The Mule is an exhilarating film that draws its audience in with its constant thrills, its somewhat problematic humor and the underlying family values that shine throughout. It was Eastwood’s first time in front of the camera since he directed the 2012 film, Trouble With the Curve.

The Mule’s plot is based loosely on the real-life story of Leo Sharp: an infamous case of an 87-year-old drug mule from Michigan who was busted with 104 bricks of cocaine worth nearly US$3 million in his Lincoln pickup truck. The former daylily farmer allegedly delivered more than a ton of cocaine for the Sinaloa Cartel in 2010 alone.

Eastwood plays lead role of Earl Stone, a witty old geezer and well-known prizewinning horticulturalist who slowly neglected his family as his work commitments took over. Basically, he depicts a well-rounded, older white man who is subtly problematic and humorous. However, some may beg to differ. During the rise of the internet, Earl’s flower business was undermined by the new technology, which left him strapped for cash with no back-up plan.

His decisions eventually made him lonely, too, and Earl became estranged from his ex-wife Mary (Dianne Wiest) and his daughter Iris (Alison, his real-life daughter) for more than a decade. His relationship with his granddaughter, Ginny (Taissa Farmiga), remained the strongest by far, as she still kept in touch and invited him to family gatherings, despite sneers from her mother and grandmother.

Earl makes an unwelcome entrance to Ginny’s pre-wedding get-together, after being forced to pack all of his belongings into his pickup truck and leave his foreclosed flower farm. A guest of Ginny’s approached the innocent-looking old man with an enticing job offer that could help him to cover the open bar at his granddaughter’s wedding: "Just drive."

Little did innocuous Earl know that this would be his break into the highly lucrative business of delivering cocaine for Mexican drug cartels. His clean driving record and rickety old pickup truck was never going to lead the cops to suspect the lanky old man held was a drug mule. 

This is the first instance in which the audience can see where Earl’s priorities lie – his family-oriented intentions are present, but he sacrifices the time with his family for work and for money. It seems the old grandfather is still under the impression that money can fill family voids – the impression that led him to become estranged from those closest to him.

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Now known as "Tata" on the street, Earl falls in love with the long road trips, the strange encounters along the way – where we see most of his racist and sexist wit and the attractive lumps of cash that driving drugs brings him. He finds the funds to cover things that he never would have dreamed of, enticing him to continue transporting drugs for a living. 

The Mexican drug cartel develops an appreciation for their oldest drug mule, despite the many frightening encounters that involve loaded firearms, large tattooed men and death threats. 

As an 88-year-old director and actor, Eastwood could not have created a more perfect role for himself. The film portrays an iconic plot that combines a horrifying thriller with a heart-warming story that amplifies the love and grace of a family. You’ll find yourself with a new-found appreciation for the risk-taking Eastwood and his work-life balance. His good-willed efforts attempt to patch up the wrongdoings of his past, but some people never truly forget.

The Mule is a thrilling and timeless take on a real-life story depicted with light-hearted humor and played by an unmistakable legend. For a film that some speculate would be his last, Eastwood has maintained his renowned Oscar-winning qualities and captivated the audience with this easy-to-watch, slow-paced thriller. (geo/kes)

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