Rating: 
Summary: MYSTICal
Review: Sean Penn makes the best of his screen time, grunting out lines like an "F" machine, in MYSTIC RIVER, the Clint Eastwood directed adaptation of the Dennis Lehane novel (of the same name). Timothy Robbins is along for the ride, finally playing a character that's probably much closer to his anti-American sentiments than he's ever played before. Kevin Bacon rounds out the cast as the third friend -- of the Penn/Robbins/Bacon triange -- dealing with resolving some very heavy issue that stem from their youth.To the film's strengths, the nod would have to go to sticking very closely to Lehane's "noirish" writing. Much of the film plays out with an almost 1940's film -- with contemporary swearing thrown in for more-than-good measure. The scenes are cut together in an almost staccato fashion at times, and other scenes are allowed to play out far more organically. Laura Linney and Marcia Gay Harden are along for the ride, and, for what little screen time the story affords them, they do nicely. RIVER, however, teeters a bit too close to predictability in the central storyline: Sean Penn's 19-year-old daughter Katie has been murdered, and all signs point to ... well, that would be giving too much away. However, an moderately well-educated viewer can discern the real culprit within thirty minutes (if you're watching AND listening closely), sadly allowing the police investigators (Bacon and Laurence Fishburne) to end up looking more like MATLOCK-wannabees. The acting is to be commended. The direction by Eastwood is on-the-money. The story -- thanks to adhering to Lehane's little epic -- works very well, though a slight twist to the ending might've been more appreciated. Is MYSTIC RIVER "Best Picture" material? In the eyes of this reviewer, I'd have to say 'no.' It's very well performed, well written, and well directed ... as I've already agreed. However, by the film's climax, the story plays out a bit too nicely as a thuggish color-by-numbers finish. RIVER should reinvigorate Hollywood to seek out great books for screen adaptation, but I'm still not convinced this is the stuff Oscars are made of.
Rating: 
Summary: Mystic River is Hard to Describe
Review: It has been a week since I saw Mystic River, and I am still having a difficult time formulating an opinion about this movie. On one hand Tim Robbins and Sean Penn produce strong performances, as do the other supporting actors. However, if you have seen other Clint Eastwood movies (A Perfect World, Unforgiven) then you will know what I mean when I say Eastwood's films often have a gritty, brooding texture to them, often underexposing the plot, and unfortunately, often suffering from flat conclusions. Mystic River is no exception. The story line seemed hardened, tough, and well told up to the point of resolution, when it suddenly became a routine, predictable, overtold detective story. For example, it seemed like the time spent revealing the actual killers was too long and detracted from the true focus of the movie - Robbins and Penn. Why couldn't the movie have simply concluded by just letting us know what a terrible mistake Penn had made without spending so much time on the other subplots ? I have always liked Clint Eastwood's movies, and Mystic River is a good movie, but it does fall short of what a classic movie should be, mostly because of a foreseeable conclusion.
Rating: 
Summary: What is the premise?
Review: Any time I watch a movie or read a book, or anaylyze a plot of any kind, the first thing I focus on is its premise: what is it about? why was it written/ made? From the answer to that question flows the next questions: is the premise worth a whole book or movie? and did the movie/ book present the premise in an interesting way? By looking at any story thru this primer, I determine the worth of that story, as I suspect does a lot of people out there. What bogged me down about Mystic River is that I could detect no central premise. I coudl clearly see the effort and emotion of the actors, and appreciated the tragedies that brought about the conflict of the storyline. However, the movie (I have not read the book) has no premise -- no basic message, no founding block that holds the pieces together. The story seems to simply 'be' -- it had no point. So the tragedies happen, and so one of the main characters dies. But, so what? How does one tragedy connect to the other in a meaningful way? How does the result, the wrongful death, justify an entire story? One of the reviewers suggests that the ending was left deliberately vague. But I contend that such a move, except for perhaps a mystery sequel, has no place for a story of 'integrity.' An honest and talented storyteller has a duty to its audience to bring about a complete conclusion, to take a stand, to defend a position. At the very least, the storyteller should challenge the audience to the conflict posed by the central premise of his story. The only burning question in my head after watching Mystic River was: what the hell was this about? Perhaps its a difference in philosophies, but I believe the presence of a central premise critical to a good story. In this sense, Mystic River clearly lacked any meaningful premise. I agree that the acting was stellar, the environment perfectly gloomy and the tragedies heart-felt, but these are only pieces of a whole puzzle. Without the foundation, the pieces can only do so much.
Rating: 
Summary: Mystic River Flows Toward the Oscars...
