What follows is Wilson's obsession taking him over and leading eventually to a tragic confrontation he doesn't expect, one that will change him.

But probably not much.

"White Hunter, Black Heart" provides Eastwood with an opportunity to do a spin on his own macho persona. Here he has a self-centered, seemingly unfeeling character whose weaknesses occasionally trip him up. But he has other sides, as revealed in a scene where a sophisticated woman is railing against Jews, unaware that one of the people she's talking to — Verill — is himself Jewish. And a bit later when the hotel manager is mistreating his black employees.

It's a complex role and though one can speculate how it might have been played by a different actor, East-wood carries it off quite well. (He also directed.)

And the movie, beautifully photographed on location, a lot of inside material for movie buffs and a fair share of humor and suspense, is most satisfying.

"White Hunter, Black Heart" is rated PG for some violence, profanity, sexual innuendo and vulgar remarks.