Rating: 
Summary: One Polluted "...River"
Review: When John Keats said "A thing of beauty is a joy forever", he obviously wasn't referring to "Mystic River" - a film whose plot contains more holes than a block of swiss cheese. Once the opening shots of the city of Boston and the banks of the Charles River were displayed on the silver screen, the average moviegoer would most likely have thought, "Hmm, I'm in for a real treat". After the first five minutes, one's sense of delight will more than likely turn to a sense of shock and disappointment. The reason for this sudden change of emotion, is that when "Mystic River"'s storyline progresses, it becomes more bloated and overwraught with no real sense of direction, thus driving one into a deep sleep (and possibly into severe depression). Of all that this film has going against it, the most obvious trait would be that the script lacks any real focus and direction, causing the characters portrayed in the movie to constantly ask themselves: "Is a murder really taking place here, and do we really care?". Furthermore, not only is this "mystery" extremely evasive, it appears as if at least ten people actually committed a single murder - making it very difficult to pinpoint who the actual killer is. Also, the entire cast of actors look extremely tired and could have just bothered to have not shown up and just phone in their lines. Kevin Bacon and Sean Penn looked as if they were just going through the motions, and spoke their parts as if both have just run a ten mile marthon, and, as a result, were both verbally monotone throughout the movie. As far as the acting is concerned, both Penn and Bacon are much more capable, as their past performances (when compared to their moribund performances here) would attest. It would take only a single viewing of this low-caliber pile of rubbish to make a clear-cut analysis. Due to the limited insight of "Mystic River"'s storyline overall, it appears that director Clint Eastwood was given very little room to work with, and this directorial display doesn't bring out the full scope of his talent. How could it, since there were hardly any action scenes on display here, and the physical structure of movement was so extremely limited and elementary, that the entire project was an insult to Mr. Eastwood's directorial prowess and an insult to the entire acting ensemble as well, as the talents of both "Mystic River"'s main stars Kevin Bacon and Sean Penn were clearly wasted. To show proof that Clint Eastwood was involved in a project that was truly beneath his abilities, it appears that all he had to say to the actors was "Okay, you stand here and you say and do this and that". Everyone knows Clint is FAR more capable than directing something that's on the level of a high school play, that is, if this movie even qualifies to graduate at THAT level, if to any rank at all. The only other good scene in this movie, were the "cameo" appearances of an "arificial" "Spongebob Squarepants" and "McGruff The Crime Dog", whereby, if the latter character took a bite out of "Mystic River", he would upchuck the contents in the Charles River (Sorry, no offense, Bostonians!), and go straight to the nearest detox center to have all of the impurities cleaned out of his delicate system. To sum it all up, "Mystic River" is not one body of water worthy of journeying through by boat, much less taking a swim in. Sorry, but this "...River" flows against the current, and only gets two stars - one, for its theme, and two, for its director. That's really all that needs to be said about it, although it would appear that I've said too much already!
Rating: 
Summary: Amazing! Touching and Real!
