Best film of the year 2003

Rating: 10/10 (27 December 2003)

Eastwood made Unforgiven a number of years back. He won 2 Oscars for his efforts. If there is any justice, then he'll win again for Mystic River. Simply put, it's the best drama/thriller of the year, and despite the year end being dominated by big epics like Return Of The King, or The Last Samurai, it still towers over them.
The acting is superb all the way through. Sean Penn, Kevin Bacon, but especially Tim Robbins deserve Oscar nominations. His performance of a man haunted by events in his childhood, is the best I've seen in years. The story, which deals with such topics as pedophilia, and it's aftermath and how it can affect the present is truly devastating. The ending, is truly crushing, and will stay with you for sometime to come. When I saw it, it's one of only twice I've seen an audience leave quietly without a word, such was it's power.
If only Hollywood had more film-makers who will give you films like this...which shows you don't need action scenes, or blood and gore or special effects to tell a story. Just simply good film making.