14 hours Ago By Maria Leticia Gomes
Clint Eastwood , the renowned actor, makes a long-awaited return to the big screen in a film he directs, a decade after his last stint in Gran Torino, bringing excitement to Netflix's offerings for crime drama fans. The Mule chronicles the tale of Earl Stone, played by Eastwood, a 90 year old horticulturist who, battling financial difficulties and estrangement from his family, unexpectedly becomes a cocaine courier for a Mexican cartel. He unwittingly emerges as the ideal "mule" due to his advanced age and unassuming appearance, evading detection in the transportation of illicit substances.
Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT While initially driven by desperation, Earl's connections with the cartel lead to wealth and opportunities to reconnect with his family. However, as his involvement escalates, he faces increasing threats from the cartel and law enforcement, which forces him to confront the repercussions of his decisions. CNN issues 'breaking news' in huge blow to Donald Trump as panel erupts Meghan Markle threatened with $10m lawsuit after fan suffers 'catastrophic burns' The script of The Mule was influenced by the 2014 The New York Times article "The Sinaloa Cartel's 90-Year-Old Drug Mule" by Sam Dolnick, which recounted the true story of Leo Sharp, a World War 2 veteran in his 80s who worked as a cocaine courier for the Sinaloa Cartel.
The Mule stands out as a notable endeavor, as it marks Clint Eastwood's first acting project in six years, following Trouble With the Curve, and showcases his return to a starring leading role in a film he directed since 2008. He is supported by a stellar cast that includes Bradley Cooper as Colin Bates, a DEA agent, Laurence Fishburne as Warren Lewis, Bates' supervisor, Michael Peña as Trevino, Bates' partner, Dianne Wiest as Mary Stone, Earl's estranged ex-wife, Taissa Farmiga as Ginny, Earl's granddaughter, and Clint's own daughter Alison as Iris, Earl's estranged daughter. The Mule was a hit at the box office upon its release, raking in $174 million globally, and it also impressed critics.
It currently boasts a score of 70% on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. One review gushed: "Superb! Stunning performance as ever from one of my all time favourite actors and storytellers. If you love Clint in his later years as I do, you'll love this".
"Great cast. Clint did a good job as always with direction and production. The script was compelling.
It didn't leave me wanting for more or anything else. A complete and masterful film", another fan penned. DON'T MISS: Netflix viewers 'unable to stop watching' Clint Eastwood's 'best ever film' [REACTION] Clint Eastwood movie based on a true story a 'must-see' on Netflix [LATEST] Clint Eastwood's disastrous attempt to collaborate with John Wayne before feud [INSIGHT] "I'm gonna be honest: this was the top 10 best movies of 2018 and one of the best of the 2010s", a commenter lauded.
"The acting is amazing and convincing." "The script was also phenomenal, with all of the bits showing what Earl likes to do and how the joys of life are in the simplest things; which directly contracts and creates a lovely juxtaposition with the drug dealing scheme. This was also one of the EXTREMELY rare movies that I actually cried at".
The Mule (2018) is now available for streaming on Netflix ..
