powerhouse performances power Mystic River

Rating: 8/10 (19 October 2003)

With an ensemble as strong as Mystic River's, one would presume greatness, though we have definitely seen movies where the sum of its parts does not quite equal the potential whole ("The Hours" comes to mind). Mystic River, however, delivers. Eastwood's film, masterfully and--excitingly enough--subtlety directed, barrels out of the gate and doesn't stop for breath until well into the final act. Sean Penn is stunning; one of the most vivid portrayals of grief on celluloid in recent memory. It is almost painful to watch him cope with the murder of his daughter. Everyone in the cast, in fact, is at the top of their game. Tim Robbins turns in his best work in years, and it is good to see Linney and Harden doing some strong work (in supporting roles). Linney's final monologue is dynamite. Though the film doesn't "teach us a lesson" per se when all is said and done, there is superb character dissection/examination going on.