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Mystic River [2003]
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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review
Superior acting, writing and direction are on impressive display in the Oscar-winning Mystic River, Clint Eastwood's 24th directorial outing and one of the finest films of 2003. Sharply adapted by LA 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. They're 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
brilliant
Review date: 2008-06-07 Rating: 10 out of 10
great film that is return to form for eastwood after the dreadful bloodwork.kevin bacon is magnificent as are sean penn and tim robbins
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Reviews
By the book thriller boosted by strong performances
Review date: 2008-04-27 Rating: 8 out of 10
My bookshelves are packed with thrillers and crime novels yet I rarely find films in these genres more than satisfying. Tension on the page often translates as slow moving on the screen and sadly, Mystic River falls into this category. The film has, rightly, been widely garnished with acting laurels yet I never came to care for these supposedly blue-collar characters with their jarring book club dialogue. The denouement seems and is inevitable, yet the inevitable is at least delivered with a credible brutality that is reminiscent of (the director) Eastwood's early on-screen persona. Mystic River aspires to be a period noir to rival LA Confidential but the latter is much the better film because its characters, although flawed, are either like able or recognizable and the 'twist' is handled with appreciably more delicacy.
For my money, its Clint Eastwood's crowning achievement as a director
Review date: 2008-03-13 Rating: 8 out of 10
Again, I haven't read the book however the Movie does it all. I am sure there are things we all wish to forget. Moments in time in which our lives and the lives of others are altered by one singular movement, one phrase, or that one hockey shot that was just out of reach. Nothing is more true when it comes to the lives of Jimmy (Sean Penn), Sean (Kevin Bacon) and Dave (Tim Robbins). Mystic River is an emotional and amazing film about the reconciliation of three friends and their wives by the tragic murder of Jimmy's eldest daughter, Katie Markum (Emmy Rossum). This rough Boston suburb that lies on the bank of the Mystic River is thrown into sorrow and misery over the loss. Jimmy (Penn) makes a vow to find the killer of his daughter and end him and throw him into the Mystic.
The story is superb. Twists and turns and changing plot lines makes this story brilliantly unpredictable. It proves nothing is what it seems. Dealing with issues of child abduction and the effects it has on the future, Mystic River watches and deals with the change n the course of someone life. What something would be like if Dave hadn't gotten into that strangers car? Katie Markum would never had been born to be murdered.
The acting is bar none and has been recognized by the Academy by awarding Sean Penn and Tim Robbins best actor and best supporting role at the Oscars. Sean Penn was incredible in this film. He was so into his character. An angry gangster trying to move on with his life, and get out of his life of crime and deceit. To love his children and to be the best father he can be. Strong and determined, hard and angry he tries to deal with the grief of the loss of his last real memory of his late first wife. Penn is perfect in performing this role. Tim Robbins is also and incredible actor. A man who had been abused neglected. Finally admitting to himself of the abuse he felt. He kept himself bottled and up. An angry and almost psychopathic man, who is doing his best to try and overcome the terrors he experienced by hopping in the car. An ensemble cast also included: Laura Linney, Marcia Gay Haden, Laurence Fishburn.
Mystic River is truly amazing. Clint Eastwood is an incredible director. If you like Million Dollar Baby then you will simply love "Mystic River." Not to be missed.
One of Eastwood's Most Impressive Achievements
Review date: 2007-08-03 Rating: 10 out of 10
I have been fascinated by Eastwood's evolution as a director from Play Misty for Me (1970) through The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976) and Unforgiven (1992) to Mystic River. The development and refinement of his skills behind the camera are even more impressive, given the fact that he struggled as a film actor, gained some celebrity from his role as Rowdy Yates in the television series Rawhide (1959-1965), and was offered major roles in U.S. films only after starring in several "Spaghetti Westerns" (1964-1966) filmed abroad.
Opinions of Mystic River are somewhat mixed. My own is that it is among Eastwood's greatest achievements as a director. The acting and cinematography are also outstanding. Sean Penn (Jimmy Markum) and Tim Robbins (Dave Boyle) received and deserved their Academy wards. I was also impressed by all of the other performances, notably those by Marcia Gay Harden (Celeste Boyle), Kevin Bacon (Sean Devine), Laurence Fishburne (Whitey Powers), and especially Laura Linney (Annabeth Markum). This is an intense film, with both menace and rage never far below the surface of mutually endured civility. All of the leading characters seem to be hauling enough "baggage" to fill a C5A cargo jet. Eastwood is considered to be a "tidy" director in that he wastes little time preparing for and then filming his scenes (usually with only one or two takes) and generously allows his actors to develop their own interpretations of the characters they portray. Through brilliant editing, he also allows the plot to develop at what seems to me to be a natural pace. He neither forces the action nor allows it to dawdle.
My one issue with Mystic River is its climax, but not its conclusion which seems plausible, given prior events. (I have not read Dennis Lehane's novel on which Brian Helgeland's screenplay is based.) In any event, the revelation in the kitchen is disappointing because it seems facile and contrived. Almost perfunctory. Most of the tension in the film develops after the murder of Katie Markum and builds to that revelation. For me, the climax doesn't work. One man's opinion. That said, I think this is a great film in all other respects and look forward to seeing again.
Not Much To Be Said On This...
Review date: 2007-07-19 Rating: 10 out of 10
Just watch it.
Nothing I could write will do it justice- this treasure speaks for itself.
For every action there is a reaction and for every reaction there's a hell of a lot of regret.
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Laurence Fishburne
Tim Robbins
Marcia Gay Harden
Sean Penn
Kevin Bacon
Creators:
Sean Penn (Primary Contributor)
Tim Robbins (Primary Contributor)
Director(s):
Recording label: Warner Home Video
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
EAN: 7321900277211
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL, Widescreen,
Release date: 2006-06-01
Number of discs: 1
Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 137 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2003-10-15
Language: English (Original Language)
Language: English (Subtitles For The Hearing Impaired)
Language: Arabic (Subtitled)
Language: Danish (Subtitled)
Language: English (Subtitled)
Language: Finnish (Subtitled)
Language: Hebrew (Subtitled)
Language: Icelandic (Subtitled)
Language: Norwegian (Subtitled)
Language: Swedish (Subtitled)