Review: Wow! That basically sums up the entire review so why the heck am I going to waste time to write a full review for this. I'll tell you why. Because this movie was just so amazing and so great, that I want to explain to you in details what made it like that. My initial thoughts about this film, before I went to see it, would be that I would either think it was incredible and possibly one of the best films of the year, or it would be a terrible waste of time, money, and talent. I was glad that I was wrong about the latter. Although "Mystic River" was not the best movie of the year, it will most positively be in the top ten, if not five, top twenty five movies of the year 2003. This is a movie on the list of this years classics of "Matchstick Men," "Open Range," "Chicago," "Adaptation," and many more. It's a thriller with just enough action to satisfy that group of people, just enough suspense to satisfy the people who are looking for that, and just enough drama to sadden the veiwer to the point where they just have to make sure the end of the movie has resolution, while more suspense is being thrown out. This movie had better suspense and a better storyline then most dramatic thrillers out there now. It sounds a little like "In the Cut," without all the sex. "Mystic River," was only rated R for it's profanity and some scenes of violence. The ensamble cast was terrific. The main character probally is Jimmy Markum, who has the most conflict. His nineteen year old daughter Katie was murdered by the unknown. He sets it upon himself to find the guy who did it, and then kill him. But this is way ahead of myself. It begins with Jimmy and his friends Dave and Sean, all as kids. Writing their name is wet cement is one thing, but when two men posing as cops yell at them is another. Because they take Dave, claiming to bring him to his mother's house for ruining wet cement. Dave is missing for four days and when they catch the pedofiles, Dave becomes a little messed up. An unknown amount of years later pass and we see all of them grown up. Jimmy is Sean Pean, Dave is Tim Robbins, and Sean is Kevin Bacon. Jimmy is married to Annabeth, with a criminal record in his past, Sean is a policemen working with his partner Whitey, and Dave....well Dave is messed up. Married to Celeste and with a kid, he is still crazy about when he was abducted many years back. Jimmy's daughter Katie is killed. Sean and Whitey are the detectives who try to find out who did it. The three of them all reunite, from the abduction which seprated them apart from each other. They have their own lives, and their own secrets. Celeste becomes a little confused about Dave. The night of Katie's murder, Dave came home in the middle of the night, blood covering his chest. He claims he beat up a mugger and killed him, but Celeste never finds anything about a dead mugger in the newspaper, AND Dave's story rapidily changes as the movie continues. Plus the viewer knows for a fact that Dave saw Katie when she was murdered, so Dave becomes the prime suspect in the investigation. Things begin to change, and revolations are told that begin to shift gears, all to the explosive conclusion that I seriosuly did not figure out. Crafty Clint Eastwood directs a mind boggler of a picture, what a guy! The lighting of the movie gave off a dark, dismal, look on life. It made me think. It scared me, moved me, interested me, and wanted it to not end. No storng violence is present, mostly implied, by the profanity is a little strong. I look forward to reading the book. I loved "Mystic River." I loved everything about it. The storyline that although is present in many movies that I have seen, is incredible. The acting plays off from the storyline strongly, making the movie oddly depressing, when in the end the message is hope. You hope for everything to end up alright, you hope for all of these sick people to stop taking young children, you hope to stop the murders, and you hope of stop the violence and the everlasting battles between bad guy and good guy. What a movie! I loved it! Definintly one of the best films of the year, and one of the best films that I have seen. See "Mystic River" now! A movie to see in the theatre, a movie to buy on video. ENJOY! Rated R for language and violence.
Rating:
Summary: Great Adaptation of a Great Novel
Review: Most people familiar with Dennis Lehane's crime novel masterpiece Mystic River had to be somewhat skeptical when they heard of the upcoming film based on the book. I felt the book was way to deep, way to atmospheric and dreary to ever be transferred effectively to the big screen. The way Lehane sucks you in to his world, how you develop an intense fascination with his amazingly human characters, I felt those things could never be included in an effective movie. I was heartened, however, when I found out that Clint Eastwood would be the directing force behind it. The man who brought darkness to the old west with Unforgiven was a perfect choice for this dark and almost horrific tale of South Boston. Obviously, Dennis Lehane, who had been very reluctant to sell the film rights to the movie, saw the promise of such direction, and let Clintwood, teamed with excellent