Mystic River

Clint Eastwood is the man. I know this review seems very similar to the previous one, but there's a reason for it. This movie is based on a novel by the same man who wrote "Gone Baby Gone", which was also adapted into film, as you may have noticed based on the previous review. Not to mention the setting is the same, being Boston, Massachusetts, and all surrounding areas. So, yes, I'll start the review similarly by talking about the director who, once again, is also an actor: Clint Eastwood is amazing as an actor and as a director.

And as a composer, as it would so seem. This film is pretty good, but what surprised me the most is the amount of effort the director put into this film. Not to mention the superb choices in actors and actresses he chose for it. Not a single actor has given me cause for complaint.

All that effort certainly paid off, as both Sean Penn and Tim Robbins won Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor awards at the 2003 Oscars, respectively. Well deserved, in my opinion, especially by Sean Penn who, to use a cliché, is absolutely mesmerizing. Whenever he is on screen, the viewer's eyes never leave him, and for good reason, too. The only chance they might is if Tim Robbins is in the scene, and even then it is moviemaking and acting at its finest as these two unstoppable forces are constantly competing and contributing for amazing scenes together.

The film is not perfect, however, despite all the praise I have given it. Unlike its spiritual cousin in film "Gone Baby Gone", I was not always wrapped up in the film. The intricacies of the latter film are just too enticing to not fall into. This is not the film's fault so much as the writing, but it is noteworthy, still. Even though the emotional scenes are absolutely heart wrenching, the rest of the film that makes up the time between emotional scenes, Sean Penn scenes, Tim Robbins scenes, or any combination of the three is just not that interesting.

Still, this is another worthy film to own, along with watch. Just make sure you watch "Gone Baby Gone" second so that it stands a chance.

"Mystic River" is out now online and physically in stores.

REVIEW RATING:
★★★★★