Wonderful character development!

From my favorite movies..

Excellent, Without a doubt!!

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

We've seen our fair share of 'drug mule' films over the years. Everything from Nicolas Winding Refn's 'Pusher' to 1996's 'Drug Mule' to 2004's Oscar nominated film 'Maria Full of Grace', and even last year's 'Lucy' that starred Scarlett Johansson. But we haven't seen anything quite like 'The Mule'. Written by Leigh Whannel and Angus Sampson (both from the 'Insidious' franchise), this drug fueled film is quite comical and abundantly gross.With all all-star cast including both Whannel and Sampson, Hugo Weaving, and John Noble, 'The Mule' should keep your attention and keep you laughing, if not squirming in your seat. Most 'drug mule' films follow a poor unfortunate soul who has dozens of condom wrapped drugs in their body, as they pass through airport security to their next stop without getting caught. However here, 'The Mule' presents a different type of situation.Set in 1983 during the American Cup Yacht Competition, a group of people at a bar are betting and having fun watching the contest. Club President Pat (John Noble) has secured enough funds to take his team to Bangkok, but he has secretly fixed the Clubman of the Year contest so that the friendly yet dumb Ray (Sampson) would win this year. In fact, President Pat is also into gambling, loan sharking, and other forms of criminal activity including the drug trade. His goal is to use Ray as a drug mule for heroine, by telling him that his father owes him money and threatening his mother.Once Ray swallows the dozens of condoms full of heroine, you'd think that he would pass through airport security fine, as we've seen in other film over the years. But just like Ray said to his childhood friend Gavin (Whannel) who works for Pat, "I won't be any good at this." And he isn't. Ray is quickly picked up by airport security for looking nervous and suspicious. The standard over-the-top bad cop/good cop duo comes in Detective Tom Croft (Hugo Weaving) and Les Paris (Ewen Leslie) to question Ray.Back in the 80s, the laws in Australia said that authorities could keep you for a week under tight scrutiny to see if the drugs come out. And that is where 'The Mule' takes us. A week long of literal gut wrenching and messy instances as we say Ray try to keep the heroine inside his stomach while being beaten, and eating for a week without doing his business. If you have stomach problems or are easily sick, you might want to cover your eyes a few times here.Whannel and Sampson have perfectly crafted a highly entertaining story where each character has something they're hiding, which turns up towards the end. Each character's story arc is engaging and comical, even if things end tragically. Sampson does an exquisite job of playing the dolt who is forced into a horrible situation, but stays loyal. And Hugo Weaving plays the deranges police detective who is not above torturing and beating his suspects is one of the best parts of the film. Every time he's on screen, you don't want him to leave, even if he is a bad guy.'The Mule' is a fresh and original 'drug mule' centered film, that will both make you laugh and sick at the same time. I couldn't get enough of it.

This was a really great movie - a unique story told mostly in the bed of a hotel room . There is no sex but some violence. Our mule does not speak much but that the point. Mules are not very smart -they are good and carrying though. The cops are cast well and the Australian production is very enjoyable. I would caution anyone watching this film to not eat any food during the film. The mule's mum and dad play there parts so well and the mob boss who is wound up with aggression -its just a matter of time before someone gets waked. I think the Mule's boss is badly stereotyped as the Jewish TV repair owner,but he is so funny and callous when he wont allow the Mule to take his 30 minute lunch - The Mule quits and owner says Come back - take 35 minutes for lunch. This movie is full of wit and humor while it deals with a very deadly subject.

he Mule is another one of the quirky and odd Australian movies that are released every year that involves characters who are way over the top . This the the story of a football player who is coerced into going to Thailand to bring back heroin inside his body and when he gets back he is hauled up in a hotel room by police who wait til the packages come out naturally. I think this is supposed to be a black comedy but i don't remember laughing once. The lead actor has a face you want to smack and there is only so much of his grimacing you can put up with. It's obviously not a movie that takes itself too seriously but falls down due to casting problems. It's not terrible but it's not a film i could recommend either.4 out of 10

This is one of those films purporting to be based on a true story, stating so before the film starts. This is usually a tip off that only a small percentage of what the viewer is about to see is actually true. Maybe it's a filter? As in if you're worried about the story being straightforward and literal you should adjust that in order to enjoy the ride? I'd say that's good advice because it's a dark comedy about an unwitting pawn being used who, in the end, emerges as the smartest man in the room. A good simple story that works on the screen more than it stumbles no matter what the truth/fictional quotient is.The central character, Ray, is a young man who is cast as an oafish backward type most definitely past the natural age of being so dependent and subservient to his mother. This is Ray. Ray's life has stalled in part due to him living at home under his mother's thumb. He truly loves his mum though he feels dominated. Ray works as a TV repairman in the last local TV fix-it shop owned by his step-father. His step-father, has, mostly, alienated himself to Ray also being on his last legs with Ray's mother due to his compulsive gambling and drinking. This is a setup for the local crime boss holding Ray's father's debt. He manipulates Ray, through an old football club friend with the step-father's blessing. Ray reluctantly, decides to be a one-time drug mule as he can then help his mother financially while asserting his independence simultaneously. So, a pretty standard tale of a "sad sack" 'neer-do-well, who perhaps (remember after seeing it I said "perhaps") slow on the up-take, gets used as a pawn for a drug smuggling outfit. For something standard the movie ends much more creative if not original. This Aussie production is definitely not Hollywood in scope, but scores a kind of independent cred as it feels slightly rough not wholly polished much for the good. What could be a boring story which, at times, plays slowly, in the end delivers good entertainment and closure.