The Mule - 賭命運轉手

The Mule (賭命運轉手) is an 2018 film. The film stars and is directed by mega star Clint Eastwood. It is based on a true life story of a drug mule, Leo Sharp. The movie also has a supporting cast of Bradley Cooper, Laurence Fishburne, Michael Peña, Dianne Wiest, Alison Eastwood, Taissa Farmiga, and Andy García



Clint Eastwood plays Earl Stone, a award-winning horticulturist and World War II veteran living in Peoria, Illinois. We start the story flashback to 2005 at a horticulturist show. Earl seems to be the toast of the event and wins the highest golden award. At the event, he stumbles on a sales booth promoting the future of ordering flowers online. Earl brushes it off. We also see that Earl has decide that this event was more important than walking his only daughter down the aisle at her wedding. Fast forward to the present. Earl's farm is foreclosed and he leaves with all his belongings in the bed of his truck. Earl goes to the wedding shower of his grand daughter. But meets his ex-wife and daughter there. An argument ensues leaving everyone uncomfortable. Some at the party noticed Earl travels a lot from all the state stickers on his truck. He says if he's looking for work, his friends need reliable and safe drivers. Down on his luck, he tries it out and the fun begins.

This movie was awesome. I think I am a lifelong Eastwood fan. I even liked his singer miner movie from back in the day. This movie had a great story, a twist, a chase, and character development from three (maybe more) sides. I loved the pacing too. I was engaged the whole film. The character of Earl is very flawed and really shouldn't be hero. He isn't even an anti-hero. Earl is just a selfish being that used people around him for his own enjoyment. BUT the story presents it and you still cheer for him. It a testament to the great film making.

This film got no love on the film awards circuit. That is a great case to make a case that all these awards circuit should go underground and just matter for filmmakers. Critics voices continue to show that are biased and untethers to the common folks. That is why year after year, the box office winners are not even in the conversation during award shows. Instead we see films that barely matter shriek across the headlines and awesome movies like this get no love.

The Mule is one of the best movies Clint Eastwood has ever made and he's still running strong into his 90s. I watched this film from a free reward from the Atom app.