Writer: Brian Helgeland (Screenplay) Dennis Lehane (Novel)
Starring: Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, Kevin Bacon, Laurence Fishburne, Marcia Gay Harden, Laura Linney, Kevin Chapman, Tom Guiry, Emmy Rossum, Spencer Treat Clark
Plot: With a childhood tragedy that overshadowed their lives, three men are reunited by circumstance when one has a family tragedy.
There may be spoilers the rest of the review
Verdict: Brilliant Mystery Film
Story: Mystic River starts with three childhood friends Jimmy, Dave and Sean just doing what kids do, trying to have fun but get caught by a police officer where Dave is taken away in a car to explain what happened, but what happens to Dave will change the friendship forever.
Move forward in time Dave (Robbins) has a child of his own but is still haunted by what happened on that day, Jimmy (Penn) has his own family, while Sean (Bacon) becomes a highly respected detective on the posher side of the city along with his partner Whitey (Fishburne).
When Dave comes home drunk and shaken and covered in blood he tries to talk about what happened and being mugged. When Sean gets the shocking new his daughter Katie (Rossum) hasn’t turned up for work we also hear the news of a blood in a car, here car which brings Sean back to the town to figure out what happened
When the body is found it is up to Sean to solve the crime, while the old friendships start getting tested after they all went their separate ways and fingers start getting pointed.
Mystic River is a brilliant murder mystery that shows how far friends can end up from each other after spending their childhood together. We don’t get many clues about who it was and the fingers pointing in one direction seems to obvious for it to have been them. I do feel we needed to see potentially different options to who committed the murder but how Jimmy handles it his own way shows just how far a man would go to find the person responsible. The overall tone of the film is edgy because each character could end up blowing a fuse. (9/10)
Actor Review
Sean Penn: Jimmy Markum is the tough guy in the neighbor he runs the shop and has connection with everyone. It is his daughter that gets murdered and because of his connections he could end up blowing the case out of the water but the truth is the thing that will shock him the most. Sean gives a brilliant performance showing a full range of emotions. (10/10)
Tim Robbins: Dave Boyle who was abducted when he was a child but seems to have grown up to be slightly different, very timid and still haunted by the past. He comes back home after a night out covered in blood claiming to have been mugged, but is he really involved in the murder? Tim gives a great performance showing how haunted his past really is. (9/10)
Kevin Bacon: Sean Devine is a detective who moved away from thee neighbourhood, he has to return to solve this murder that will bring up moments fro the past that no one wanted to come back. Kevin gives us a great performance as the detective with a past that could go wrong but also knows how a crime could end up. (8/10)
Support Cast: Mystic River has a supporting cast that are people who don’t know who did the crime but only see to offer discussion to the main three characters.
Director Review: Clint Eastwood – Clint gives us this brilliant mystery that keeps us guessing to who was really responsible for the crime. (9/10)
Crime: Mystic River has a murder that has to be solved, but also has the after effects of a child molestation as a child for one of our grown ups. (9/10)
Drama: Mystic River shows how three childhood friends have all gone their own way. (9/10)
Mystery: Mystic River does create the mystery about who committed the crime all the way through. (9/10)
Thriller: Mystic River pts you on the edge of your seat once the investigation starts because you just don’t know what reaction is happening. (9/10)
Settings: Mystic River uses the tight community to show how close everyone is when the tragedy strikes. (10/10)
Suggestion: Mystic River is a must watch for any film fans out there. (Must Watch)
Best Part: The three main character performances.
Worst Part: Not too many supporting suspects.
Believability: No (0/10)
Chances of Tears: No (0/10)
Chances of Sequel: No
Post Credits Scene: No
Oscar Chances: Won 2 Oscars nominated for 4 More including Best Picture
Box Office: $90 Million
Budget: $30 Million
Runtime: 2 Hours 18 Minutes
Tagline: The river has many depths. Let it wash over you.
Trivia: Sean penn and Tim robbins both won oscars for best actor and best supporting actor respectively. This was the second film to win both of these awards after Ben hur (1959).
Overall: Murder mystery perfectly pieced together
Rating