Jimmy, Dave and
Sean grew up in working-class Boston, but they drift apart
after a terrible tragedy. Many years later, brutal events reconnect
them. Jimmy's 19-year-old daughter is coldly murdered. Dave
(Robbins) is a
suspect. And Sean (Bacon), now a cop, scrambles to solve the crime before
volatile Jimmy (Penn) takes the law into his own hands.
CRITIQUE
I would say I'm a
pretty good Clint Eastwood fan mostly because I love a good number
of his films and the characters he played over the last few
decades. However, during the past few years he directed only
average films, specifically True Crime and Blood Work.
Both films showcased some good things, but the scripts didn't have
much to offer overall. I thought Space Cowboys was fun, but
it didn't have many great things to offer other than a fun cast
and a few good moments.
Well, the good news
is Eastwood redeems himself with Mystic River, a potent
drama with an intense story and serious characters. It's adapted
by Brian Helgeland (L.A. Confidential, The Order)
from Dennis Lehane's novel. The script's focus on three best
friends is equally balanced as the audience gets to know them very
well over the course of almost 140 minutes. The actors playing
them, Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, and Kevin Bacon, have good
chemistry. They share a troubling and confusing past, and because
of it grew up very differently, now they're hardly the best
friends they were as kids.
What works so well
about Mystic River is the script conveying the characters'
growing conflict. Penn plays Jimmy with great certainty but also
shows hints of darkness in the character, a sort of notoriety that
very late in the film leads to a powerful yet merciful scene.
Robbins' performance is very good but also a bit subdued, an
essential combination as he conveys Dave's confusion and
misunderstood intentions realistically. Bacon's Sean is the film's
good guy, perhaps because his live is not as deeply troubled as
those of his two friends. His performance is a commanding one;
he's investigating the death of Jimmy's daughter and any leads he
explores or questions he asks will impact his friendship with
Jimmy and Dave. So yeah, there's conflict all around the place,
and the actors really make it worthwhile and real.
With the three male
leads at the center, the two wives, played by Marcia Gay Harden
and Laura Linney, fall behind. Harden's character is an important
one as she tells her thoughts to Jimmy late in the film. The
script should've improved on her characterization a bit, but the
actress does a pretty good job carrying the required emotional
weight. Laura Linney plays Jimmy's wife, though she doesn't have
anything to do in the story really; well, perhaps to only deliver
a chilling sentence to her husband during the film's last few
minutes. But the performance of Laurence Fishburne as Whitey
Powers, Sean's partner in the investigation, is a good one. He and
Bacon make a good team.
In terms of
filmmaking, Mystic River works on all levels. Clint
Eastwood's direction is smooth and basically flawless. Most
interesting and rewarding, however, is his film score, in
collaboration with son Kyle Eastwood. There are some great pieces
in the score worth listening to outside of the film. Also, Tom
Stern's cinematography is very good, excellently capturing the
film's somewhat gritty Boston neighborhood.
However, for all the
good/great things about Mystic River, there is also my
reservation about the film's length. At 137 minutes, the film
moves at quite a slow pace, and I think longtime Eastwood
collaborator editor Joel Cox could've done something about it.
THE VIDEO
Warner Bros. presents
Mystic River in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen. Colors are
bright and well-saturated. Image quality is strong without any
major flaws such as specks or dirt, though tiny bits show up a
few times. I didn't notice compression artifacts, and black
levels look pretty deep. Sharpness and detail is very nice, and
overall Warner's presentation is very accurate.
Optional subtitles
include English, French, and Spanish.
THE AUDIO
Warner Bros. presents
Mystic River in English 5.1 Dolby Surround Sound. A lot of
the soundtrack comes from the front, such as the many dialogue
passages. The good thing, of course, is that every line is clear
and easy to understand. Sound effects are actively reinforced by
the surrounds, but the best part about this presentation is the
handling of the score. Dynamic range is evident, and the score
also reaches into the soundfield. The presentation is noise-free
and delivers an overall very nice surround sound experience for
a film that's mainly dialogue-driven.
A French dub track
is also available.
THE EXTRAS
There's absolutely nothing on this release. Granted, there is a
3-disc deluxe edition out there for roughly $12 more, but the
studio could've at least added the film's trailer(s), or maybe
even the commentary track.
The 138-minute feature is organized into thirty-six chapters.
The 3-disc Deluxe Edition DVD features
these extras:
Commentary By Tim Robbins and Kevin Bacon,
Beneath The Surface: Documentary Including Clint
Eastwood's Elaboration On Why He Made the Film, Interviews With
the Cast, Journey Back to the Streets of Boston With Author
Dennis Lehane,
From Page To Screen: Bravo Special,
Selections From the Charlie Rose Show (Including Segments
With Clint Eastwood, Tim Robbins, and Kevin Bacon),
Theatrical Trailer, and the
CD soundtrack.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Mystic River
easily earns my recommendation. The film is mainly an actor's and
director's showcase, but its storytelling remains an asset
nevertheless. This widescreen edition DVD is too barebones even though
a 3-disc edition exists. At $27.95 list price, I find the DVD to be a
bit overpriced, although you can find it at a lower price. The deluxe
edition is almost $40 list price, but again it sells for more than $10
less at most stores. So, I guess this barebones DVD makes for a highly
recommended rental, and Eastwood fans may try a purchase.
