That was an excellent one.

Instant Favorite.

It's an amazing and heartbreaking story.

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

Clint Eastwood has directed himself in 20 films, and that may represent the most consistent director-actor relationship in modern movies. Eastwood a.k.a. "Man with No Name" because he simply "Don't need one!" or because he has so many of them. He knows himself, he knows his craft, his pride as a director is dominant over his ego as an actor, and the results are films that use a star aura with an uncommon degree of intimacy. Terry McCaleb is one of Eastwood's best characters because, in a way, he's not a new character at all but just the same guy farther down the road.It's the most "Positive" approach for any actor or a director who have achieved enough confidence one can possibly obtain. Positive — As with any R-rated movie—especially one dealing with serial killers, you can expect some grisly crime scenes and typical foul-mouthed cops… There are some interesting concepts explored in Blood Work; among them is McCaleb's unexplained desire and even obsession to solve this case despite his doctor's warnings and threats to stop treating him. He seems to share an unspoken bond with his deceased benefactor, and solving this crime is his way of repaying her sacrifice. There are subtle moments in the film where he will stroke the scar on his chest almost as if he is getting his strength from the spirit of the dead sister. He also begins to develop a strong bond with the Graciella character and the orphaned son who she now cares for. There is probably more profanity in this movie that necessary. Sure, we all know cops are famous for cursing, so a little is to be expected, but Paul Rodriquez seems to be torn between playing a cop and doing his stand-up comedy routine, neither of which I found particularly convincing nor funny. I admit I did feel anxious a few times, but usually it was Clint's calm and cool composure and witty retorts to these infrequent streams of profanity. The violence is almost always seen after-the- fact, either in crime scenes or video footage. Some scenes are visually shocking with two execution style head-shots shown repeatedly on video playback. Other scenes show coded messages from the serial killer to McCaleb written on the wall in the victim's blood. It's all dark and realistic but nothing you wouldn't expect from and R-rated crime drama. The 'Real' strength of the film: It's Directed by Eastwood. Means that it has three intersecting story arcs: The investigation, the health issues, and the relationship that builds, step by step. Almost every scene involves one of these concerns, and the screenplay by Brian Helgeland ("L.A. Confidential") moves smoothly between them, so that we develop an unusual degree of personal interest in McCaleb; he isn't just the hero of a thriller, but a man with human qualities we grow concerned about. Blood Work is a story-driven movie that will have you thinking and feeling right along with our hero; a hero who is not superhuman, but simply a man, older and not in the best of health."Blood Work" is a smart movie targeted for a smart adult audience, and you are encouraged to "think" while watching this movie, something I found very refreshing. What little objectionable material that is present in this movie is easily overshadowed by a great script and phenomenal acting. If you've seen every other Eastwood cop film ever made, then of course don't miss this one. This one is easily one of the best Crime-Thriller-Drama's you can look forward to watch at any point of your life.

Crime/mysteries, that's the kind of movies I normally enjoy the most and when Clint Eastwood directs it and plays in it then I think you can say you're in to watch a good movie. It was maybe not his best movie ever but I surely did enjoy it even though I figured out who was the killer long before you're supposed to. Makes me a good detective I guess. The only things that bugged me were the performances of Wanda De Jesus and Paul Rodriguez. I thought their acting was mediocre at best. The star of the movie is of course Clint Eastwood. He's still got it, you can't fault him on anything. His usual rawness is his trademark and it still works perfectly. A good movie to watch once.

A one off for Eastwood fans, this flick, not so good as his surrounding surefire hits. Eastwood plays a tamer character here in this, but for good reason. Surviving a heart attack while chasing a taunting code killer, he's given new heart, that of a gunshot victim in her last hours. When the victim's sister shows up on his boat, he is asked to track down the callous SOB/code killer. Feeling indebted to the woman and the surviving son of the the victim, as she gave him what Huston (Clint's physician) truly terms as a gift, retired cop, Eastwood, very good on this, does his own off the book investigation with a little help from some rival cops, which includes a chubbier looking Paul Rodriquez, bringing some humor into the film that we're thankful for, throwing some life into what is at most times, a rather dry drama. In fact, it's quite a good performance. Hey, if an ex cop showed up at the precinct with a box of Krispy Kreme's, I'd help him. Daniel's revels in his role so much, you wanna be him. He plays Terry's cooky, bum of a loser neighbor, who assists Clint in his quest to find the killer, for a price, while Huston is just great as always, though is sadly not used enough in this film. What I found wrong with Blood work, they're wasn't enough plot points, suspense, or action, one scene though showing promise, which became an actual shame. It's like the script held back on stuff, to make it simpler. Although I never ever guessed the killer as being the one revealed in the last twenty minutes, some of the shots spoiled by too much darkness, which at one point, the rescue scene becomes unclear. This isn't of the usual Eastwood, ilk. He's string of excellent quality movies from the late nineties, typified him as a directing god, with wonderfully told stories, fictional or non fictional, that were so impressive, this one, being one of Clint's failings, still not a bad entertainer.

The novel is OK, even though a little far-fetched. In the movies, a whole lot has been changed. Names are different, who does what is different and they must have paid Connelly quite a lot to have him accept it. Or maybe he didn't get to read the script until after he sold the rights. It has none of (the little) depth the novel has and it's even more far-fetched. The movie also suffers from quite lousy acting.Since I finished the novel just two days ago, it was all very fresh to me. If the movie is any better to someone who hasn't read the book, I don't know, but I doubt it.Skip the movie and read the book instead.