Blood Work

MPAA Rating: R

Entertainment: +3

Content: -3

Clint Eastwood produces, directs and stars in this mystery thriller as former FBI profiler Terry McCaleb. Retired to his boat after a near fatal heart attack and subsequent heart transplant, McCaleb feels obligated to investigate the death of Graciella Rivers (Wanda DeJes?s) sister when he learns she was the donor for his heart. Against his doctors (Angelica Huston) orders, McCaleb looks into the crime. Enlisting his marina neighbor, Buddy Noone (Jeff Daniels), as a chauffeur, McCaleb discovers clues that lead to the serial killer from his last case and a surprising motive. Older teens and adult fans of mystery thrillers will enjoy the tense hunt for clues in BLOOD WORK.

Unfortunately, viewers also endure a large number of obscenities and strong profanity, particularly from a jealous police detective (Paul Rodriguez) who frequently belittles McCalebs work. While gunshots are often fired, the violence is rarely graphic, although a frequently shown videotape of a gunshot to the head seems slightly gory. And a wounded man is held under bloody water until dead. One scene indicates a sexual encounter between Graciella and Terry, which is crudely referenced later. Sadly, the frequent foul language seriously taints BLOOD WORK.

Preview Reviewer: Paul Bicking
Distributor: Warner Bros., 4000 Warner Blvd., Burbank, CA 91522

Summary
The following categories contain objective listings of film content which contribute to the subjective numeric Content ratings posted to the left and on the Home page.

Crude Language: Many (19) times - Mild 6, moderate 13

Obscene Language: Many (36) times - F-word 9, s-word 17, other 10

Profanity: Several (9) times - Regular 8 (GD 5, G2, J); exclamatory 1 (OMG)

Violence: Several times - Moderate, severe few times (bloody sheets on bodies, gun shooting, graphic video of head shooting since several times, man shot in chest in dream, shotgun fired, car wreck, body w/ bloody wound in head, bleeding wound, man falls onto boat, head held under bloody water)

Sex: Implied once (couple kissing then in bed)

Nudity: Near nudity (woman in loose nightrobe shows underwear)

Sexual Dialogue/Gesture: Few times - Comment about clue 'obvious as a whore in church,' Crude comment about sexual affair

Drugs: Several times (Beer/wine drinking)

Other: Comment that accident is fate/ murder is evil, man told transplanted heart will guide him because it belonged to good person, man says got new heart not new life, man leaves gun near boy but puts it away when boy shows interest, man asks friend if she has someone to share burden of job

Running Time: 111 minutes
Intended Audience: Adults

Click HERE for a PRINTER-FRIENDLY version of this review.