MYSTIC RIVER (2003, USA/Australia, 138m, 15) ****½
Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
dist. Warner Bros.; pr co. Warner Bros. / Village Roadshow Pictures / NPV Entertainment / Malpaso Productions; d. Clint Eastwood; w. Brian Helgeland (based on the novel by Dennis Lehane); pr. Clint Eastwood, Judie Hoyt, Robert Lorenz; ph. Tom Stern (Technicolor | 2.39:1); m. Clint Eastwood; ed. Joel Cox; pd. Henry Bumstead; ad. Jack G. Taylor Jr.
cast: Sean Penn (Jimmy Markum), Tim Robbins (Dave Boyle), Kevin Bacon (Sean Devine), Laurence Fishburne (Whitey Powers), Marcia Gay Harden (Celeste Boyle), Laura Linney (Annabeth Markum), Kevin Chapman (Val Savage), Tom Guiry (Brendan Harris), Emmy Rossum (Katie Markum), Spencer Treat Clark (Silent Ray Harris), Andrew Mackin (John O’Shea), Adam Nelson (Nick Savage), Robert Wahlberg (Kevin Savage), Jenny O’Hara (Esther Harris), John Doman (Driver), Cameron Bowen (Young Dave), Jason Kelly (Young Jimmy), Connor Paolo (Young Sean), T. Bruce Page (Jimmy’s Father), Eli Wallach (Mr Loonie – Liquor Store Owner (uncredited)).
Outstanding and haunting character crime drama anchored by sensational performances from Penn, Robbins and Bacon. When ex-con Penn’s daughter (Rossum) is murdered, two of his childhood friends from the neighbourhood are involved. Robbins, a blue-collar worker haunted by a childhood abduction, was one of the last people to see her alive, while Bacon, a homicide detective, is heading up the case. As Bacon proceeds with his investigation, Penn conducts one of his own and considers taking the law into his own hands. Helgeland provides a strong script, adapting Dennis Lehane’s dark and harrowing novel. Themes of childhood friendships, family loyalty and deliverance of justice are explored as Eastwood gives the story and characters room to breathe. A strong cast adds authenticity and layers of depth to their roles. Eastwood also contributed the minimalist score.
AA: Best Actor in a Leading Role (Sean Penn); Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Tim Robbins)
AAN: Best Picture (Robert Lorenz, Judie Hoyt, Clint Eastwood); Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Marcia Gay Harden); Best Director (Clint Eastwood); Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay (Brian Helgeland).
