Clint Eastwood plays another wandering loner in Don Siegel's "Two Mules For Sister Sara". Here he's a mercenary who has been hired by Mexican soldiers to rob a French garrison. On his way there he meets a nun (Shirley MacLaine) who claims to know the layout of the fortress. Recognising that her inside information may prove useful, the duo strike up a deal, mount their mules and head off on a little adventure.
Much of the film's delights are had by simply observing the interactions between Clint and MacLaine. Unlike your typical nun, she's a vulgar oaf who surprises Clint with her crude behaviour. The film tries to tackle some light themes – the nun's religious devotion contrasted with Clint's mercenary self-centredness, Clint's self-control (he wants to make love to her but can't because he respects her faith) contrasted with the nun's immorality (she's not a nun but a whore in disguise) - but mostly it plays things for easy jokes and comic book violence. Which is fine. Clint looks cool doing anything.
The tobacco chewing, poncho wearing super-star spends most of the second half of the film vomiting one-liners, lighting dynamite with his cigar and gunning down French soldiers with the kind of super-cool casualness that made him famous. Unfazed and nonchalant, he's in total control. Guy's love this tough-loner archetype, of course, it's the reason everyone from Keanue Reeves to Arnold Swarzenegger has a career. But with his permanent frown, gravely voice and quiet intelligence, Clint is more next-generation Bogart than macho action hero.
Beyond all this, Don Siegel's direction is excellent. An attack on a huge fort is especially thrilling and the film's final shot is hilarious. Rounding things off is Ennio Morricone's score, which is every bit as precious as his more well known tracks.
8/10 - Siegel made a cluster of excellent films. "Charley Varrick", "Escape from Alcatraz", "Telefon", "Hell is for Heroes", "Riot in Cell Block 11", "Two Mules For Sister Sara", "The Shootist", "The Killers", "Coogans Bluff" and "The Verdict" have all aged surprisingly well, though few of his films reach the heights of "The Beguiled".
Worth one viewing.
Much of the film's delights are had by simply observing the interactions between Clint and MacLaine. Unlike your typical nun, she's a vulgar oaf who surprises Clint with her crude behaviour. The film tries to tackle some light themes – the nun's religious devotion contrasted with Clint's mercenary self-centredness, Clint's self-control (he wants to make love to her but can't because he respects her faith) contrasted with the nun's immorality (she's not a nun but a whore in disguise) - but mostly it plays things for easy jokes and comic book violence. Which is fine. Clint looks cool doing anything.
The tobacco chewing, poncho wearing super-star spends most of the second half of the film vomiting one-liners, lighting dynamite with his cigar and gunning down French soldiers with the kind of super-cool casualness that made him famous. Unfazed and nonchalant, he's in total control. Guy's love this tough-loner archetype, of course, it's the reason everyone from Keanue Reeves to Arnold Swarzenegger has a career. But with his permanent frown, gravely voice and quiet intelligence, Clint is more next-generation Bogart than macho action hero.
Beyond all this, Don Siegel's direction is excellent. An attack on a huge fort is especially thrilling and the film's final shot is hilarious. Rounding things off is Ennio Morricone's score, which is every bit as precious as his more well known tracks.
8/10 - Siegel made a cluster of excellent films. "Charley Varrick", "Escape from Alcatraz", "Telefon", "Hell is for Heroes", "Riot in Cell Block 11", "Two Mules For Sister Sara", "The Shootist", "The Killers", "Coogans Bluff" and "The Verdict" have all aged surprisingly well, though few of his films reach the heights of "The Beguiled".
Worth one viewing.