Non-mystic dissappointment

Rating: 3/10 (27 October 2003)

The movie drags, the plot line makes no sense,and even though the acting was above par, the casting was abysmal. Unfortunately, these are the highlights of Mystic River. I came away totally confused by a simplistic (we figured out who done it about 20 minutes into the movie) and moving target of a plot. The correlations presented as clues to the plot were poorly placed and lacked continuity.
Penn, Bacon and Robbins as three childhood buddies who went their separate ways after Robbins abduction and sexual assault and whose paths conveniently cross as a result of Penn's daughters murder is weak at best and unconvincing at worst. It's just too convenient to be coincidental. Lastly, the character of Celeste Boyle played by Marsha Gay Hardin was so annoying that you wished for a joystick to maneuver her into the path of an oncoming trash truck just to get her out of your hair. Ms. Hardin tried her best to salvage the Celeste character, but there was no hope.
Clint Eastwood has directed some fine movies in the past, but M. Night Shyamalan he is not. Stick to Westerns Clint!