Mystic River (2003)

Perfect cast and a good story

Good movie, but best of all time? Hardly . . .

what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

Mystic River directed by Clint Eastwood is a harrowing take on a murder in a small town. Featuring brave performances by all involved, especially Sean Penn, Mystic River is about morality, lies and greed. The film is a bit heavy and probably overlong but you will be pleased by the end of it. This is one of those films whose stature only grows with time.

This is one of these movies that has a smooth lines and transitions throughout the whole plot. It also reflects the hidden reality of a rural Boston and how they "resolve" their issues. What I like more about it is that it touched the topic of pedophilia, which is very common nowadays. What even made it more interesting is the closeness between the people involved since it is between a group of friends where this plot unfolds, and also the instinct of betrayal.

The film begins many years ago and shows three friends, Dave, Jimmy and Sean outside their homes in Boston. Some pedophiles arrive and pretend to be cops and they kidnap and rape Dave...who, fortunately, is able to eventually escape.Years pass and the three men are grown. Jimmy (Sean Penn) is a family man whose youngest is about to take her first communion. However, he and the family don't realize that his oldest has been brutally murdered. When he learns of this, he vows revenge.At about the same time, Dave (Tim Robbins) returns home very late. He's bloody and cut...and his story about attacking a mugger seems contrived. There also is a boyfriend of the dead girl...and he has some 'splaining to do. And, there are a couple detectives who are investigating all this and one of them is Sean (Kevin Bacon). What really did happen? Who really is at fault? And, will the police get to them before Jimmy and his thug friends?"Mystic River" is occasionally tough to watch, as it deals with child sexual abuse, murder and extreme violence. It's also quite grim. Because of this, you should consider all this before watching the film. This being said, it is a very good film and features some amazing acting...so if you're up to it, by all means give the film a look. I appreciate not only the acting but all the false leads and clues...and the viewer will not so easily piece it all together.

It starts so amazingly good! And then it just SWOOP! Downhill for horrible ending! Nope, not watching this movie again, would NOT recommend it to anyone ever at all. It's just like The Mist! What an AMAZING movie but that ending was BARF! The ending is what sells and seals the deal. Gave it a chance, huge disappointment, 3 out of 10