2002, 1 hr 50 min., Rated R for violence and language.�Dir: Clint Eastwood. Cast: Clint Eastwood (Terry McCaleb), Jeff Daniels (Buddy), Anjelica Huston (Dr. Bonnie Fox), Wanda De Jesus (Graciella Rivers), Tina Lifford (Jaye Winston), Paul Rodriguez (Detective Ronaldo Arrango), Dylan Walsh (Detective John Waller), Mason Lucero (Raymond), Rick Hoffman (James Lockridge), Alix Koromzay (Mrs. Cordell), Igor Jijikine (Bolotov).

Blood Work is a predictable, yet still entertaining, yarn, and Eastwood�s best work since In the Line of Fire. This is important, since all he does anymore are similar crime thrillers. But daggumit, Clint�s such a manly man that I can forgive any transgression, and there aren�t any to speak of in Blood Work.

PLOT: Eastwood is a top FBI profiler for major cases, such as serial murders. After a heart attack on the job, he gets a new ticker and finds that his last case is what keeps the blood flowing through his veins.

How Eastwood pieces together what you�ve already suspected keeps the film moving, since Clint�s the only guy who has any clue how to do any detective work. Whereas the LAPD and Sheriff�s office are apparently staffed by officers who sit around taking credit for other people�s work while hoping all the crooks kill themselves off before authorities have to intervene.

As Dad noted afterwards, the cast is very diverse racially, and there are women and men�s roles of equal strength as well. Comedian Paul Rodriguez gets most of the funny lines, although he can be a bit annoying at times. Meanwhile, back to white guys, Jeff Daniels has some good lines as the loser on the houseboat next to Eastwood.

One thing I wasn�t into is the inevitable love interest of the film. I think it was a little unnecessary for the plot. But hey, Clint�s gotta have some fun too, I suppose. And it�s not with Anjelica Huston, which I expected, but instead Clint gets some bonita mamasita lovin� with unknown (to me) actress Wanda de Jesus.

Would I recommend Blood Work? Sure, for adults who could use a late-summer slow down from loud action flicks. Eastwood is always worth a peek, the supporting cast is distinct and aces high, and the plot keeps the film moving enough to prevent boredom.