Mystic River-2003
Director Clint Eastwood
Starring Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, Kevin Bacon
Scott’s Review #801
Reviewed August 10, 2018
Grade: A
Mystic River (2003) is a film I consider the second-best offering directed by Clint Eastwood.
Along with Million Dollar Baby (2004), Eastwood creates two compelling back-to-back dramas that are not too dissimilar.
He was unquestionably the “it” director of the early 2000s, and with Mystic River, he helms a gritty mystery drama with a stellar cast, nuts-and-bolts storytelling, and enough twists and turns to keep the audience guessing and ultimately shocked.
Together, these elements create a memorable experience.
The film is based on the novel of the same name, written by Dennis Lehane. A tremendous element is a locale of Boston and an Irish, blue-collar/working-class theme, prevalent throughout the story.
Thanks to the cinematography, which illuminates a grey, stormy look, the rest of the film is enhanced. I adore films shot in and around Boston, as it offers so much culture and flavor.
Eastwood hardly misses a beat, with some cold, grizzled touches that play into the hardships and struggles of the characters’ everyday lives.
The story begins with the central characters (Jimmy, Dave, and Sean) as young boys, in a three-musketeers-type scenario where they are like blood brothers.
After an incident occurs where Dave is accosted by men and sexually abused, he is ultimately rescued after four torturous days, but his life is never the same.
Fast forward twenty-five years, and the boys are now men, still living in a working-class Boston neighborhood. Each is married; their lives have moved on, they’ve drifted apart, and they have vastly different personalities.
They reunite after a tragedy occurs.
For starters, Eastwood’s major win is casting each male character.
Sean Penn plays Jimmy, the volatile ex-con, who runs a small store, while Sean, played by Kevin Bacon, has become a Massachusetts State Police officer, putting him directly at odds with Jimmy.
Sadly, Dave (Tim Robbins) now lives a quiet life, still harboring trauma, shame, and guilt from his childhood experience.
When Jimmy’s daughter (Emmy Rossum) is brutally murdered, the three friends’ lives are intertwined as they search for the killer, taking the viewers down a dark path filled with secrets, some from the past.
Laura Linney and Marcia Gay Harden give tremendous performances as Jimmy’s and Dave’s wives, respectively.
Mystic River is a film in which all the great elements come together perfectly. From the acting to the story’s components, the whodunit, the exciting twist and conclusion, and the overall film, it is truly exceptional.
But what sets it apart from a standard drama or thriller is the characterization and the relationships among them.
Childhood memories can last a lifetime because of their monumental importance, as Jimmy, Dave, and Sean show time and again. Blood brothers, yes, but when tragedy strikes, old wounds and fresh wounds together run deep.
Violence and revenge are firm staples of this film and common to many Eastwood films. Viewers may also find themselves conflicted about whom to sympathize with or where their allegiances should lie.
Jimmy, the anti-hero, will garner sympathy for the vicious loss of his daughter- pain that can never be fully healed.
Did Dave, the obvious prime suspect, kill the girl? If so, was it on purpose or by accident? Are others, specifically his wife, involved in a cover-up?
Eastwood carves the setup spectacularly, but is it a simple red herring? These events make the film unbelievably compelling.
The performances are fabulous all around, especially from Penn and Robbins, both Oscar winners for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor, respectively.
Penn never delivers a poor performance, but Jimmy is one of his best characters yet.
As for Robbins, he fills the character of Dave with empathy- a wounded bird left damaged through no fault of his own, suffering a terrible fate due to circumstances, misunderstandings, and ultimately tragedy.
Mystic River (2003) watched alongside Million Dollar Baby (2004) would make for an excellent Saturday night for fans of Clint Eastwood’s directorial talents.
These two are the best of the best, with great character development and rich writing.
The direction, however, enhances the spectacular elements and takes them a bit further, providing appropriate texture and a wonderful atmosphere.
Oscar Nominations: 2 wins-Best Picture, Best Director-Clint Eastwood, Best Actor-Sean Penn (won), Best Supporting Actor-Tim Robbins (won), Best Supporting Actress-Marcia Gay Harden, Best Adapted Screenplay
