Blood Work (2002)

Still recovering from a heart transplant, a retired FBI profiler returns to service when his own blood analysis offers clues to the identity of a serial killer.

Director:

Clint Eastwood

Writers:

Michael Connelly (novel), Brian Helgeland (screenplay)

Stars:

Clint Eastwood, Jeff Daniels, Anjelica Huston

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Clint Eastwood	...	Terry McCaleb
Jeff Daniels	...	Jasper 'Buddy' Noone
Anjelica Huston	...	Dr. Bonnie Fox
Wanda De Jesus	...	Graciella Rivers (as Wanda De Jesús)
Tina Lifford	...	Detective Jaye Winston
Paul Rodriguez	...	Detective Ronaldo Arrango
Dylan Walsh	...	Detective John Waller
Mason Lucero	...	Raymond Torres
Gerry Becker	...	Mr. Toliver
Rick Hoffman	...	James Lockridge
Alix Koromzay	...	Mrs. Cordell
Igor Jijikine	...	Mikhail Bolotov
Dina Eastwood	...	Reporter #1
Beverly Leech	...	Reporter #2
June Kyoto Lu	...	Mrs. Kang (as June Kyoko Lu)

Storyline

Retired FBI profiler Terry McCaleb (Eastwood), who has recently had a heart transplant, is hired by Graciela Rivers (De Jesus), to investigate the death of her sister, Gloria, who happens to have given McCaleb his heart. On the case, he soon deduces that the killer, who staged the murder to look like a random robbery, may actually be a serial killer Terry was trailing for years in the FBI. Can the elderly and feeble McCaleb, who had intended to spend his retirement living on his boat in the Los Angeles harbor, and who can't drive, and has to nap regularly, muster up the endurance to find the killer?

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Plot Keywords:

serial killer | heart transplant | fbi profiler | sister | murder | 

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Taglines:

The key to catching a killer is only a heartbeat away.

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence and language

Details

Official Sites:

Warner Bros. [us]

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

9 August 2002 (USA)

Also Known As:

Deuda de sangre

Filming Locations:

Acton, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$50,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£61,053 (UK) (27 December 2002)

Gross:

£165,692 (UK) (3 January 2003)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Malpaso Productions, Warner Bros

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The project was attractive to Clint Eastwood as it took a new spin on his cop character persona which had been developed in movies since the 1970s. Due to his older mature age, the character has heart problems. This was an acting challenge for Eastwood, as he has said, because it gave more obstacles to what he would do as a screen detective, compared to when he was in his 30s or 40s.

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Goofs

After Terry visits Cordell's wife and checks his vehicle, he and Jasper drive away and Jasper's window is alternately closed/open between shots.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Detective Arango: [referring to McCaleb at crime scene] Okay, listen. Whatever happens, it'll his face on the front page.

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Connections

Referenced in Psych: This Episode Sucks (2011)

User Reviews

Satisfying, non-think thriller; not a blockbuster for Eastwood

Retired FBI detective helps a young woman solve the murder of her sister--but he's got a personal motive: he himself received a heart transplant from the victim! Not a bad vehicle for producer-director-star Clint Eastwood, convincingly raspy and worn, and still imposing when he has to be. The script is full of police clichés, and the denouement isn't terribly surprising, but Clint has become a reassuring presence on the screen, and his human flaws and realistic aches and pains make him delightfully human. Supporting cast is quite good, making the best out of a routine, unmemorable script. **1/2 from ****