"Blood Work finds director-actor Clint Eastwood doing what he does best -- telling a lean, clean, no-nonsense story of a reluctant hero who follows his code of honor till he gets the job done."
Jack Garner ROCHESTER DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE
"This is the Eastwood of old, and the fact that he can still pull off such heroics tells us how far he had to stretch to play nervous and frail."
Glenn Lovell SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS
Memories Of Eastwood
Welcome back old buddy. Gee but ain't it grand to see you once again. To many cinema-goers that will sum up the emotion of seeing one of the all time greats Clint Eastwood back on the screen doing what he does best. And that is? You got it in one. Entertaining the masses, with another ingenious production, "Bloodwork". It seems like only testerday that as a young boy I sat and watched Clint Eastwood on the "tellie". Those were grand days. The days when television came to Australia and opened up a whole new world. It was simple then. You didn't need the gruesome gore that is the hallmark of film and television today. Those were the days when entertainment truly was part of the creative imagination of ones own brain and not as it is today, someone elses. Clint Eastwood first grabbed the attention of viewers when he appeared in a western called "Rawhide". It captured a large viewing audience and the theme song became a big hit on the "tops of the pops". We couldn't wait to see it each week and one reason was Clint Eastwood as the handsome young cowboy Rowdy Yates. It was a role Eastwood would play for six years. Rawhide which started its run in 1958 was the beginning of an era which saw the fall of many cinemas around the nation as people stayed home and soaked up the magic and wonder of television. Cinemas closed and were converted into supermarkets like "Tom The Cheap" grocery stores. For Clint Eastwood, television would launch him into a career as a cinema superstar. His films had people rushing back to cinemas starting with films like "The Good The Bad and The Ugly". We couldn't get enough of the 'Eastwood Factor". In 2005 Eastwood will celebrate 50 years in the television and film industry. Thats right 50 years of damn fine entertainment. His love for acting, his consumatate passion for producing, directing and starring in films has never waned. "Blood Work" takes us into the twighlight of a career and is crafted to relect the many emotions that we have seen characters Eastwood has portrayed over the years. The bravado of Inspector Callaghan in those "Dirty Harry Movies"; the tempered passion in "The Bridges of Madison County"; the loyalty shown in "In the Line of Fire";the seemingly stoney unbreakable persona of "Pale Rider" and, the thrill of the chase he personifide in so many of his movies. When there were no heroes to stand up for the moral right of the people, one of Clints characters always seemed to fill the gap. He made audiences feel winners and once again he achieves that with "Blood Work".
Dylan Walsh as Det John Waller and Paul Rodriguez as Det Ronaldo Arrango
"From the moment the credits start to roll with his trademark cool jazz soundtrack, you know that you're at least going to see the work of a filmmaker true to his own beliefs." Ken Hanke MOUNTAIN XPRESS
And yet, once again, Eastwood and his renown production company [the legendary Malpaso Productions] has put together a film that is noteable for its interesting characters. There's Jeff Daniels, Wanda De Jesus, Paul Rodriguez, Tina Linford and Angelica Houston. They all embelish the film with a distinct feel. Nothing is over the top yet all are 'tops' in the capacity they are given within the framework of "Blood Work". Many may not know of Eastwoods love for jazz but just as many will have noticed the jazz theme in the soundtracks of some of his previous productions. Eastwood once again includes that jazz theme in "Blood Works" and it's noticeable right from the start, yet it could be easly overlooked as we follow the intrigue which slowly unfolds onscreen. "Blood Work" is a satisfying experience which combines the thrill of the chase, a few lighter moments and a touch of love. It's the sort of film that will make you feel like your hard earned bucks have been wisely spent. Thanks Clint. After nearly fifty years you can still pull it off with that signature style and pizzaz.
