Review of Mystic River (2003) by Darien S — 04 Jan 2013

Mystic River, oddly enough, is partly a fairly conventional crime drama. Kevin Bacon's character, Sean Devine, investigates the murder of Sean Penn's character, Jimmy's, daughter. That aspect of the film doesn't provide the audience with anything compelling.

The film is best when it focuses on its characters, especially Jimmy and Dave (played by Tim Robbins). Jimmy and Dave both commit violent acts in the course of the film. The irony that is inherent in the heart stopping final scene at the docks brings the film out of its occasional conventionality.

Jimmy and Dave are essentially good men who both act as executioners, forever traumatized by a string of events. Sean may have escaped the blood wrath but he makes his hand in to a gun in the final scene.

Sean is reunited with his wife because he was lucky enough to not be as intimately involved in the mess of events. The entire film feels like a fulfillment of some bloody prophesy. The inevitable tragedy is brought to life by some wonderful cinematography (the grimly lit docks and Dave's face half silhouetted in darkness stand out as some choice shots).