A Scientist at the Movies Reviews by Greg Paris

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Title: Mystic River

Date Viewed: 2/8/04

Details:

Sean Penn

Tim Robbins

Kevin Bacon

Laurence Fishburne

Marcia Gay Harden

Laura Linney

Director: Clint Eastwood

Score: ++

The Review: Excellent mystery with some very spooky and disturbing characters; excellent ensemble cast. By a calendrical fluke, I happened to watch this in the theatre only a week or so before the Academy Awards, so it was fresh in my mind when the Oscars were being passed out. Those given for this film were well deserved.

Starting with an essential flashback, Mystic River introduces you to the childhood trio of Jimmy Markum, Dave Boyle and Sean Devine (as adults: Penn, Robbins and Bacon). Markum has become the scion of what might be called the senior Irish mafia family in the neighborhood; Boyle has married into Markum's wife's family; and Devine has become a cop and (perhaps understandably) is a bit estranged from Markum. They are all thrown together by at least one murder, its investigation, and the consequences of a damaged childhood psyche. A multi-level character study with excellent performances by all concerned, but this is definitely not a feel-good movie. Jolting, gritty, unremittingly dark -- an exploration of human psychology that is as disturbing as it is effective.

Based on the best-selling novel by Dennis Lehane.

(17-July-04)

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