crime movie writer Brian Helgeland, do the movie. What a wonderful decision. Mystic River is an almost flawless adaptation of Lehane's brilliant novel, at the same time creating an atmosphere and attitude of its own. It is one of those movies that sticks with you for days on end, with characters trapped in circumstances that both fascinate and disturb. Mystic River takes its title from the snake of a waterway that winds through Boston, bordering the working class neighborhoods of Irish South Boston. Numerous films have been done about the neighborhood, but I have never seen a more effective representation of the area thanthat found in Mystic River. The story is an amazingly intense one, prodded along with a dour and dark effectiveness. Sean Penn is a small time businessman, a family man, and an ex-con. Kevin Bacon, an old friend of Penn, is a Boston police detective. His childhood friend, played by Tim Robbins, is a gentle and confused soul who is scarred by a childhood experience that effects all three. In his youth, Robbins was kidnaped and brutally sexually assaulted. He still struggles with the crime, and his life has never been the same. All three men are brought together again by tragedy when Penn's teenage daughter is brutally and savagely murdered in a park near the river. Bacon is assigned to the case, and, because of some very disturbing clues, Robbins quickly becomes the prime suspect. While at its bare bones, Mystic River is a police procedural, it is so much more complex than that cut and dried description. It welds, in a figurative sense, a much more human, much more emotional story to the tale of murder and investigation. As the case turns and new clues turn up, the viewer becomes more entwined in the plot, which begins to take some truly unexpected turns. The plot, brilliantly preserved by Helgeland, never ceases to give the audience a sense of real dread and hellish anticipation, just a torturous pace that never lets up. Some scenes are a bit ancillary and were not really required, but those low points are soon lost in the flow of misery. The movie ends just as it should, with little resolution save a tragic realization that the past cannot be escaped and sins are forever. The first thing that everyone will mention about this movie is the acting, and that is more than fair. Director Eastwood manages to build one of the best casts you are ever going to see, and forces them to dig deep. Robbins delivers what is probably his best performance, as the critically flawed and disturbed victim of senseless violence, swept up in yet another bloody situation. Penn is downright amazing as the street tough who is forced to return to his roots in order to gain "justice" for his murdered daughter. Those are the two standout performances in my mind, but people like Kevin Bacon and Laura Linney provide some truly impressive performances. The story is intense and well written, and the cinematography is electric with its morose darkness, a pitch that creeps into every aspect of this tragic little tale of Boston. Kudos to everyone involved, what a great movie.
Rating: 
Summary: Very Very Confusing
Review: 'Mystic River' was a fantastic murder mystery that became very very confusing at the end. The star-studded cast give great performances. Very psychologically complex.
Rating:
Summary: Great
Review: I say this is one of the best movies I have ever seen, the movie kept me on the edge of my seat and the acting was phenominal. The music and the dim lighting really helps set the gloomy mood as the story unravels to unveil the story of three men and one murdered teenager. Although it is very tragic and sad, I still liked it and I think this is the best movie I have ever seen.
Rating:
Summary: Violence Breeds Violence.
Review: "Mystic River" is an across-the-board triumph of filmmaking by the talented Clint Eastwood, who not only directed and co-produced this movie, but also composed the film's dark and brooding score. Set in working class Boston, it tells the story of two childhood friends (Sean Penn and Kevin Bacon) who are emotionally scarred after witnessing the abduction of another friend, Dave (Tim Robbins). As adults, Jimmy (Penn) is an ex-con trying to make a decent living with his wife Annabeth (Laura Linney), while Sean (Bacon) is a homicide detective. But when Jimmy's daughter is suddenly killed, a murder mystery soon unfolds and Sean is soon called upon to investigate the case. While much has been made of "Mystic River"'s cinematography, the film's power lies in the performances, all of which are stunningly good. Expect yet another Oscar nomination for Sean Penn, who vividly brings to life the agony of a mourning parent desperate to seek revenge for the murder of his child. The solid Marcia Gay Harden also deserves props for her role as Dave's wife Celeste. But the real star of the show is definitely the 73-year-old Eastwood, who no doubt made his best film in years. You can run to the multiplex to catch a big budget movie that's louder and flashier. But in terms of dramatic tension, believable performances, and a witty script, "Mystic River" is so far the movie to beat in 2003.
Rating:
Summary: "We bury our sins, we wash them clean..."
