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DVD Mystic River (3 Disc Deluxe Edition)
Superior acting, writing, and direction are on impressive display in the critically acclaimed Mystic River, Clint Eastwood's 24th directorial outing and one of the finest films of 2003. Sharply adapted by L.A. Confidential Oscar-winner Brian Helgeland from the novel by Dennis Lehane, this chilling mystery revolves around three boyhood friends in working-class Boston--played as adults by Tim Robbins, Sean Penn, and Kevin Bacon--drawn together by a crime from the past and a murder (of the Penn character's 19-year-old daughter) in the present. These dual tragedies arouse a vicious cycle of suspicion, guilt, and repressed anxieties, primed to explode with devastating and unpredictable results. Eastwood is perfectly in tune with this brooding material, giving his flawless cast (including Laura Linney, Marcia Gay Harden and Laurence Fishburne) ample opportunity to plumb the depths of a resonant human tragedy, leading to an ambiguous ending that qualifies Mystic River for contemporary classic status. --Jeff Shannon
Review(s): DVD Mystic River (3 Disc Deluxe Edition)
More miserable than mystic
What a dour film! No likeable characters, no smiles or laughs, nothing good going on - and no real emotion to keep the viewer hooked. Who'd want to watch a bunch of miserable guys living miserable lives? Add to that the bizarre ending and pointless sub-plot with Kevin Bacon's wife and what you've got, in my opinion, is a real turkey of a movie. But I bet not everyone will agree...
Clint Eastwood should retire
I guess the judges felt that both Clint Eastwood and Sean Penn were overdue for an Oscar.
What a character-driven movie should be
"Mystic River" definitely falls in the category of "character-driven" film. It succeeds brilliantly, and is a benchmark for movies where character and not plot take center stage.
First, you must have a plot, even if it's not the centerpiece of the movie. Too many "character-based" dramas are meandering messes that go nowhere. In contrast, "Mystic River" has enough of a plot to keep things moving, and it's interesting.
Second, you must have a good script. Oftentimes "character-driven" movies are tedious at best, because the characters have nothing to say. Here, the screenwriter really created some memorable characters and great dialogue. I am sure that Robbins, Bacon and Penn had a lot to do with that, too.
That leads into point three - you must have great actors to breathe life into your characters, when your characters are your movie. Robbins, Bacon and Penn have never been better, and each do a fantastic job. Their performances are engrossing, and keep the film from dragging.
Highly recommended.
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