by Derek VanLeenen
It’s not easy or often I get shaken when I leave a movie theater. Mystic River shook me to the core with its raw performances and powerful storytelling. There is a lot of Oscar buzz surrounding this film and let me be witness to say – Believe it!

The story revolves around 3 childhood friends – Jimmy (Sean Penn), Sean (Kevin Bacon) and Dave (Tim Robbins). Their lives are destroyed when one day Dave is abducted and molested in their neighborhood in Boston. We next see them in adulthood with Jimmy as a convenience store owner, Sean as a homicide detective and Dave with his family still haunted by the past. The three friends all have gone their separate ways, until Jimmy’s daughter is found murdered.

I have not been a fan of all of Clint Eastwood’s directorial work. I was really let down with efforts like True Crime or Blood Work. But this movie is his best work to date (even better than Unforgiven!) You can sense his vision and passion for storytelling with this movie. I really liked how he allows this movie to be drawn-out, I think that’s what makes it different from the other movies out there.

Most of the performances in this movie were amazing, if not inspired. Let me be the first to say Sean Penn’s name will be called on Oscar night. I have not seen such a performance in a long time that screams such honesty and passion with a raw edge. Tim Robbins is perfect as he gives a performance so vulnerable you can feel his pain. Also amazing are Marcia Gay Harden as Dave’s wife, and newcomer Tom Guiry who plays Jimmy’s daughter’s boyfriend (He will be big someday).

There were only a few things I didn’t like about this movie. Kevin Bacon’s character seemed out of place in a lot of his scenes, and I could see other people playing him. Also the very ending of the film could have been a lot more powerful than it was. They could have ended the movie a little earlier and left out a scene. It almost seemed they had to hollywood-ize it a little bit, instead of letting us feel the darkness the actions had ensued.

I will warn that this is not a movie for everyone. In many ways it is almost painful to watch. It is a movie about pain – raw and unbridled. Not “Dawson and Joey” pain, but real pain and the darkness it brings. The darkness many people think they’re rid of, but as it comes back it hits us harder each time.

I wish there were more movies like this. Movies that you will remember for a long time, due to haunting images that are story related. A cinematic “kick-in-the pants,” if you will. This movie deserves to do well, and it probably will come awards time. But for those of us who enjoy heavy movies that really make us think about life. Make sure you see Mystic River, it’s so good it hurts.

Derek VanLeenen


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