Insight
Filmed almost entirely on location in Spring 2002, except for five days on the lot at Warner Bros, "Blood Work" depicts a wide spectrum of the greater Los Angeles area. Action was staged in various locations throughout the San Fernando Valley, the Santa Clarita Valley, downtown Los Angeles, and the harbor cities of Long Beach and San Pedro. Special consideration was given to designing action sequences that take place aboard a rusted cargo boat, where Eastwood staged Terry McCaleb's climactic confrontation with an elusive serial killer. Exterior scenes were filmed at night on an actual fishing trawler, which ran aground many years ago off the Southern California coast. These scenes were carefully constructed by the director, knowing there would be no opportunity for retakes. "The trawler wasn't the easiest location, but it made a great set to film on because it was very stable," Eastwood relates. "Despite the fact that we shot nights in very windy conditions, the boat didn't rock at all. Everybody got a lot of knots on their heads though, because there was rusted metal everywhere, and every time you'd walk through a doorway, you'd bang yourself around." After filming was completed, the trawler was sunk in conjunction with the U.S. Coast Guard, the Los Angeles Harbor Department and the Environmental Protection Agency. For the scenes that take place in the boat's rotting interior, famed two-time Oscar winning production designer and longtime Eastwood collaborator Henry Bumstead recreated the interior of the fishing trawler at Warner Bros. studios. The intricate set, measuring two stories high, rested in a concrete pool to simulate the ship's waterline, and was equipped with scaffolding and breakaway walls to enable Eastwood to shoot a harrowing chase sequence through the craft's narrow, decaying hallways. Like all of his directorial efforts, Blood Work reflects the efficiency, professionalism and pure love of craft that are the trademarks of Eastwood's style of filmmaking. "We shot this film in 38 days, and that's quick by today's standards," Eastwood says.
former FBI Profiler Terry McCaleb arrives at the crime scene
"Shooting at that pace might make others uncomfortable, but I've been doing this a long time and I don't feel that I compromise anything by doing so. If somebody said Shoot it in 45 days, I don't know what I'd do any differently, besides having a couple days off. Everybody works hard, we get it done and then we move on." "The man rarely shoots more than three takes of any camera angle," marvels Paul Rodriguez, who was shocked when Eastwood only filmed one take of the opening shot of the film. "It was incredible. After we did the first take, Clint consulted with the camera operator, Steve: How did it look? Steve says, It looked great. Clint asked me how I felt about it, and when I said I felt good about the take, he said, Alright, let's move on. I couldn't believe it. I said, Are you serious? Only one take? Of the opening shot of the movie? Clint says, If Steve says it's good, it's good. And he moved on. That's never happened in the 30-something films I've worked on, and I don't think it'll happen again unless he gives me another job!" "Working with Clint is the best job in town," says editor Joel Cox, who began working with Eastwood in 1975 on The Outlaw Josey Wales. "He's incredibly decisive and confident. When he shows up on the set, he has envisioned how every scene is going to go, and he shoots exactly the angles he needs. He also trusts the people he works with and allows everyone to do their jobs. He isn't one of those controlling directors who says The tablecloths have to be red, I want these pictures on the wall, and the lighting has to be this color. He hires extremely competent people and says I'd like the film to have this kind of look, and they go and do it." "I like to hire people I've worked with before, people who know their jobs and enjoy what they're doing," Eastwood emphasizes. "The Blood Work crew was magnificent, especially considering that a large percentage of this film was made at night and in difficult circumstances. Every department came through." Perhaps Jeff Daniels best summarizes the gratitude and enthusiasm expressed by the Blood Work cast and crew while enjoying the privilege of working with one of the most respected and renowned artists in motion picture history: "It's a special set when you're standing there watching Clint Eastwood stride down the middle of a California boulevard with a sawed-off shotgun, blowing away a Ford."
The Clint Eastwood File
Did you know that Clint Eastwood has been in film and television for nearly fifty years. His career started way back in 1955 as a contracted actor with Universal Pictures. His Television fame came thorugh a hit series in which he played a character named Rowdy Yates in a weekly show called "Rawhide". He became a cult hero after he starred in a series of spaghetti westerns the first of which was "The Good The Bad and The Ugly". Since then he has never looked back and has gone on to start his own production company "Malpaso" and not only star in films but also Direct and Produce some of them. Hows this for a resume ........
He has appeared in 55 films
He has starred in 44 films
He has directed 23 films
He has produced 18 films
On twelve occassions he has starred, directed and produced
On eight occassions he has starred and directed and
served as a producer, in a variety of directing and acting combinations 13 times.
"Peoples Choice" Favourite Film actor 1981, 1984, 1985, 1987 and 1998
His 1993 film "Unforgiven was nominated for 9 Academy Awards and won 4 Oscars.
The same film also won....
The Director's Guild Award
The Golden Globe Award
The New York Film Critics Best Supporting Actor Award
The National Society of Film Critics Award for ...
Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor and Best Screenplay
Clint Eastwood has personally received many awards including .....
