DUNIA keseharian Earl Stone (Clint Eastwood) yang sudah renta dengan usia 80 tahun dalam film anyar The Mule adalahkesepian tanpa batas.
Sebagai petani sayuran, ia mengalami kebangkrutan dan kemudian ditinggal oleh para pekerja yang selama ini membantunya.
Sebagai warga negara Amerika, ia bukan lagi warga terhormat. Itu karena hartanya tidak seberapa dan itu pun hanya sebuah truk tua.
Sebagai kakek, hubungan mesra dengan mantan isterinya dan anak kandungnya selalu dirundung ketidakharmonisan.
Ia hanya merasa terhormat sebagai manusia ketika berkomunikasi dengan cucu perempuannya yang dia rasa masih menghargai relasi darah mereka sebagai kakek-cucu. Selebihnya adalah kehambaran emosional.
Selamat tinggal kenangan
Perjalanan Earl tidak sedahsyat ketika ia masih menjadi GI (tentara Amerika) yang ikut maju di laga Perang Korea tahun 1950-an. Usai perang berakhir dan tahun-tahun selanjutnya sebagai warga negara Amerika yang sudah dirundun usia renta, maka hari-hari yang dia hadapi adalah kesepian tanpa batas.
Harga dirinya terbanting jatuh, karena ia sudah tidak punya apa-apa lagi. Lahan perkebunannya diambil juru sita karena ada tunggakan tak berbayar.
Jaringan pengedar narkoba
Barulah ketika tanpa sengaja dia bersentuhan dengan jaringan pengedar narkoba dengan kartel Meksiko, hidup Earl berubah drastis. Ia menjadi lebih perlente dengan minivan yang lebih gres. Jalannya tidak lagi gontai, melainkan lebih kokoh layaknya serdadu tak kenal perjalanan usia.
The Mule adalah drama kisah manusia yang harus mengalami nasib kelam di masa tuanya. Ia mengarungi jalanan sebagai kurir narkoba dan itulah yang membuat dia seakan bisa mereguk kembali “kejantannanya”.
Dan kejantanannya itulah yang membuat peradilan terbengong-bengong, ketika dengan nafas keperwiraannya dia mengaku bersalah telah menjadi kurir perdagagan narkoba untuk jaringan kartel Meksiko.
Pernyataannya membuat pengacaranya “mati kutu” karena gugur sudah semua narasi pembelaannya guna membebaskan Earl dari kurungan penjara. Tapi, di penjara itulah agaknya Earl mendapatkan kehormatannya kembali: diperlakukan dengan tertib dan menerima makan-minum secukupnya.
Namun, hidup di penjara itu tak sampai dijalaninya. Karena usia tua, Earl dibebaskan dari kurungan dan kembali menjadi petani sayuran yang mampu mengangkat derajadnya kembali.
“Earl Stone” redirects here. For the rear admiral, see Earl E. Stone.
The Mule
The mule poster.png
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Clint Eastwood
Produced by
Clint Eastwood
Tim Moore
Kristina Rivera
Jessica Meier
Dan Friedkin
Bradley Thomas
Screenplay by Nick Schenk
Based on “The Sinaloa Cartel’s 90-Year-Old Drug Mule”
by Sam Dolnick
Starring
Clint Eastwood
Bradley Cooper
Laurence Fishburne
Michael Peña
Dianne Wiest
Andy García
Music by Arturo Sandoval
Cinematography Yves Bélanger
Edited by Joel Cox
Production
company
Imperative Entertainment
Bron Creative
Malpaso Productions
Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures
Release date
December 10, 2018 (Regency Village Theater)
December 14, 2018 (United States)
Running time
116 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $50 million[1]
Box office $164 million[1]
The Mule is a 2018 American crime drama film produced and directed by Clint Eastwood, who also plays the lead role. The screenplay, by Nick Schenk, is based on The New York Times article “The Sinaloa Cartel’s 90-Year-Old Drug Mule” by Sam Dolnick, which recounts the story of Leo Sharp, a World War II veteran who became a drug courier for the Sinaloa Cartel in his 80s.
Along with Eastwood, the film stars Bradley Cooper, Laurence Fishburne, Michael Peña, Dianne Wiest, and Andy García. It is Eastwood’s first acting project since 2012’s Trouble with the Curve, and his first starring role in a film directed by him since 2008’s Gran Torino. Filming began in June 2018, taking place in Atlanta and Augusta, Georgia, with other film locations in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
The Mule was released in the United States on December 14, 2018, by Warner Bros. Pictures. It has grossed $164 million and received positive reviews from critics, who called it “poignant and charming” and praised Eastwood’s performance, but also noted the lack of true dramatic heft.[2]
Contents
1 Plot
2 Cast
3 Production
3.1 Development
3.2 Casting
3.3 Filming
4 Release
5 Home Media
6 Reception
6.1 Box office
6.2 Critical response
7 References
8 External links
Plot
Earl Stone, in his 80s,[3] is an award-winning horticulturist and Korean War[4] veteran in Peoria, Illinois who is facing financial ruin and is estranged from his family. Desperate for money, he becomes a “mule” transporting cocaine through Illinois for a Mexican drug cartel. Facing little suspicion due to his age, race, spotless criminal history and strict adherence to driving laws, Earl is soon trusted with huge amounts of drugs and paid large amounts of cash. With the money he obtains from drug-running, he buys a new truck, settles his financial problems, pays for renovations of the local VFW Post and his granddaughter’s wedding and education. He becomes friendly with the cartel members, who call him Tata (“grandfather”).
Meanwhile, a Drug Enforcement Administration task force is narrowing in on the cartel’s deliveries to Chicago. Tensions within the cartel erupt when a power-hungry lieutenant assassinates the boss, and subsequently demands Earl be kept under tighter control. In the middle of a large cocaine shipment, Earl learns his ex-wife is gravely ill. He postpones the drug delivery to make peace with his ex-wife before her death, which provokes the cartel’s ire. He resumes the delivery as the DEA and the cartel close in on him.
Earl is beaten and threatened by the cartel’s enforcers, but they relent after learning of his wife’s passing. As he makes his way towards the drop point, he is arrested by the DEA agents. When Earl pleads guilty to all charges and is sent to prison, his family show him their support. In prison, he returns to his horticulture.
Cast
Clint Eastwood as Earl Stone, a drug mule (based on Leo Sharp)
Bradley Cooper as Colin Bates, a DEA Agent (based on Jeff Moore)
Laurence Fishburne as Carl, the DEA Special Agent in Charge
Michael Peña as Trevino, a DEA agent and Bates’ partner
Dianne Wiest as Mary, Earl’s ex-wife
Ignacio Serricchio as Julio, a cartel handler
Andy García as Laton, a Cartel boss
Taissa Farmiga as Ginny, Earl’s granddaughter
Alison Eastwood as Iris, Earl’s estranged daughter
Richard Herd as Tim Kennedy