Review: My last review was really long, but for some reason didn't get posted here. So I will make this one short. Sean Penn deserves the Oscar to go along with his Golden Globe, as does Tim Robbins. They are both really great, especially Penn. Kevin Bacon and Laurence Fishburne are also really good as the cop duo trying to break the case. I was going to give this movie 4 stars, but then I began to realize that I have been thinking about this movie since I saw it two days ago, so I think that warrants that extra star. It's that powerful. If you are in the mood for a slow moving thriller with plenty of interesting characters and dialogue, check this movie out as I did. I missed this film on its first theatrical run, but when I heard they were bringing it back to theaters for a few weeks I went out and saw it the very next day. I'm glad I did, and so will you if you take my advice.
Rating:
Summary: Blown Away
Review: Powerful, admirable filmmaking from Eastwood and Co. in this dark and brooding drama starring Sean Penn and Tim Robbins. This better sweep at the Oscars. This is now one of my new favorite films. I was particularly surprised with how strong Lawrence Fishburne and Kevin Bacon were in the film. I loved their scenes together. The teens/kids (i.e. Brendan) were terrific and turned in stunning performances.
Rating:
Summary: An American Masterpiece! A True Work of Art! A REAL Movie!
Review: Thank you Mr. Eastwood!It's been a long time since I have seen a film that has haunted my thoughts as much as this movie has. Mr. Eastwood has made a film for the ages. A classic movie that's power will stay fresh and vibrant 100 years from now.The suberb script, phenomenal acting, and the subtle, distinct look of the cinematography all shine under Mr. Eastwood's confident vision. There is not a false moment in it. When you mention all the great filmmakers..John Ford, Orson Welles, Alfred Hitchcock, Howard Hawks, John Huston..you can now add a new name...Clint Eastwood.Thank you Mr. Eastwood for making a REAL movie for adults.In this day and age with the state of quality filmmaking at an all time low, it is understandable that some reviewers on here hated this movie. When you're raised on bad films that are huge hits, then you have nothing to gauge greatness with. So it's understandable that they have no idea what they have seen after viewing Mystic River. To those people I recommend the Director's Cut DVD of The New Guy.That should be right up your alley.
Rating:
Summary: Mystic River Flows Toward The Oscars...
Review: I just saw this film today because I had missed it in its first run at the theaters, but I heard that it was just put back in theaters. I was going to give this movie only 4 stars, then I began to realize that I had been thinking about this film ever since I got home over 8 hours ago. This is just one of those movies that won't leave your mind for days, it's that powerful. Okay, I'm gonna come right out and say this is Sean Penn's finest performance of his career. He deserved that Golden Globe he won last night, and he really should get the Oscar too. He displays so many emotions in this film it's hard to "Penn" down what his character is really feeling. Of all the performances in this great cast, Penn's felt like he wasn't even acting. It almost looked too real. I also really liked Kevin Bacon and Laurance Fishburne in the roles of the cop duo trying to break the case. The only main performance I really didn't care for too much was that of Tim Robbins, which also got him a Golden Globe last night. I know a lot of people said he was great and convincing in this role as a man with a tortured soul, but I found many of his strong emotional scenes unbelievable. Don't get me wrong he was good in this movie, but not his greatest role and film which I believe is still The Shawshank Redemption. The twist ending wasn't quite what I expected, but I still left the theater emotionally drained and yet satisfied. This is easily one of Clint Eastwood's best films and should be seen by all who have patience for a slow moving, yet interesting story. See it in theaters before you have to wait a few months or more for it to hit Dvd. I know I'm glad I did!
Rating:
Summary: Simple, badly directed film.
Review: Tim Robbins was the only redeeming quality of the movie. His acting was fantastic. It was quite clear who was the killer thirty minutes into the film. It seemed to me that Eastwood tried to throw curve balls from the beginning of the film to keep you off track, but it never worked. The first appearance of the killers in the film gave it away. Why were they there? What reason were they in the scene for other than to introduce them as the killers? Sean Penn overacted, Kevin Bacon seemed lost and Eastwood seemed to be out of his league. Very disappointing film.
Rating:
Summary: Riveting, suspenseful ... a pure urban story
Review: A pure urban story that fits within the urban boundaries of a blue collar neighborhood. Suburban living it's not! It has the roughnecks, the neighborhood histories, and boyhood characters that know what's around the corner or in the next block. It's believable and moves. One of the best films I've seen in a while.
Rating:
Summary: Best Movie Ever
Review: All I have to say is watch it alone so that you have nobody to hide any emotions from. Then, sit back and relax because you're in for the best movie experience one can imagine! Best movie ever!!!
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