Scott LeBrun Producer / director / star Clint Eastwood is in fine form here, in this Brian Helgeland-scripted adaptation of the novel by Michael Connelly. Eastwood plays Terry McCaleb, a former FBI agent who suffered a bad heart attack while pursuing a suspect from a murder scene. Two years later, he's alive and doing well thanks to a heart transplant. He learns that the woman whose heart he inherited was a victim of that killer from two years ago, and is implored by the woman's sister (Wanda De Jesus) to get justice for her sibling. Enlisting the services of a neighbour (Jeff Daniels, supplying all the comedy relief), Terry agrees to do his own investigating into the matter."Blood Work" is not at all bad of its type. It's well-made and well-acted. The strong supporting cast also includes Anjelica Huston, Paul Rodriguez (as a hostile jerk detective, the kind of character you sometimes see in cop movies of this ilk), Dylan Walsh, and Tina Lifford. Part of the effectiveness lies in detailing the evolving relationship between Terry and Graciella, who is now taking care of her late sisters' son (Mason Lucero); he feels a responsibility to the person who helped to save his life, while she can't shake the feeling that she might be asking too much of him. After all, his doctor (Huston) is worried about his current health.While I'm told that the novel is a more nuanced and satisfying read, the film version ultimately becomes quite predictable, leading to a standard suspense-and-action finale where the previously subtle villain starts tearing into the scenery. But up to then, we get a fairly interesting yarn about a "connection", of sorts, between a hero cop and his quarry. It's all handled with a respectable amount of sensitivity by Eastwood and company, and does keep ones' attention. It's complete with your standard twists and red herrings, as well as some mild doses of sex and violence. It's also nice to see Eastwood acknowledge advancing age with a part that really fits him like a glove.Seven out of 10.

Filipe Neto I never knew the work of Clint Eastwood very well, neither as an actor nor as a director. I've seen some movies directed or starred by him, but he's usually one of those actors/directors that I've never paid attention to. It's a mistake, I know, and I am willing to correct that. He's one of those people who know cinema with an intimacy and proximity reserved for very few and it was with great pleasure that I watched him in this film, where he accumulates the functions of director and protagonist.The story is simple, but it works quite well: a retired police officer, who received the heart of a murdered donor, is invited by the donor's sister to investigate the crime. However, he quickly realizes that her death is linked to a serial killer he was trying to arrest when he fell ill. Of course, there are some details that I found unrealistic, such as the simple fact that a family member of an organ donor is able to identify, by chance, one of the patients who received those organs. I cannot imagine this happening in real life. But if you decide to ignore these details, the plot works and creates an effective and elegant thriller. There are good action scenes, but they are punctual and may not satisfy the appetite of those who seek it.Clint Eastwood showed remarkable agility, given his age and even anticipating, as is often the case, the use of stunts. And besides, he adapted perfectly to the character and to what he asked of him as an actor. Jeff Daniels also deserves congratulations. He has a character that begins by looking totally insignificant, but ultimately proving to be important. I don't want to say what's going to happen, I'll just recommend you to keep an eye out for the way he talks and behaves. Wanda de Jesus fulfilled what was asked of her, and gave the film a romantic and feminine touch.Ultimately, this movie is worth for the good performance of the actors and the good plot. It is not the best movie of any of those involved, but it has value for what it is, allowing us an hour and a half of good entertainment.

slightlymad22 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

Desertman84 Blood Work is a mystery suspense thriller film produced, directed by, and starring Clint Eastwood. The film also features Jeff Daniels, Wanda De Jesús, and Anjelica Huston. It is based off the novel of the same title by Michael Connelly.In the story,FBI agent Terry McCaleb goes outside to address the media when he spots the killer in the crowd during a murder investigation. But the chase ends after McCaleb suffers a heart attack.Now retired, he lives in a houseboat on the San Francisco bay. He is approached by a woman named Graciella Rivers, who's sister was killed during a robbery and asks him to solve the case. It gets personal when McCaleb realizes the victim was the woman who's heart was transplanted into him. Terry McCaleb is an ailing veteran FBI agent who has been given a second chance at life by receiving the heart of a murder victim. Terry is visited by the murder victim's sister, Graciella Rivers, who informs him that he is alive only because of receiving the deceased's heart and asks him to investigate who killed her.McCaleb defies the advice of his physician, Dr. Bonnie Fox, and sets out to find the killer with the help of his neighbor Buddy No one, who lives on a houseboat near his, and a local police detective, Jaye Winston.Before long, despite these drawbacks, McCaleb discovers evidence which suggests the murderer may be a serial who uses random street robberies as a cover, but he finds that Ronaldo Arrango and John Waller, the police detectives assigned to the case, are not especially interested in sharing the glory with the former FBI point man.The movie was interesting from beginning up to the three-quarters of the film when Terry is near in solving the murder mystery and homicide case.But it becomes a routine Clint Eastwood film during the last quarter of the film when Terry is near in identifying the murderer.When he realizes that the murderer is an old enemy during his FBI days who happens to be "the serial code killer",the viewer may lose interest as it becomes an traditional action film wherein everything becomes predictable and clichéd.Too bad that the movie had a great premise about a murderer killing for blood and organ donation as it sounds interesting and refreshing especially for a murder mystery film.It was written very well and it never runs out of intelligence,suspense and tension in the first three-quarters but it loses steam when in the last quarter as I have stated earlier.What also does not work in the film is the romance between Terry and Graciella Rivers.It looks silly.Just like what I have said,when it became a routine action film,the hero needed a love interest which I believe isn't really necessary in the story. But overall,I still recommend this film inspite of its flaws for it never falls short in entertainment.