| Posted by: Golden Badtz at October 19, 2003, 8:15 pm | | Topic: Reviews: Mystic River Forum: JoBlo | | MYSTIC RIVER - 2003 Sean Penn - Tim Robbins - Kevin Bacon - Laura Linney - Laurence Fishburn - Marcia Gay Harden astonishing, magnificent, outstanding, a true masterpiece. Mr. Clint Eastwood is a true master that paralyzes his opponents leaving them vulnerable to attack, and that's what he did to me, I was astonished and paralyzed in the movie theatre, I couldn't move a muscle, I was completely IN the movie. Mystic River strongly starts off with OK performances by young "punks" playing hockey in the street, who at one point decide to write down their names in the fresh cement not yet done. 2 names are written: Jimmy (Penn) and Sean (Bacon) however while Dave (Robbins) was writing his name cops came and took him away, they kept him locked for 4 days sexually abusing him until he finally escaped. (I don't get it how he escaped however) We join the 3 kids, living in the same neighborhood 20 years or more later. Penn was married twice, his first wife died living him a daughter (Katy) and then he married Laura Linney and had 2 girls. Bacon became a detective, with a wife that left him 6 months ago with their not yet born child. Robbins is happily married to Linney's character's cousin Celeste (2 Celestes in 1 weekend, impressive...) who have a daughter together even though Dave is still traumatized with the events that happened 20 years ago. We slowly meet Penn's daughter Katy who has a boyfriend Brandon that Jimmy doesn't like. Brandon has a mute brother (mute like Silent Bob). Jimmy's also got the Savage bros, 2 bouncers who help him out constantly. One night, Katy gives Jimmy a strange look (which means Good Bye) and sets off for a good bye party at a club where Dave is at. The same night Dave comes back, hand and stomach slashed and Katy dead, hit in the back of the head and then shot. The 3 friends, not haven talked to each other since they were kids start to become closer and closer while the investigation lasts and all get into a web of twists slowly bringing up all of their pasts to in some sort haunt them. I really liked the fact that Bacon's character is not a cold blooded Max Payne or dirty Harry Callahan style, he is serious about his work, doesn't have much friends and his work is his life. We see that he isn't a bad guy but that he is keen on his job and that he is actually a suffering men because his wife calls him from time to time but never speaks on the phone with him. Clint Eastwood really focused on character development in this film, he really well described all of them and their backgrounds. Penn is a very straight forwarded person, he loves his wife and kids. Robbins plays really really well the traumatized grown up who has difficulty expressing himself and Marcia Gay Harden also plays remarkably the confused wife. This movie should without any doubts be nominated to academy awards: -Penn best actor -Robbins best supporting -Eastwood best director The score was amazing, I was really touched when the score started playing when Penn is being held by the cops in the park when his daughter was found dead. It's always the same tune however.. but it's a good one (note to self: download it!!) The twists and turns fit in remarkably in this movie, when Penn is walking towards his daughter to say what has to be written on the gave stone are beautiful shots of his face covered in the shadows to express sadness... amazing work Clinty. As a result, I loved this film like no other, it's not as great as Kill Bill was, but it's a solid as Superman, it's a masterpiece that should never be forgotten. My score for Mystic River is 9/10 |
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Reviews: Mystic River
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