Mystic River (DVD) > Reviews

Advantages: Moody, mysterious and marvellous
Disadvantages: None

...Award for his performance in Mystic River and I think, well, maybe...maybe in this performance he does deliver so... Secondly, and I know this is going to vex many of you out there, I have never, and I repeat never liked Clint Eastwood. Don't start pelting me with tomatoes just yet!! I have watched a good number of his movies and found that most of his performances were decidedly similar. He just doesn't seem to act, he is rather just showing the ... Read review

Advantages: very good script, very good actors
Disadvantages: The message left is just not right

...on the shores of the mystic river, only to find out next day that the killer was someone else and Dave sort of told the truth about what happened to him that infamous night. I am not going to tell you who was the killer, this is not the point of this opinion. Sean knows that actually Jimmy has done something horrible to Dave, but he doesn’t do anything. Unacceptable for a policeman. And so, Jimmy gets away with this cold blood murder of an innocent ... Read review

Advantages: A dark story, but well told.
Disadvantages: Unrelentingly grim.

Firstly; I suppose I'd better lay my cards on the table right from the outset. I'm not really a big fan of anyone in this film. Sean Penn - I could take him or leave him, I'm afraid. He does a fine job of looking either intense or anguished, but doesn't seem to ever do very much else. Tim Robbins - sorry, but he really doesn't seem to have any appreciable charisma to me. I don't doubt that the man can act; it's just that, unlike some other actors ... Read review

Advantages: An acting masterclass by the cream of the crop
Disadvantages: Some ends left untied but this is also part of the fantastic unnerving feeling the film generates throughout.

...just got round to watching Mystic River his 2003 film that swept the board in the acting categories at last years Oscars and quite rightly to. This is one of the best recent films I have seen. As Eastwood himself comments in the DVD special feature documentary, Mystic River is not about special effects or an action-packed plot – it’s about people, human interaction and tremendous acting. Based on Neil Lehane’s novel, Mystic River is the story of ... Read review

Advantages: Chilling story
Disadvantages: None

...director, including films such as Mystic River, The Bridges of Madison County and Million Dollar Baby. The plot Three childhood friends, Jimmy Markum, Dave Boyle and Sean Devine are reunited over the murder of Jimmy's beautiful young daughter, Katie. Sean is one of the detectives assigned to the case and Dave, who has had some contact with Jimmy over the years, was one of the last people to see Katie alive. As a sub-plot, there is also the ... Read review

Advantages: Compulsive viewing with many twists and turns
Disadvantages: Not comfortable viewing at time

Clint Eastwood is a name that most households in the UK will be familiar with. The picture in most people’s minds will be that of Dirty Harry, or another character he has played, however not many people realize that his has become increasingly more present behind the camera as a director. His past efforts have not been that well received with the exception of 'Unforgiven', and he had taken a lengthy break, until he decided to take on this project. First ... Read review

Advantages: ALL STAR CAST
Disadvantages: Twist not that good!

Mystic River 2003, Drama/Crime, 137 mins. Based on the Novel by Dennis Lehane, writer of TV series The Wire 2002. Directed by Clint Eastwood, with an all-star cast winning two 2 Academy Awards, Best actor Sean Penn, Best Supporting Actor, Tim Robbins, this is a film not to be missed. When 3 boys, Jimmy Markum (Sean Penn), Dave Boyle (Tim Robbins) and Sean Devine (Kevin Bacon) were growing up together in Boston the terrible events of their childhood ... Read review

Advantages: WELL DIRECTED, GREAT PLOT, GREAT ACTING
Disadvantages: NONE

...that one disturbing film. Mystic River seemed to bring me out of that way of thinking with his performance as Sean. I would have put Bacon’s character down as the killer! Not only did this film hold my interest, but I find myself intimately drawn in by each and every one of the characters, this accredited to the fantastic direction by Eastwood and the full on powerful cast performances, as above, joined by Laurence Fishbourne, Laura Linney and ... Read review

Advantages: Brilliant performances from an excellent cast
Disadvantages: Not the best title for the movie

He may not be my favourite actor, but as a director Clint Eastwood has made some pretty good films – from as far back as “High Plains Drifter” in the 70s, and most especially “The Unforgiven”. “Mystic River” is the best film he’s made since “The Bridges of Madison County”, and that was 8 years ago, so perhaps it’s about time. Bridges was a gentle kind of movie, and this one has next to nothing in common with it, but it’s definitely a return to ... Read review

Advantages: Acting, cinematography
Disadvantages: Downbeat

This was a welcome return to form for the big man, Clint Eastwood. Since Unforgiven, Eastwood seemed to be going through the motions directing some stodgily average movies like Space Cowboys and Blood Work. But here, teaming up with L.A. Confidential's screenwriter, Brian Helgeland, he creates this ambitious, atmospheric mystery drama and gets some fantastic performances from his talented cast. Sean Penn is an explosive brutal force and has many standout ... Read review

Advantages: Great cast, great story
Disadvantages: A little slow at times

Mystic River is a suspense thriller/drama which follows the investigation of the murder of a teenage girl. Her father (Sean Penn), the detective (Kevin Bacon) and one of the main suspects (Tim Robbins) all live in the neighbourhood who's banks rest on the Mystic River. They have lived there all their lives and were good friends as children until a life changing event shook their world forever. Years later the men don't really see much of each other ... Read review

Advantages: Keeps you thinking and guessing throughout
Disadvantages: Too slow in places, makes the film alittle long

A brilliant movie! One which kept me and my mum guessing all the way through. Although slightly slow paced the time flew by and before we knew it the movie was all over. Surely that is a sign of a great movie! Dark and thrilling, kept me griped from start to end. This is a film which I have watched over and over again since I've owed it. I have shown it to many friends and have never found anyone to give it a bad review. The direction and acting ... Read review