Entertainment

CHANGE OF HEART

Blood Work

Release Date: Aug. 9

Director: Clint Eastwood

Starring: Clint Eastwood, Jeff Daniels, Wanda de Jesus, Angelica Huston

Genre: Thriller

Heat Meter: 7 out of 10

Why we care: The Old Master’s first since “Space Cowboys”

Clint Eastwood, who turns 72 this month, isn’t resting on his laurels, which include a Best Director Oscar for “The Unforgiven.”

“Blood Work” is his 13th film as a director, and rather than a western, it’s Eastwood’s other favorite genre, the contemporary thriller.

And once again, Clint as the erstwhile Dirty Harry plays an aging lawman (in this case, a retired FBI profiler) with troubles.

Harry’s just had a heart transplant and intends to pass his days on a houseboat in a Los Angeles harbor.

But retirement isn’t in the cards – and he reluctantly gives in to the pleas of a woman (Wanda de Jesus) who begs him to investigate her sister’s murder despite his physical impairment.

It turns out the victim donated Harry’s new heart – and the killer is a figure from Eastwood’s past.

“It’s really a tale about redeeming one’s losses,” says de Jesus, a stage and TV veteran who is married in real life to Jimmy Smits – and has never had a movie role this juicy.

Does she have a love scene with Eastwood?

“Yes, but it’s really about two people, in a situation where there’s loneliness and need, kind of falling into each other and wanting to heal.”

Jeff Daniels plays Eastwood’s neighbor and former partner, who helps out on the case. Angelica Huston is cast as his cardiologist.

The script, based on a novel by Michael Connelly, is by Brian Hegeland, who wrote the wonderful thriller “L.A. Confidential.”

What was it like playing opposite her director?

“When we were doing a scene together, I was never aware he was the director. But then I could see him very subtly putting on his director’s hat,” de Jesus says.

“What I appreciate in him is that as an actor and as a director, he loves women. He doesn’t limit his female actresses to any parameters.

“You can throw anything at Mr. Eastwood, and it’s fine. As a theater-trained actress, I really appreciated that.”