This is topic Blood Work in forum Film Handlers' Movie Reviews at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.
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Posted by Mike Schindler (Member # 1309) on 08-09-2002, 03:08 AM:
This is the type of film that you see on WGN at 1:30 in the morning. It's extremely predictably stupid and cheesy. But the photography is nice. Lots of weird-ass exposures and lens flares. But not enough to validate watching this thing.
Posted by Josh Kirkhart (Member # 1046) on 08-09-2002, 05:12 PM:
I have to disagree, I had to watch xXx before this and was so in the mood for this film. I love Clint Eastwoods films, The music is always tre cool, not usually a big score, with the exception of Space Cowboys. Yes, if your walking in to this flic ready to pick out the killer and pat yourself on the back, this can be done, but your going to end up disliking the movie because you have nothing else to be interested in. I walked in knowing clint picks up a shotgun, has a heart attack and tracks a killer(not really that order). It also had one of the best teaser trailers among a crapload of bad ones this year.
If you like serial killer movies, law and order, homicide, or any thing else in common with these this is a good flick. Cinematography was very well done. The outdoor shots at dusk are awesome and will take some by surprise because it doesn't looke glossy as all other hollywood product does. The acting is supurb, even the irritating as hell dialogue of Rodriguez, It turns the joke cracking detective on its head and explians his detest and envy of Clints character.
I give it 4 reels out of five
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I believe comic heroes walk the earth
Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 08-25-2002, 05:57 PM:
08/25/2002, Regal Cinema World 8, Eugene OR, #5, 12:35PM, probably DTS. Attendance about 25. Very good presentation. Reel 2 had some blotches on the left side for the last 5 mins or so. Other than that, this film looked *very* sharp, lots of detail, some gorgeous cinematography. Real scope, anamorphic negatives! 
Going to a Clint Eastwood movie (most of them anyway) is like going to Starbucks or Subway. Good product, but not necessarily great. Also no surprises -- very consistent from sample to sample. No tricks, no superficial phony slickness. In movie terms, no over-done special effects, no in-jokes, no attempt to be cool. If you've tried Eastwood Brand (tm) in the past and liked it, you know what to expect when he comes out with something new. "Blood Work" is like that. It's competently made, engaging, moves along, has a decent story, and is well-acted. It plays like an old-fashioned cop story, and that's a good thing. Jeff Daniels did a good job in this. I didn't figure out the solution to the puzzle until it was finally revealed, then I had to slap my forehead and say "D'oh!" because the clues were right there all along.
I agree though that Paul Rodriguez's character was extremely obnoxious.
3 1/2 stars out of 5.
Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 08-26-2002, 11:08 AM:
David wrote: "Reel 2 had some blotches on the left side for the last 5 mins or so. Other than that, this film looked *very* sharp, lots of detail, some gorgeous cinematography. Real scope, anamorphic negatives!"Blotches along the far left hand side of the image are usually due to "bleeding" of the analog soundtrack redeveloper, leaving spots of silver in the image. One reason for the upcoming conversion to cyan dye tracks:
http://www.dyetracks.org
I agree about the superior image quality of "Scope Done Right".
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John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7525A
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: +1 585 477 5325 Cell: +1 585 781 4036 Fax: +1 585 722 7243
e-mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
Web site: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion
Posted by Chad Souder (Member # 343) on 08-27-2002, 10:47 AM:
I found this movie to be remarkably similar to 'The Watcher', a Keanu Reeves/James Spader movie from a couple years ago. Same general plot, different characters.------------------
"Asleep at the switch? I wasn't asleep, I was drunk!" - Homer Simpson
Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 08-27-2002, 10:50 AM:
John, I forgot to mention that the blotches started immediately after a lab splice. They were on the far left edge and most viewers probably wouldn't have been too distracted. Presumably the blotches were in the DTS timecode area, but there were no audio dropouts. Woo hoo DTS.
Posted by Brad Haven (Member # 954) on 11-15-2002, 05:18 AM:
Just opened in Australia.
While i do agree that the outcome is predictable, i found the journey itself to be very enjoyable and more of the point than the outcome. This is a confident film and i still feel he has some good years left in him before he retires.
More of a crime drama than a crime thriller.
A good effort from Clint and i look forward to his next film.