By: Jeff

Jeff — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 22:05:16 +0000

Nice review Bill. Although a major Eastwood fan Blood Work is one of the few Clint movies I still haven’t seen. After reading your review I guess I will have to rectify that. Your review does bring up an interesting observation in the way that Eastwood’s movies often play better than perhaps they did first time around. For instance, I read your negative review of Flags of Our Fathers & whilst I felt that film had some minor problems – principally an overextended third act – rewatching it recently I was pleasantly surprised to find how well it played. The emotional restraint of the movie seemed entirely appropriate given its subject matter of the gulf between combat myth & combat reality. It is an intellectual war movie not least in its non-linear storytelling which serves as an expression of the psychological state of the Iwo survivors & provides a satisfying contrast with the more linear & emotionally powerful Letters from Iwo Jima. But then I’ve always felt that the two films go together. Both examine the same theme – what it is that countries demand of their troops. A culture that needs heroes in Flags is contrasted with one that demands death in Letters. But in both cases Eastwood’s sympathies remain with the men regardless of which side they’re on. Pretty darn impressive.

Comments on: Another Clint Eastwood film – Blood Work

By: Jeff