Touches You

To me, this movie is perfection.

Memorable, crazy movie

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

The basic storyline is about a murderer who likes to play cat and mouse with an FBI agent. McCaleb is an aged agent retired after having a heart transplant but still dragged into action. Though scenario has almost no rationality the movie is entertaining enough for Dirty Harry fans (although McCaleb character doesn't have much common with Harry). McCaleb and Graciella characters are well developed but the two policemen who hate McCaleb (a worn-out cliche) are almost caricatured. Wanda De Jesus looks like a miscast for a woman who'd be interested in an old ailing man. The plot for solving the mystery about the identity of the murderer is laughable. The incentives of the murderer are even less clear except maybe that he's a nutcase. With the way things develop, the twist could sort of be guessed towards the end of story. The movie is a reminiscent of 70's police series on TV. An unambitious and ordinary work with no brainy edge but good for a couple of hours of diversion.

Blood Work (2002)Plot In A Paragraph: Still recovering from a heart transplant, a retired FBI profiler (Eastwood) returns to service when his own blood analysis offers clues to the identity of a serial killer.There had been a serious change of pace with Eastwood during the last decade, (both in terms of the number of movies he was releasing and the type of roles he played) This was the first time in 9 years he had played an officer of the law, and it was the first time an Eastwood character had killed someone on screen since Unforgiven nine years earlier. This is a very different Clint cop, as he is very vulnerable quite a bit. He is not the ass kicking, name taking cop he played in the early 90's. The movie is watchable, but it's instantly forgettable, it's predictable and they telegraph who the killer is to the audience from very early on. Blood Work only grossed $26 million at the domestic Box Office to end 2002 as the 94th highest grossing movie of the year. A sad end to Eastwood's work in the detective genre

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.

Alright, I'm gonna keep my reviews and thoughts short and sweet. I think this movie did not get as much as it deserved. Of course we have the overacting of the actor who portrays Arrango; my God, the dude overacts from the first scene in which he is present and as the movie progresses, one cannot stand him! But man, what a brilliant story! You cannot simply guess the ending! Just when you think that you've got it all figured out, you have a substantial plot twist, which by the time you come to the end of the movie it may seem abrupt, but it's brilliant! Eastwood is a bit of a lesser badass than most of his previous lead encounters; but if you're expecting a Dirty Harry sort of movie, then DO NOT have similar expectations, because comparing the two are like comparing Apples and Oranges; the two are not alike. I'm not gonna discuss the movie's plot-line. It's just a great suspense/thriller with Clint Eastwood at his most un-badass-like with a bad ticker. The cinematography, the acting and the top notch direction accompanied by the slick editing does wonders to this movie. Is it like a Mystic River? No. But you should watch it, because Eastwood deserves it. The movie does seem longer than it actually is; this is totally understandable because the subject matter is of the sort. It cannot be given a Michael Bay treatment or a John Woo treatment by going overboard with the budget just because you have an action/explosion fetish. The movie seeming to be longer than it actually is actually really great. You can also not have it in your top 10 lists; of course, there's nothing exceptionally exuberant in the movie; but it's worth your time. Absolutely. And it will not bore you even for a tinge of a second. Having an overall of 6.4/10 is an utter disgrace to the legend. With the exception of the guy who takes overacting to a whole another level, who portrays Arrango, there is absolutely nothing wrong with this movie. That is the only downside that I felt was existent. Go for it.