Mystically Captivating

Rating: 10/10 (15 June 2009)

In 2003, starring some of the most profound actors in Hollywood, Mystic River tells the tale of a father who unexpectedly loses his daughter, when she is murdered. Overcome with grief and anger Jimmy Markum, played by Sean Penn, takes it upon himself to find his daughter's killer.
Katie Markum, Jimmy's daughter, played by Emmy Rossum, is killed at the very beginning of the film, at the tender age of 19. Her father who feels as though he knows his daughter better than any other, only truly learns about his daughter's second life after her death. One of the Investigators on the murder case and child-hood friend to Jimmy is Sean Divine, played by Kevin Bacon. When the investigator begins his work to try and figure out what really happened to Katie Markum, he unveils her secret love affair with Brenden Harris, played by Thomas Guiry. The two were set to leave for Las Vegas to get married the day after Katie's death. The plot thickens when a flash backs reveal a tragedy that happened to Jimmy Markum, Sean Devine and Dave Boyle, played by Tim Robbins. All three boys were friends when they were younger and one day when playing in the street, Dave is abducted by a strange man pretending to be a cop. Dave ends up going missing for days and only returns when he escapes from his captures. Ever since the experience when Boyle was a boy he has never quite had the same demeanor. When Dave Boyle is one of the last people to see Katie Markum alive, he becomes a prime suspect to the police and to Jimmy Markum.
This film did a phenomenal job of displaying the grief and anguish a parent faces when they lose a child. As a viewer you can almost feel Jimmy Markum's pain and suffering when his daughter is slain. Moreover, the complicated relationships between the 3 men who were friends as children make this film even more drama packed. Clint Eastwood did a fantastic job directing the A-list stars in the film in expressing the overbearing and powerful emotions that make this film a hit! I could not tell you one single thing that this movie did wrong or that could have been improved. Clint Eastwood and cast perfected this movie and nothing could be changed in order. Even the film's tone and scenery changed from the begging to the end, utter genius. At the beginning of the film, the lighting and shots are bright and cheery and at the very and the shots are darker and somber. Beyond a doubt, true perfection.
If any Oscar should go out to anyone in this film it should definitely go to Tim Robbins. Robbins portrayal of an adult, whose childhood experiences shaped his adulthood nightmare, was absolutely unbelievable. The actor couldn't have depicted his character any better. The role was absolutely the most challenging role of the entire film, and he nailed it.
Mystic River hit the nail on the head. The combination of A-list actors and director and well as a compelling plot, makes this movie a MUST see. All in all I would rate this movie a 10 out of 10 stars from its realistic interpretation of a murder gone awry.