The Clint Eastwood Vanity Project: The Mule

Remember when Clint Eastwood actually made good movies? Yes, I have a hard time remembering those days too.

It would be nice to pretend that the 2018 movie The Mule is the big exception to that rule. But it isn't. Eastwood wants so hard to have it both ways -- on one hand, presenting his character as a lovable geezer whom everyone -- even Mexican drug smugglers -- likes while on the other, reminding us through his interactions with his family that he is not all that likable -- but this approach never really works.

Part of the problem is that Eastwood already adequately capped off his film career in two previous movies: Unforgiven and In the Line of Fire. Since then, it's been kinda hard to not get the impression that Eastwood has been spinning his artistic wheels, so to speak.

It would be nice to pretend that Eastwood is so good that even the worst Eastwood movie is more watchable than most other films -- but I find it harder and harder to believe that. And The Mule doesn't offer me much proof that I'm wrong.

All the same, I'm glad to see Eastwood is still managing to find work at his age. I just wish it was in a decent movie.