Clint Eastwood (88) made his debut in films more than six decades back and his 37th feature film “The Mule” is proof that he can still hold sway in the world of Movies. This film is his second movie release this year after “The 15:17 to Paris” which was about a terrorist attack and was based on a real-life incident. Clint Eastwood has not only acted in “The Mule” but has directed it as well.
Majority of the critics have loved the film and his handling of the movie as a whole.
Daily Mail UK reports the story of “The Mule,” produced by Warner Bros., is about Leo Sharp, an 87-year-old World War II veteran who ends up as a cocaine trafficker for a Mexican drug cartel. Clint Eastwood portrays the role of the drug mule to perfection.
The story of 'The Mule' in brief
The name of Clint Eastwood’s character in “The Mule” is Earl Stone, a Korean War veteran. He is a divorced horticulturist from Illinois and one of his favorite flowers is the daylily. Stone appears to be more concerned about his flowers and neglects his family.
His ex-wife (Dianne West) and daughter Iris (Alison Eastwood, Clint’s real life daughter) feel neglected. A time comes when his lily farm faces foreclosure and, in search of a breakthrough, he finds himself in the world of drugs and gets involved in transporting them across the country for a drug cartel. He gets the tag of “grandfather” and federal agents, played by Bradley Cooper and Michael Pena, try to bring him to book.
Most of the critics have loved the film and one of them has hailed it as “'Clint Eastwood's Best Movie in More than 25 Years.” The running time of “The Mule” is 116 minutes.
The inspiration for 'The Mule
According to Detroit News, the inspiration for “The Mule” is the colorful, controversial life of Leo Sharp.
He was in his 80s and was convicted for hauling huge quantities of cocaine on behalf of a Mexican drug ring. Clint Eastwood directs the movie, which is a fictionalized version of the 2011 drug bust and portrays the role of the drug trafficker. Michigan State Police apprehended him with nearly $3 million worth of cocaine concealed in his pickup. It was difficult to imagine how a hero of World War II hero, who also grew daylilies, led a secret life as drug trafficker.
Incidentally, there are instances of people in high places who are involved in drug trafficking. A prominent baseball player was caught with cocaine worth $500 million and arrested on suspicion of drug smuggling.