I do not think I have enjoyed a film so much when there were absolutely no redeeming characters. There were truly no sympathetic or redeeming characters in Mystic River. It is a film of despair, disconnected characters, and lost youth.

Mystic River starts in the most appropriate way it could. I am not sure that Director Clint Eastwood intended the metaphor he created, but to me it was most appropriate. The film begin with three young men playing in the streets of New York; Jimmy Markum (Sean Penn), Dave Boyle (Tim Robbins), and Sean Divine (Kevin Bacon). The boys’ lives change when Dave is picked up by child molesters posing as cops. It was at that point that all of the boys’ youth was stolen. As story resumes years later all three men are facing their own demons, pasts, and crimes. Sean says it best when he says, "Sometimes I think, I think all three of us got in that car..."

Jimmy Markum’s daughter turns up missing and later dead. Sean Devine has become a police investigator and is assigned the case that involves his friend’s daughter. Dave is walking through his life in a daze, caring for his son, ignoring his wife, Celeste (Marcia Gay Harden), and abandoned by his childhood friends.

All three men carry the burden of past guilt and transgressions. The film is a trip through the entangled lives of Jimmy. Dave, and Sean. Their lives come back together after the tragic murder of Jimmy’s daughter, but not for good.

The film is loaded with “Hollywood Royalty”. And each Royal Hollywood star portrays a character of the darkest kind. Laura Linney portrays Annabeth Markum, Jimmy’s wife, who harbors the secrets of Jimmy’s past and present crimes. Marcia Gay Harden is Celeste, Dave’s wife, and is reluctant to divulge her suspicion of her husband’s crime. Tim Robbins, Dave, hides the facts about his past and his present violent actions. Sean Penn, Jimmy, has a lot in his past to hide, and even more in the present. Even Katie Emmy Rossum,Jimmy’s murdered daughter, was lying and hiding things from her father. As I mentioned there were no redeeming characters in this entire film. They may not have been redeeming, but the characters were real, interesting, well developed.

Sean Penn, nominated for and awarded the Academy Award for Best Actor, was incredible as Jimmy Markum. He WAS that character. Tim Robbins was nominated and awarded the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, and it was well deserved. Robbins conveyed the hurt of his childhood and anger with the most realistic and subtle actions. He is truly an amazing actor and he was truly amazing in this role. Marcia Gay Harden was also nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Her portrayal of the naïve and confused wife of Dave was impressive. I was enthralled and entertained by her performance. The film was also nominated for Best Picture and Clint Eastwood was nominated for Best Director.

Do not watch this film expecting for a happy ending, or that everything will be ok in the end. It is not going to happen, but maybe that makes the film more realistic and honest. Everything does not come out ok all of the time. I think anyone seeing this film will have to be amazed by the performances they see in this film. Even those with more minor roles like; Laurence Fishburne as the assistant investigator, Laura Linney, and Thomas Guiry as Katie’s boyfriend were all spectacular and wonderful in their roles. It was a great film, great direction, and a great honest and brutal story.


Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Not suitable for Children of any age