As August attracts to an in depth, Netflix shall be shuffling its lineup — bringing in loads of new motion pictures but in addition taking out some others.
A kind of movies leaving is The Mule, a 2018 thriller directed by and starring the legendary Clint Eastwood.
Whether or not you’d be rewatching it or seeing it for the primary time, The Mule is a gripping movie with an unbelievable backstory that’s positively value trying out earlier than it exits the streamer on August 31.
Right here’s why the Watch With Us crew thinks you must watch The Mule now.
It’s Impressed by an Unbelievable True Story
The Mule tells the story of Earl Stone, a veteran and horticulturist who turns into a drug mule for a Mexican cartel, transporting hundreds of {dollars} value of medicine throughout the state of Illinois. Whereas this may occasionally appear weird, it’s truly primarily based on the lifetime of an actual man — Leo Sharp, who on the age of 90 grew to become a mule for the Sinaloa cartel. An article in The New York Instances about Sharp caught Hollywood’s consideration, finally resulting in the movie adaptation.
Whereas Earl is a fictionalized model of the character, the real-world roots of The Mule’s story make it all of the extra engrossing.
It’s a Story of Redemption

An previous man stands in a yard in ‘The Mule.’ Warner Bros.
All through his life, Earl grew increasingly obsessive about work and distanced himself from his family members. Although his resolution to turn into a mule leads him down a darkish path, it’s a path with many twists — and one which finally brings him nearer to his household. With out spoiling an excessive amount of, we’ll simply say that Earl’s journey is a redemptive one — and surprisingly uplifting.
It’s a Crime Thriller With a Stellar Forged
Some of the intriguing parts of the story is the connection between Earl and Colin Bates (Bradley Cooper), the DEA Agent tasked with discovering him. The DEA and the cartel, led by Gustavo (Clifton Collins Jr.), are two conflicting forces always placing strain on Earl. Within the meantime, his household — ex-wife Mary (Dianne Wiest), daughter Iris (Alison Eastwood) and granddaughter Ginny (Taissa Farmiga) — function each a motivation and an excuse to proceed his conduct.
What makes The Mule stand out is the best way it blends tense cartel drama with heartfelt household moments. The scenes between Earl and his household add emotional stakes that stability the crime-driven plot, reminding us that the results of his actions prolong past himself. The performances are top-notch throughout the board — the movie additionally options Laurence Fishburne, Andy Garcia and Michael Peña — making the film each thrilling, charming and unexpectedly shifting.