"The Mule" is a 2018 American crime drama film directed by Clint Eastwood, who also stars in the lead role. The movie is inspired by a true story and is based on an article in The New York Times about Leo Sharp, a World War II veteran who became a drug courier for the Sinaloa Cartel in his 80s.
The movie follows Earl Stone, who is a horticulturist and a veteran of the Korean War. He is estranged from his family and has been financially ruined by the rise of online shopping, which has caused his flower business to go bankrupt. In desperation, he agrees to work as a driver for a drug cartel in order to make ends meet. Earl is soon entrusted with huge amounts of cocaine to transport across the country, and he becomes the cartel's top courier.
As Earl becomes more successful and reliable, the cartel bosses begin to see him as a valuable asset, while the DEA begins to investigate the growing drug trafficking operation. Colin Bates, a hard-charging DEA agent, becomes obsessed with catching the elusive drug courier and tracks Earl down.
Meanwhile, Earl becomes embroiled in the violent world of drug trafficking and struggles with his own sense of morality. He begins to have second thoughts about his involvement with the cartel, but finds it difficult to extract himself from the dangerous situation he's found himself in.
In addition to Eastwood, "The Mule" features a star-studded cast, including Bradley Cooper, Laurence Fishburne, Michael Peña, Dianne Wiest, and Andy Garcia. The movie received mixed reviews from critics, but was a box office success.