John Baggett

Most people at age 88 are retired and enjoying the golden years of life. However, Clint Eastwood at that age,is still making movies. With his latest effort, “The Mule,” Eastwood is still doing what he does best.

Based on a true story, but with names (and maybe incidents) changed, “The Mule” tells the story of Earl Stone, an award winning horticulturist, Korean War veteran, absent father and neglectful husband.

Rating: ***1/2 (out of 5)

After years of putting work before family, life has caught up with him and he finds himself homeless, broke and hated by everyone in his family except for his granddaughter, Ginny (Taissa Farmiga).

At a party, Earl meets someone who offers him a new job – all he has to do is drive. Soon, Earl finds himself becoming a mule for a dangerous cartel. He also becomes incredibly successful and begins to use the money to better his life and the lives of those around him.

Unfortunately for Earl, the DEA is closing in on the cartel. Agent Bates, played by Eastwood-in-the-making Bradley Cooper, and his team work tirelessly to take him down. As the noose tightens around Earl, he finds himself in way over his head and no good way out.

“The Mule” is the 37th film directed by Eastwood and his second released this year, following the noble and well-intentioned but dull “The 15:17 To Paris.” The script comes from Nick Schenk, who previously collaborated with Eastwood on the 2008 film “Gran Torino.”

At 88, Eastwood’s style isn’t as sharp as it used to be, but it still proves to be mostly effective. It also feels like after almost a decade of mostly biopics, this movie is also inspired by a real person, Eastwood still feels like he has something to prove. Although he has played this type of gruff, flawed, but loveable type of character many times, he still does it well.

Flaws and all, I feel like it’s the best effort from him since “Torino.”

“The Mule” is not special or groundbreaking, but it’s still nice seeing that at an age when most filmmakers/actors would be winding down, Eastwood still has the fire inside to tell stories.

He’s not totally ready to pass the torch to Bradley Cooper just yet. Where Clint goes from here is anybody’s guess and this could be the end of the road. Either way, Clint Eastwood doesn’t have anything to prove, but he’s still going to try.