The Mule
The Mule

The Mule

2018Movie116 minEnglish

Earl Stone, a man in his eighties, is broke, alone, and facing foreclosure of his business when he is offered a job that simply requires him to drive. Easy enough, but, unbeknownst to Earl, he's just signed on as a drug courier for a Mexican cartel. He does so well that his cargo increases exponentially, and Earl hit the radar of hard-charging DEA agent Colin Bates.

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Insights

IMDb6.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes50%
Metacritic57
Google Users77%
Director: Clint EastwoodGenres: Crime, Drama, Thriller

Plot Summary

Earl Stone, a struggling horticulturalist and World War II veteran, is caught transporting drugs for a Mexican cartel. As he navigates his new, dangerous life as a cartel 'mule,' he grapples with strained family relationships and the attention of a DEA agent. Facing an impending prison sentence, Earl must decide if he can redeem himself and reconnect with his loved ones before it's too late.

Critical Reception

The Mule received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised Clint Eastwood's performance and direction, as well as the film's emotional depth and pacing. While some found the plot predictable, many appreciated its blend of crime thriller elements with a poignant family drama.

What Reviewers Say

  • Clint Eastwood delivers a compelling performance in a film that balances crime drama with heartfelt family themes.
  • The film is praised for its straightforward storytelling and Eastwood's assured direction.
  • Some critics found the narrative somewhat conventional, but most were moved by its emotional core.

Google audience: Audience reviews for The Mule are largely positive, with many viewers appreciating Clint Eastwood's performance and the film's emotional impact. The movie is often cited as a solid crime drama with a strong central character arc, though some found it a bit predictable.

Fun Fact

Clint Eastwood directed and starred in the film, making it one of his most recent leading roles in a film he also helmed.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

7 reviews
Dr_Nostromo

Dr_Nostromo

74/100 A fictionalized biography of Leo Sharp, the oldest drug mule in history. When you think drugs, cartels, mules, etc., you think action crime thriller. This is not that. This is a very personal drama about a financially strapped eld...
Wuchak

Wuchak

**_Good enough Eastwood flick based on a true story_** A 90 years-old horticulturalist and war veteran (Clint Eastwood) inadvertently becomes a courier for a Mexican drug cartel. Will he continue to neglect his family? “The Mule” (201...
GenerationofSwine

GenerationofSwin...

I never understood how people disagree with giving a movie either 10 or only 1 star here. Either it does it's job or it doesn't. The Mule is the kind of movie that my dad, rest his soul, would beg me to see in the theater with him, and t...
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

Clint Eastwood takes on the character of "Earl Stone", an elderly gent who takes great pride in his award winning flowers but one who is broke; facing the loss of his home and his business. He has to earn some cash, so takes on a job as a d...
r96sk

r96sk

This be good. I enjoyed <em>'The Mule'</em>. It's an entertaining and well paced flick from 2018, as Clint Eastwood fully stars in a film for the first time since 2012's <em>'<a href="https://letterboxd.com/film/trouble-with-the-curve/" ...
Peter McGinn

Peter McGinn

I wonder if Clint Eastwood is one of the few directors who could have gotten this movie made. It took me a while to get around to watching it, partly due to some of the negative buzz I heard out there in the Interworld. I suspect I like...
Stephen Campbell

Stephen Campbell

**_Laconic, measured and easy to digest, although it could have done with more substance_** > _How many addicts are out on the street simply because Mr. Sharp brought the cocaine here?_ - Sam Dolnick quoting AUSA Chris Graveline; "The...