Blood Work

The older Clint Eastwood gets, the more mileage he seems to extract from it; that keen-eyed, battle-weary persona of his. No matter how leathery and dog-eaten with age, it just seems to fit him better and better. Embodying everything you love about the movies, Clint's an every-man, an action-hero, a tough-talker and a babe-magnet all rolled into one. And for a guy in his 70s, that's a tough act to beat.

In his latest film, Blood Work, Clint continues his exploration of the aging action-hero; taking it to brink of logical conclusion. He plays Terry McCaleb, a retired FBI-profiler who, after suffering a massive heart-attack almost two years ago, is recovering from a recent heart transplant. He's weak, but his convalescence seems to be going well. That is, until Terry receives a visit from demure Mexican beauty Graciella Rivers (Wanda De Jesus), who implores him to take on one last murder investigation. Despite his ill-health, Terry is compelled to look into the case. Ignoring the objections of his cardiologist, Bonnie Fox (Anjelica Huston), he begins to poke around; using both his contacts at the bureau, and his old enemies at the LAPD, to track down the killer. Ironically, sucking on pills and short of breath, Terry is himself almost at death's door. But there's some life in the old dog yet, and certainly motivation enough (apart from the chance of bedding Graciella) for Terry to risk his second chance at life. And besides, Terry doesn't seem ready to cark it just yet. For when his body's not thinking about rejecting his second most important organ, he still has enough strength enough to lift that giant hand-cannon of his...

What continues to impress about Clint's films - Blood Work being his 20th both before and behind the camera - is their accessibility, but most of all their humanity; helped no doubt by his particular choice of maturing protagonist. Filled with flawed, beautifully constructed characters, Clint's films succeed in drawing you into the story because you take such a personal interest in their struggle; you invest yourself in, and empathise with, their personal journeys. And that is the mark of a great filmmaker.

Of course empathy is also the basis of a great thriller, and without resorting to contrivance or cheap scares, in Blood Work Clint has crafted a tight, entertaining example of the genre. Clint's typically accomplished direction maintains the tension throughout, and his characteristically understated performance in the lead role is supported by accomplished turns from the hugely under-rated Jeff Daniels, and Mexican contingent Wanda De Jesus and Paul Rodriguez. The results are not so much an edge-of-your-seat, teeth-grinding affair - to be honest the mystery and the plot in general are fairly transparent - but rather an engrossing, at times light-hearted, character driven drama. And that is exactly why Blood Work eclipses so easily the shallow, gimmicky thrillers like The Sixth Sense that lay forever untouched on my shelf after their first and only viewing.

Another great transfer from Warner; a sharp and detailed, anamorphic (2.35:1) presentation that is perfect in every conceivable way. From the bright exteriors of the LA marina to the gloomy, shadow-filled locations that are a thriller's stock and trade, colours are well balanced, black level is spot on and the depth of shadow detail is impressive. Meanwhile, in the journey of the crystal clean source material into the digital realm, neither the telecine nor the compression process has left the slightest mark on the final result. All in all, a fine specimen indeed, marred only by a quite clunky layer change placed at an otherwise innocuous scene boundary.

A thriller lives and dies by its soundtrack; a fact that's not been lost on Clint - the veteran of several previously successful such outings. It's no surprise then that the Dolby Digital 5.1 mix that we are served up here has all the subtlety and impact that we have come to expect from the genre. Good separation and a number of stereo effects across the front channels are complimented by dynamic and continuous use of the surrounds to add environmental ambience and a good dollop of mood enhancement; eerie echoes, ricocheting automatic weapons, and assorted bumps in the night. Used sporadically but to great effect, the subwoofer also plays its part in heightening the dramatic mood, as well as plying its stock and trade - booming shotgun blasts and other kinds of weapons, collisions and so on.

Interestingly, the score - a strange Latino jazz and blues fusion that is in keeping with a strong Latin-American subtext that permeates the film - has been downplayed by Clint; prominent only in bookending the film along with title and credit sequences.

Warner's release of Blood Work is by no means a 'Collector's Edition'. However, a set of simple, static menus provide access to a small number of extras, two of which do provide a great compliment to the film.

• Featurette - Making Blood Work: (18:00) Spoilers ahoy! A great featurette that, through inteviews with Clint and cast, clips from the film and on-set footage, gives a great insight into why Clint chose the project and the comraderie and humour that existed on-set.

• A Conversation in Spanish: (14:20) interviews with Blood Work's Mexican cast members Wanda De Jesus and Paul Rodriguez give a Hispanic slant on both the production and the lot of Latinos in Hollywood. There's some good anecdotes here, and Clint pops in for a few laughs at the end.

• Trailers: Both a teaser trailer and theatrical trailer are supplied. Nice transfers, but I just can get excited about this stuff.

• Cast & Crew: Two pages of text listing the principal cast and crew. Since Clint was both director and producer, that basicaly leaves the writers.

Even half dead from a heart transplant, Clint is so the man. On screen, he's still as impressive as ever. Off screen, he just can't seem to make a bad film. Laced with his signature black humour and filled with well-constructed characters, Blood Work is an entertaining thriller that grabs you in the first five minutes and doesn't let go. With great video and audio presentations from Warner, Blood Work is a must-see for Eastwood fans and an entertaining night in for everyone else. Recommended.