Douglas Sirk Lifetime Achievement Award 1992
California Govenors Award for the Arts 1992
Irving G Thalberg Memorial Award 1995
Lifetime Achievement Award [AFI] 1996
Ceasar Honorary Award 1998
Golden Laurel Lifetime Achievement Award 1998
Lifetime Career Achievment Award 2000
Kennedy Centre Honours Award 2000
And that jazz connection. It started long ago when Clint was growing up in Oakland California. Here he performed in small clubs as a pianist. He often said that had he not made it as an actor he would have turned to a carrer in Jazz. Clint wrote the key music for both "Unforgiven" [Claudia's Theme] and "The Bridges of Madison County" [Doe Eyes]. When he's away from his film commitments the precious hours of life are spent living quietly in Carmel [the town he was Mayor of in 1986, 1987 & 1988] with his wife Dina Ruiz and their daughter Morgan.
The Story
Det Ronaldo Arrango shows his displeasure at McCaleb in front of Det John Waller
"For all its plot twists, and some of them verge on the bizarre as the film winds Blood Work is a strong, character-oriented piece." Susan Stark DETROIT NEWS
FBI profiler Terry McCaleb [Clint Eastwood] is on the hunt for a fiend know as the "Code Killer". On the scene of the "Code Killers" latest crime he spots a suspect and takes chase. But the aging profilers body can no longer take this sort of punishment. He suffers a massive heart attack and is retired out of the service. Two years later, after he has just started recovering from major transplant operation, Terry McCaleb is approached by Graciella Rivers [Wanda De Jesus] who's sister has been brutally murdered in a holdup. Graciella wants answers but the detectives on the case won't help her. She needs Terry to help find those answers. Against the advice of his Heart Specialist Dr Bonny Fox [Angelica Houston] Terry takes on the case. He then recruits his neighbour Buddy [Jeff Daniels] as his driver and sets out on the trail. It's a trail that will pit him against a brash, taunting criminal. One that just might prove to be the death of him.
The Verdict
"Undeniabley "Blood Work" has all the hallmarks that an Eastwood production is renown for. The magic that has moulded Eastwood over the years still works well. This is a slick, snappy little number with lots of appeal based on the 1998 novel by the same name by Edgar Award-winning writer Michael Connelly"
What The Critics Say
Clint Eastwood stars as former FBI Profiler Terrance 'Terry' McCaleb
"A tightly directed, highly professional film that's old-fashioned in all the best possible ways."
Glenn Whipp LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS
"Has a lot of the virtues of Eastwood at his best."
Michael Wilmington CHICAGO TRIBUNE
"It can be argued, I suppose, that Blood Work was designed from the outset not so much as a whodunit as a why-and-how-dunit, and here the film becomes metaphysically ingenious."
Andrew Sarris NEW YORK OBSERVER
"It's always nice to see Clint."
Michael O'Sullivan, WASHINGTON POST
"Maybe it is formula filmmaking, but there's nothing wrong with that if the film is well-crafted and this one is."
Robert Roten LARAMIE MOVIE SCOPE
"An intriguing setup, filled with colorful characters, lots of humor and well-developed scenes."
Lou Lumenick NEW YORK POST
"Eastwood and Daniels are in top form."
Eric Lurio GREENWICH VILLAGE GAZETTE
"A vital, exciting work."
Steven Rosen DENVER POST
"There's enough suspense and enough unfolding human drama to make Blood Work an engaging picture."
Shawn Levy OREGONIAN
"Clint Eastwood's most accomplished movie in nearly a decade."
Eric Harrison, HOUSTON CHRONICLE
Wanda De Jesus stars as Graciella Rivers
The Cast
Terry enlists the help of his next door neighbour Buddy Noone played by Jeff Daniels
Clint Eastwood
Jeff Daniels
Wanda De Jesus
Tina Lifford
Paul Rodriguez
Dylan Walsh
Anjelica Huston
Mason Lucero
Gerry Becker
Rick Hoffman
Alix Koromzay
Igor Jijikine
Dina Eastwood
Beverly Leech
June Kyoto Lu
Chao Li Chi
Glenn Morshower
Robert Harvey
Matt Huffman
Mark Thomason
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Terry McCaleb
Buddy Noone
Graciella Rivers
Jaye Winston
Det Ronaldo Arrango
Det John Waller
Dr Bonnie Fox
Raymond
Mr Toliver
James Lockridge
Mrs Cordell
Bolotov
Reporter #1
Reporter #2
Mrs Kang
Mr Kang
Captain
Restaurant Manager
Young Detective
James Cordell
Based on the novel by Michael Connelly
Directed by Clint Eastwood
Produced by Clint Eastwood
Screenplay by Brian Helgeland
Original Music by by Lennie Niehaus
Costume Design by Deborah Hopper
Cinematography by Tom Stern
Film Editing by John Cox
Run Time 108 minutes
Rated MA15+[AUST]
Soundtrack available on
Copyright©2002 - Warner Bros Pictures - All Rights Reserved
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