Excellent mix of mystery and drama---8/10

Rating: 8/10 (9 November 2003)

Mystic River is an incredibly acted and directed movie. Sean Penn gives an outstanding performance as a grieving father who's daughter was savagely murdered and Tim Robbins is superb as a man who suffered a horrible experience as a child. Kevin Bacon also gives a strong performance as a detective who has to solve this emotional case. All three were friends in childhood but grew apart after Robbins' character's experience. Clint Eastwood does an excellent job blending a powerful drama with a intricate murder mystery. It is a movie about murder, revenge, abuse, karma, and sin, and is one of the best films of 2003. 8/10