Clint Eastwood stars in and directs this 2018 crime drama, based on a true story, about an elderly horticulturist who becomes a drug courier for a Mexican cartel.

The 2018 crime drama that features an elderly horticulturist becoming a drug courier for a Mexican cartel, with Clint Eastwood both starring and directing, is "The Mule (Review)." This film tells the captivating, albeit fictionalized, story of Earl Stone, a character inspired by a real-life individual named Leo Sharp. Sharp was an octogenarian World War II veteran and renowned daylily horticulturist who, facing financial hardship, began transporting large quantities of drugs for the Sinaloa Cartel.

The film draws its inspiration from a 2014 New York Times article by Sam Dolnick titled "The Sinaloa Cartel's 90-Year-Old Drug Mule," which detailed Sharp's incredible exploits. Eastwood's character, Earl Stone, mirrors many aspects of Sharp's life, including his age, his background as a horticulturist, and his unexpected turn to drug trafficking. The movie explores themes of regret, family estrangement, and the choices people make when faced with desperation, all while Stone navigates the dangerous world of cartel operations.

"The Mule" marked Clint Eastwood's return to acting in a leading role in a film he also directed, a feat he hadn't accomplished since 2008's "Gran Torino." The production was noted for Eastwood's efficient directing style, often keeping shoots on schedule and within budget. The film also features a strong supporting cast, including Bradley Cooper as the DEA agent pursuing the cartel, Laurence Fishburne, Michael Peña, and Dianne Wiest. It offers an engaging look into an extraordinary true story, adapted for the screen by a legendary filmmaker.