Review of Mystic River (2003) by Matthew L — 13 Apr 2011

I am admittedly a little late to this party, it has been on the to watch list for many years and now having seen it I partly wish that it had stayed on that list, as it didn't quite pack the punch I had been lead to believe.

Having said that this is still a well made film, with some very good performances, did Penn deserve the Oscar? I'm not so sure, I find him a little over wrought at times and a bit of a one trick pony, the same goes for Robbins, yes his performance is good but judging from the Nominees that year its almost a case of the best of a bad bunch. The real standout for me is Gay Harden, who gives a measured and emotional performance. As for Bacon and Fishburne it pains me to say that their roles could have been played by just about anyone, but obviously everyone wants the chance to work with Eastwood allowing him to fill out even lesser roles with high calibre actors.

A good film, but not the great film that every critic under the sun would have us believe.