Review: I was fortunate that I went to see "Mystic River" today knowing nothing more than that Sean Penn headed an impressive cast in a film directed by Clint Eastwood. Consequently, I watched this story unfold without any preconceptions whatsoever and was able to get into the flow of the movie to the point that when Penn's Jimmy Markum declares that he knows that he had a hand in the twists of fate that led to the murder of his 19-year old daughter, Katie (Emmy Rossum), I knew that this was a pivotal line in the film and a key to unraveling the mystery. "Mystic River" begins with a past that is prologue. The only real clue is that Luis Tiant is the Boston Red Sox pitcher under discussion by the guys on the front porch. Three young boys are interrupted while writing their names in drying cement by evil wearing a false face of authority. We learn enough of the details to understand how all three boys are scarred, in different ways, and that when circumstances bring them together a couple of decades later, what happened way back when is a material part of their present realities when Jimmy's world is shattered by his daughter's violent murder. Beyond that I am not inclined to get into much more detail regarding the plot. The script by Brian Helgeland, adapted from the novel by Dennis Lehane, does a good job of laying out the clues and false leads. I found that I was just far ahead enough of the dual investigations, one by the cops Jimmy (Kevin Bacon) and Whitey (Laurence Fishburne), the other by local thugs Val (Kevin Chapman) and Nick Savage (Adam Nelson), to know they were getting closer but not putting the pieces together the right way. However, even though I know that telling such a story in a world where modern forensics turns a pint of blood in the trunk of a car into a mountain of damning evidence, the holes in the story's logic did not prove a distraction and my only serious comment would be that I would have changed the motive of the murder to conform better with Jimmy's self-incriminating epiphany. The film plays fair with the audience and ultimately it is the characters that captivate us. It is only November but it is not too early to talk about Eastwood and this film getting nominated for Academy Awards. Sean Penn is almost certainly going to get an Oscar nomination for his performance and I would expect the same for the eerily sedate Tim Robbins, although I suspect it will be in the Supporting Actor category. But the performances of the entire cast are outstanding and it is easy to believe that these people all grew up in this neighborhood and are indeed feeling the pains that force them to make the life altering decisions they do in the course of this film. The film's tagline--"We bury out sins, we wash them clean"--is not paraphrased until the climax, but we recognize the truth of that idea long before that point.
This is also a film that successfully hints at the depth of the novel, no more so when Jimmy's second wife, Annabeth (Laura Linney) delivers what is essentially the films benediction and provides a new perspective on the events that have transpired, putting them rather unexpectedly on a larger level. As I turn over this film in my mind my final question is whether "Mystic River" is more akin to a Shakespearean tragedy or an ancient Greek tragedy. Either way, Clint Eastwood has presented a film that tells of tragedy on a grand scale even if it is played out in a small corner of South Boston.
Rating:
Summary: Good crime film.
Review: I was surprised by how much I liked "Mystic River." It's the story of three boyhood friends--Sean Devine, Jimmy Markum, and Dave Boyle--whose childhood is forever scarred by a pair of child molesters. Dave Boyle is the victim, and the incident serves to sever the friendship between the three boys. In adulthood, Devine (Kevin Bacon) is a homicide detective, Markum is a supposedly reformed criminal--now he's a convenience store owner and family man, and Boyle is also married and "marginally employed." The three men have gone their separate ways, and have little social contact. When Markum's daughter is brutally murdered, Devine is one of the two detectives on the case, and Boyle is one of the last people to see the victim alive. These tragic circumstances bring the three men back into contact with one another. So far, perhaps the plot sounds trite, but marvelous acting from all three of the main characters--plus an avoidance of sentimentality--creates a riveting murder-mystery. The script avoids the obvious cliches, and instead focuses on each of the character's reactions to the murder. Devine and his partner (Laurence Fishburne) are driven to solve the crime, while Marcum calls in his henchmen--the Savage brothers to help round up information. Boyle, in the meantime, seems to have problems keeping his already fragmented mind in one piece. Sean Penn's portrayal of the grieving father was amazing. I had two minor complaints about the film. First--the psychological consequences of the childhood molestation were not fully explored. Boyle is permanently damaged by it--that's quite clear. Devine and Markum were not selected by the molesters, and how the incident altered their lives was not really discussed. It severed their friendship, but did they feel guilty somehow? And if they felt guilty about Boyle's suffering, was this then manifested in their behaviour towards Boyle as the investigation intensified? Does feeling survivor guilt make Devine avoid Boyle while it makes Markum aggressive towards Boyle? Additional emphasis on the psychological ramifications of the childhood incident were called for. After all, the film begins with the incident, so we know that it is extremely important to the rest of the plot. Secondly--the entire sub-plot with Kevin Bacon's wife was silly. But all in all, the film presented an interesting tale, fascinating characters, and splendid cinematography. Someone else in the cinema started snoring about half way through, so apparently, not everyone in the audience enjoyed the film--displacedhuman
