Details
- Title
- Mystic River
- Director
- Clint Eastwood
- Cast
- Sean Penn, Kevin Bacon, Tim Robbins, Laurence Fishburne, Marcia Gay Harden, Kevin Chapman, Laura Linney
- Length
- 137 min.
- Released
- 2003
Review
I think the huge list of big-name actors attached to this movie is indicative of the pull Clint Eastwood's name brings to a project, not the pull Dennis Lehane may or may not have. Not that there's anything wrong with Dennis Lehane, his novel is just the kind of cheap twisty crime thriller that makes for a good movie. Likewise, Clint Eastwood isn't exactly a master director, but he knows his strengths and plays on them. Number one is assembling a crack team for his cast. Everyone is good, most especially Sean Penn and the teen actors (believe it or not teens can be good for something other than mulch (this is not to say that they are not full of precious nutrients)). Number two is staying out of those actors' way. His direction is reasonably stylish, but his priority appears to be remaining inobtrusive.
This is currently in re-release because it was nominated for the Best Picture Oscar. I missed it the first time around because my friends and I decided instead to see, I think, Elf. Elf is not being re-released because of an Oscar nomination. Elf is barely being released on video.
- Rating
- 5/8
- Reviewer
- Pat Jackson
- Published