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Based on the bestselling crime novel, of the same name, by Dennis Lehane.
Mystic River is, without a doubt, a powerful and rich tale of how human nature, past sins and fate can combine to come back to haunt us in ways we could never imagine. Clint Eastwood should be given credit for being as faithful to the book, which I've read, as is humanly possible. Therein, however, lies the rub. Eastwood's respect for the complexity and depth of the original material ultimately produces a film that, at numerous moments, feels like a mechanical, paint-by-numbers video recreation.
Even if you haven't read the book you'll notice this during the opening sequences. The portrayal of the pivotal event that plays such an integral role in shaping the lives of the young Jimmy (Penn), Dave (Robbins) and Sean (Bacon) feels forced throughout. You almost get the feeling that Eastwood was either uncomfortable with the subject matter or in a rush to get to the heart of the story. Whatever the reason, for this, there is clearly a difference between the quality of this segment and most of the rest of the movie.
Things get worse before they get better. The second sequence introduces us to Detective Sean and his estranged wife. Eastwood is not really to blame here. I always thought this was the weakest part of an otherwise excellent novel and it doesn't translate well onto the big screen either. Unfortunately, coming immediately after the weak opening scene, it establishes a tone that the rest of the movie has to work hard to, and doesn't quite succeed in, shedding.
This blatant deficiency continues up to and including the point that Jimmy (Penn) discovers his daughter is dead. Despite the obvious distress any parent would be overcome by, at the loss of a loved one, watching Jimmy's outburst was painful for it's coming out of nowhere quality. From my perspective the groundwork for such a display, by the neighborhood tough guy, hadn't been sufficiently established. By contrast, the scene where Jimmy comforts his wife is much more honest and emotional.
The rest of the production is better but remains maddeningly uneven. The scene involving the confrontation between Jimmy and his father-in-law is just one example. Dave's mental instability, central to the unfolding circumstances, is also given inadequate attention in my opinion. Its almost as if Eastwood felt compelled to include everything in the book but lacked the time, in an already lengthy movie, to sufficiently set the stage for the numerous developments.
The film starts to find its sea legs as the murder investigation unfolds. This may not be coincidental. This is familiar territory for Eastwood and his comfort level with this aspect of the story clearly shows through.
As Eastwood gets more comfortable so do his actors. As the tale turns darker and the closeted demons surface Penn, Bacon and Robbins seem to grow into their respective parts before your eyes. By the end of the movie their performances are uncannily convincing. The problem is that it takes awhile for the creative juices to start flowing.
Ultimately, its the totality of the quality of the performances and the underlying depth of the story that makes Mystic River worth seeing, despite its flaws.
Running time - 137 minutes
Check out my TOP 10 MOVIES OF 2003 & WORST MOVIES OF 2003 lists.
Alternative Reviews:
Roger Ebert's Review
Peter Travers / Rolling Stone Review
Rotten Tomatoes Reviews
Mystic River Official Web Site