Rating: 
Summary: Solid acting, not so solid story
Review: Mystic River is an predictable thriller than ends up being saved--actually, more than saved--by bravura performances from almost all of its stars. The best performance comes from Sean Penn, who seems to be channelling a young Robert DeNiro. Indeed, if there was a flaw with Penn's performance it is that there may be a bit too much DeNiro in it. But it would be foolish to complain about that. The other actors who stand out are Kevin Bacon, Laurence Fishburne (notwithstanding the Matrix Reloaded, the guy can act), and Marcia Gay Harden as a simple, troubled spouse (which is often a hugely difficult kind of role for many actors). Tim Robbins is close to the top, but doesn't quite pull off the role, relying far too much on a brooding quietness that doesn't always work. I could hardly review the film without pointing out some of its weaknesses. First, the dialogue is inconsistent, forcing characters to deliver lines that seem far too intelligent or "on the nose" for them. This problem forces you out of the story at times and seems to be a crutch for advancing the story or "educating" the audience. There simply was no need for it. The story was also predictable, at times seeming spoon-fed. Finally, there were a number of throwaway subplots that seemed, well, fake. For example, Kevin Bacon's runaway wife added little and seemed contrived, rather than natural. Part of it had to do with the manner in which her fleeting appearances were filmed. She had little or nothing to do with the story, and her role added nothing to Bacon's character warranted distracting from the narrative line. Overall, Mystic River is an intense, involving movie. Sean Penn may well receive the Oscar he deserves.
Rating:
Summary: A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do
Review: MYSTIC RIVER may win Clint Eastwood an Oscar for Best Director, but I'd be surprised if the film wins Best Picture because it concludes with too many loose ends and thus fails as a conventional morality play. A rough justice of sorts was at least served in Clint's Oscar-winning UNFORGIVEN. In the opening sequence, three boyhood pals - Jimmy, Dave and Sean - are playing on the streets of Boston. Jimmy goads the other two into defacing a freshly-poured square of concrete sidewalk. A car pulls up, apparently carrying two plain-clothes cops, one of whom berates the lads for their antisocial behavior. Ultimately, Dave is carried off by the police, ostensibly to be driven home and reported to his mother. In fact, the officers are child molesters in disguise, and Dave is cruelly abused in a cellar for four days before he escapes. Decades later, the three still live in Boston. Jimmy (Sean Penn), now a tough-guy ex-con, runs a neighborhood convenience grocery. He's married with three daughters, the oldest being Katie (Emmy Rossum), the apple of his eye. Dave (Tim Robbins), a handyman, is married with one son. Sean (Kevin Bacon) is a homicide investigator with the Boston PD. Late one night, Dave arrives home with a mangled hand and a superficial slash across his stomach. He claims he was attacked by a mugger, and in the ensuing struggle perhaps killed his assailant. The next morning, the police receive report of an abandoned car with a bloodied interior and a bullet hole in the driver's seat back. The vehicle turns out to be Katie's, and her corpse is soon found in a nearby park. She's been brutally beaten and fatally shot after, apparently, being pursued by her killer. Sean is assigned as lead investigator. Dave's wife Celeste (Marcia Gay Harden) scans the dailies expecting to find report of the dead mugger. Such never appears, and a corrosive doubt eats at her mind. Whom did Dave really kill? The three principals in this gritty, take-no-prisoners piece (Penn, Robbins, and Bacon) give three noteworthy performances. Those of Penn and Robbins are particularly excellent, and surely merit Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor nominations respectively. The core of MYSTIC RIVER is not the procedural identification of Katie's killer. Indeed, there are glaring logic lapses as both Jimmy and Sean seek the answer. Moreover, the involvement of the latter and the BPD serve only as the socially acceptable and expected counterpoint to a plot that has little to do with a legal resolution to the crime. Rather, it's an unrelentingly dark tale of deep emotional disturbances resulting from severe childhood trauma, and the potential for extra-legal, primal violence inherent in the philosophy "a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do". I found the film's ending unsatisfying because of its loose ends. But that's not overly important, because the unsettling nature of Eastwood's message is embodied in the Getting There and not the Destination. You might think that MYSTIC RIVER is a Guy Flick. But that the female of the species also has a role to play in tribalism is indicated by the message given Jimmy by his wife Annabeth (Laura Linney) in the last minutes of the film. One tough babe, that.
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