Metacritic reviews

It lets down in the last act and is probably too mired in serial-murderer-movie formulaics to garner Oscar attention. But it's his tightest, best film since "Unforgiven."

Eastwood is now playing a man whose will is stronger than his body, and it's that tension -- between anger and frailty, steel and decay -- that powers the movie.

Eastwood risks embarrassment flirting with material this naked in its mawkishness, then jumps right in. He seems to want the world to know: Inside the 72-year-old body of this icon of virility beats the heart of a Mexican woman.

A wry exercise in geriatric uplift.

There's a certain pleasure in seeing a thriller that's almost a relic of a bygone era. There's nothing flashy about Blood Work, no in-your-face nihilism, no hot young actors you'd know from the WB network if you ever watched it.

The film still delivers the goods, in part because of Eastwood's iconic presence and in part because of Daniels' scene-stealing work in what could have been a hokey role.

Certainly merits attention, although it shouldn't be mistaken for one of Eastwood's greatest works.

It's an intriguing setup, filled with colorful characters, lots of humor and well-developed scenes.

Ultimately just another Dirty Harry opus.

What's left is a wan and impersonal whodunnit -- a movie that never gets into your blood.