, the filmmaker. He offers thrilling overhead highway shots (with no car chases) of Earl’s pickup truck running parallel to a helicopter as well as how the cartel escorts follow behind. There’s humor in how impatient they get with the old codger by how slow he drives and the old time music he listens and sings along to. Wait until you see two tough armed Mexican cartel members relent to singing along to Dean Martin. Eastwood cuts and stages these hilarious moments that are most welcome, even if they had no business being in a story like this.
Clint Eastwood’s performance is really shining through. You recognize his signature scowl and his heightened walk despite his frail physicality. The Earl Stone character is so well drawn and Eastwood, as director and especially actor, answers every demand of the script sharing celebrated scenes with Andy Garcia who treasures his prize mule and gifts him a couple of women to make him feel comfortable. Other moments allow wonderful exchanges between him and Dianne Weist as Mary, Earl’s estranged and very ill ex-wife.
The Mule is a crime picture, sometimes lighthearted and on occasion heavily serious. Yet, it’s also a well-drawn out family drama. Earl is grateful for the rewards that come with being a drug mule. He’s generous to his friends. He modestly treats himself. He lends attention to his adult and loving granddaughter (Taissa Farmiga). He accepts Iris’ disregard for him. Yet, none of these gestures buy back or exchange any time he’s lost with the family he never got to know.
The film plays like two different movies until finally a sacrifice must be made to appease one part of Earl’s life versus the other. I almost wished for everything new that came upon Earl in his late life to remain on that trajectory. Yet, like the best stories, interference will eventually get in the way. It’s that much more crushing when Earl’s new pattern is upended. Still, that’s what makes for good drama.
I highly recommend seeking out Clint Eastwood’s The Mule. It surprised me in the best ways possible. I did not expect to be so impressed. Eastwood continues to be an inspiration with the persistent longevity of his talents as an actor, a screen legend, and a gifted filmmaker. The Mule shows he’s as sharp as he ever was before in some of the best films of his decades long career.
2 UNPAID MOVIE CRITICS!!!! 