Mystic River (2003)

  Plot Summary

In a working class area of Boston three young boys, Jimmy, Sean and Dave are playing in the street where they live. Two men, masquerading as police officers, pull up in a car. After reprimanding the boys for writing their names in wet cement they order Dave into the car. Jimmy and Sean watch as Dave is driven away. He has been abducted by paedophiles who keep him prisoner for four days before he escapes.

Years later the three boys who have now grown up have all been effected by the events in the past. Their paths cross again when there is a murder in their Boston neighbourhood. Sean (Kevin Bacon) is now a police officer, Jimmy (Sean Penn) owns a corner shop and Dave (Tim Robbins) lives quietly with his wife and son.

Review

Directed by Clint Eastwood this film is based on Dennis Lehane's novel of the same name. It is a tragic story that looks at different emotions. Love, friendship, guilt, grief, anger and revenge are all thrown into the mix. The film is mostly shot in a dark, moody atmosphere and there is a feeling of impending doom as if there were a black cloud over the Boston neighbourhood.

Mystic River is a serious detective story without special effects, car chases or shootouts.  The film takes time to develop the story and characters and perhaps it is a little long because of this, but the result is compelling. It is certainly no "popcorn movie". Instead, it is a dark emotional story with credible characters that will make you think more than most movies.

There is a top-notch cast in this movie. The three main characters, Jimmy, Dave and Sean are played by Sean Penn, Tim Robbins and Kevin Bacon. All three, but especially Sean Penn, give fantastic performances. Sean Penn plays hard man Jimmy who dabbles in crime. The anger and grief that Sean Penn portrays as the story unfolds is very very real.

Dave (Tim Robbins) is quiet and withdrawn. He is haunted by what happened to him when he was abducted as a boy and is mentally scarred.

Kevin Bacon plays Sean the police officer who as a boy was friends with Jimmy and Dave and who has returned to the Boston neighbourhood to investigate the murder.

The Bottom Line:  A compelling story that is extremely well told and acted.

Lasting thought: Some people are haunted by the terrible things that have happened to them and given different circumstances these terrible things could have happened to anyone.

Reviewed by Niall Quinn, Premier Movie Reviews 2003

Genre: Murder/detective/drama

Certificate: 15's

Director: Clint Eastwood

~ Main Cast ~

Sean Penn

Tim Robbins

Kevin Bacon

Laurence Fishburne

Marcia Gay Harden

Laura Linney

RATING

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