Review of Mystic River (2003) by Paul R — 30 Jul 2013

Somber, tragic, and unflinching in its most rawest scenes, Mystic River is Clint Eastwood's most emotionally gut-wrenching film where justice is at war with itself between vigilantism and the authoritative powers to be, and in the middle are three uniquely, well-defined characters struggling with emotional trauma of their own during a case of a homicide of one of the character's daughter.

Sean Penn and Tim Robbins give performances that are captivating and saddening to watch while Kevin Bacon anchors the one semblance of any hope out of the trio. With such a pitch-perfect direction from Eastwood, a tightly, layered script from Brian Helgland, and marvelous performances all-around, it's only more tragic at how it ends.

I won't spoil, but there is a certain speech from a certain wife of a certain character that destroys everything the film has built up to that it's all the more infuriating and horrifying to even listen to.

It's baffling that it ends on such an incoherent way, that it keeps this from being a perfect five-star film. But as much as it is a moronic ending, it does not diminish the 99% of this film that was perfect in every way.

*sigh* this could have been my favorite Eastwood directed picture.