Powerfully Compelling Film

Rating: 8/10 (26 July 2006)

I always look forward to getting to see films in the Top 250... they're generally voted there for a reason (besides the Lord of the Rings films). This one was so well put together, the characters so intricately intertwined... I was glued to my screen in suspense.
Clint Eastwood is not a name I associate with directing, but this view is changing. I would rather watch something he directed these days than some film where he just shoots people (with all due respect to Dirty Harry). Can anyone else put together a tale of Boston kids together like this and expose the gritty reality of life? Because Matt Damon is not going to do it.
As kids, Jimmy, Sean and Dave were playing when one of them (Dave) is kidnapped. Years later, Jimmy is in a mob, Sean is a cop and Dave is mentally unstable. When the mob man 's daughter is killed, evidence points to Dave. Will the cop be able to solve the crime before the mafia kills Dave? And is Dave even really the killer, or is he telling the truth about the mugger? (If you're confused, just watch. It makes more sense.)
Sean Penn is always walking a fine line with me, but he is excellent in this film. More mob roles should be in his future and less military roles. Kevin Bacon is Kevin Bacon, which for me is a good thing. Tim Robbins excels. He has always been great, but this time he really outdoes himself.
Watch three lives come together and slowly get torn apart. It's gritty, it's real and it's amazing. A special shout-out to Emmy Rossum who was great and should be in more big films (but probably won't be), and Laura Linney who is always great. After "Kinsey" and "Life of David Gale", it's nice to see her in something less erotic.
Rent this film... don't be fooled by the title, it has nothing to do with "Mystic Pizza".