If I were really mean (which I can be) I could criticize this film for being a formulatic detective's story. Indeed, the structure of this film is not unlike every single detective novel I've ever read. What really made this movie for me, however, is Clint Eastwood's character and the circumstances in which he agreed to investigate the murder. Eastwood's character, an old man who had a heart attack on the job and just received a transplant, is still weak and frail (and we're constantly reminded that he could die at any moment if he does anything physically or emotionally overwhelming.) However, the heart he received came from the murder victim. So, Eastwood feels obligated to find the killer even though he might die in the process. (He wouldn't be living if someone hadn't committed an evil sin.) That is why I rate this film higher than your average dull detective story. Jeff Daniels really outdoes himself here; I can't remember a single time when one of his performances was quite this crappy. (Well, there was "Speed" but everyone was pretty crappy in that film.)
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Starring:
Clint Eastwood, Jeff Daniels, Anjelica Houston, Wanda De Jesus, Tina Lifford, Paul Rodriguez, Dylan Walsh, Mason Lucero
Directed by:
Clint Eastwood
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2002 mystery
Rated R.
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Don Ignacio's score: B