Profound Emotions/Authentic Sense of Place

Rating: Null/10 (24 November 2003)

Nothing is more delightful than a movie where all the characters
have huge emotional hurdles to overcome. This is such a movie.
Sean Penn, Kevin Bacon and the rest of this all-star cast have a
lifetime of secrets, hurt and hoplessness to overcome and as hard
life seems they continue to press onward. Even Laurence
Fishburne in his supporting role as Det. Powers has major
obstacles. But the biggest surprise is the use of the location as a
character. I've only been to boston once but I could "feel" the
neighborhood's presence and felt as if I were really there with the
characters walking the streets. This is a "feel good" film but not in
the traditional sense. It reaffirms that the human spirit, no matter
what it is put through, is hard to kill.