Dave takes a disappointed crap on The Mule (2018)

I wanted to like this movie but I found it hard to like Clint Eastwood’s character.

Why make a movie about a 90 year old drug mule just because it is true? Well it has something to say about the characters involved. Surely the plot isn’t enough to carry the movie. (Oh wait, that other old guy made a movie about an old crooks so I gotta do the Hollywood thing and make a movie about an old crook toooooo…)

This story is based on Earl Stone, a senior citizen who hauled more than a ton of cocaine for the Sinaloa cartel, and then was caught. Yes, more than a ton, so he didn’t do it just once or twice as a mistake, he did it for over a ton of cocaine. He did it because no one ever stopped a 90 year old white man in a pickup truck. Stereotypes get a break from dumb drug agents.

It takes more than an interesting footnote to history to make a story. I don’t remember any of the other characters in this beyond Clint Eastwood’s character. Eastwood’s portrayal is good but when it’s unsupported by a storyline, it falls flat. That’s why I find this movie so unfulfilling.

It’s a nice story, it has a 10 or 15 minute ending that is good and satisfying and resolves the “good versus evil” conflicts of the movie, but beyond that, nothing lingers, which is a waste of a good story.

Now time for an opposing viewpoint. Son and I watched it and both enjoyed it. For us it was one of those rare movies where a couple of points became clear on further thinking over the following day or two and we understood the story better after sleeping on it. I am a Big and used to taking my Little to the splashy, noisey movies he likes, so that was actually kind of a nice change. Son is at the point of launching in life and it was good for pointing out life and corporations have lots of people who think things work better when tightly controlled and, funny thing, the best control is their control. That is what got him caught when the old Padrino who appreciated people who can independently produce was murdered and the controlling young buck took over. So for us it was not a fast moving movie, but one that we were glad we went to.

I hadn't thought of it that way. Good point.

Arab Nights (imported) wrote: Fri Aug 30, 2019 2:26 pm Now time for an opposing viewpoint. Son and I watched it and both enjoyed it. For us it was one of those rare movies where a couple of points became clear on further thinking over the following day or two and we understood the story better after sleeping on it. I am a Big and used to taking my Little to the splashy, noisey movies he likes, so that was actually kind of a nice change. Son is at the point of launching in life and it was good for pointing out life and corporations have lots of people who think things work better when tightly controlled and, funny thing, the best control is their control. That is what got him caught when the old Padrino who appreciated people who can independently produce was murdered and the controlling young buck took over. So for us it was not a fast moving movie, but one that we were glad we went to.

Another of my acquaintances voiced a similar opinion when I mentioned the movie. I'll go back watch the movie a second time to see what I missed.

Not to ruin the movie, but I did get interested until he helped a veterans group and from the point on it was like turning over one card and then another and then another, etc until you begin to understand. Looking forward to your comments.

I meant did NOT get interested

There was a film with the same name back about 5 odd years ago about an Australian TV engineer who got put under house arrest and he couldn't take a dump for fear of the drug squad finding the stuff he had inside him.. Much better film I thought.

Now that sounds like down under drama!