Drama. Mystic River tells the story of three men whose dark, interwoven history forces them to come to terms with a brutal murder on the mean streets of Boston.
Superior acting, writing, and direction are on impressive display in the critically acclaimed Mystic River, Clint Eastwood's 24th directorial outing and one of the finest films of 2003. Sharply adapted by L.A. Confidential Oscar-winner Brian Helgeland from the novel by Dennis Lehane, this chilling mystery revolves around three boyhood friends in working-class Boston--played as adults by Tim Robbins, Sean Penn, and Kevin Bacon--drawn together by a crime from the past and a murder (of the Penn character's 19-year-old daughter) in the present. These dual tragedies arouse a vicious cycle of suspicion, guilt, and repressed anxieties, primed to explode with devastating and unpredictable results. Eastwood is perfectly in tune with this brooding material, giving his flawless cast (including Laura Linney, Marcia Gay Harden and Laurence Fishburne) ample opportunity to plumb the depths of a resonant human tragedy, leading to an ambiguous ending that qualifies Mystic River for contemporary classic status. --Jeff Shannon
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 3.5 / 5.0
Was There Any Redeeming Value in the Storyline?:
What a drag! A movie may be well-acted and worthy of many technical credits, but this plot was depressing, disturbing, and not even remotely entertaining. I realize that life is not all hearts and flowers. In fact, I can get into a heavy drama with the best of them, provided there is some element of hope, resolution, redemption or something that I can walk away feeling good about. There is nothing positive about this storyline and I cannot imagine anyone feeling uplifted by it. Sorry, Mr.... more info
Mystic River DVD:
Mystic River (Widescreen Edition)
From its first release I have always loved this movie. I read the book recently which has gotten me started on a Dennis Lehane quest. Now I enjoy the movie even more because I know more details about the characters and their histories.
Mystic River:
This movie drew me and my husband in immediately. The acting is superb. We were on the edge of our seat wondering what was going to happen next. However, it is quite gut-wrenching, so if you're looking for a happy story, this isn't for you. If you're looking for a movie that is intelligent and riveting, and will haunt you for awhile, this is a good one.
So-so:
It is a truism in the world of soap opera (the purest form of modern melodrama) that the characters must always do the dumbest possible thing to propel the story forward. While this is not egregious in melodrama, it is so in drama. Yet, a large portion of film today is pure melodrama. I think of highly lauded films like Michael Mann's Heat as melodrama incarnate.
Another truism in regard to films is that actors turned directors tend to not be very good. Mel Gibson, Ron Howard, and Kevin Costner... more info
