The Genius is in the Simplicity

Rating: 9/10 (7 October 2009)

To me "Mystic River" can boast three things. One; A great director (Clint Eastwood). Two; Great actors (Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, Kevin Bacon, and Marcia Gay Harden). Three; A masterfully crafted story (Dennis Lehane and Brian Helgeland). Getting these elements together makes for one hell of a movie.
Jimmy (Penn), Sean (Bacon), and Dave (Robbins) were three childhood friends. When they were about ten two men dressed as police officers came and tried to abduct the boys. Jimmy and Sean were able to resist but Dave fell in their trap and was taken. He return to his neighborhood some days later feeling alienated and alone. Twenty-five years later Jimmy's daughter is found dead and Sean is the officer investigating the case. As the evidence begins to mount up Jimmy suspects that their old friend Dave is the killer. Dave's wife Celeste (Harden) also begins to suspect her husband may have something to do with the girl's death when he comes home one night covered in someone else's blood. But all is not as it may seem when the plot begins to unfold...
Both Sean Penn and Tim Robbins received well deserved Oscars (Penn for Best Actor in a Leading Role and Robbis for Best Actor in a Supporting Role)for their parts in this film. The other pieces of the film including the other cast members, director, story, and cinematography all come together to make a wonderful story. "Mystic River" gets an A.