Mystical!

Rating: 8/10 (9 December 2003)

Director Clint Eastwood has mystified us again with his new landmark film `Mystic River'. Cinemas around the country should let this river run for awhile to allow more audiences to sink in to this `Mystic River'. Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, and Kevin Bacon star as three childhood friends who are reunited once again in adulthood because of a hometown murder that will change their lives forever. Penn is remarkable as Jimmy Markum, the former town thug who seeks revenge for his daughter's murder. `What about the other two penn pals?' You ask. Kevin Bacon plays Sean Devine, the local detective who is investigating the murder; and Tim Robbins plays Dave Boyle, the unstable comrade who turns out to be the prime suspect. To a certain degree (try 6), one can say that Kevin brings home the bacon by cooking up the most appetizing performance of his assiduous career. As far as Tim Robbins is concerned, it would be highway robbery if Robbins is not nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar. This not-so-tiny Tim delivers a grandiose performance. Also, Marcia Gay Harden gave me a Harden hard-on by pumping up her acting with precise affecting emotion as Dave's perplexed wife. Laura Linney's work as Jimmy's wife was admiring but she did not have enough screen time for Academy Voters to `Think of Laura' when they select the Ssupporting Actress nominations. However, in the end `Mystic River' is Clint Eastwood's masterpiece. Clint, who recently should have been unforgiven for his recent atrocious directorial pieces, redeemed himself and made my day with `Mystic River'. Clint was even generous enough to give Mcgruff the Crime Dog some screen time during the film's conclusive parade scene. I guess many of you who do not the author Meeza (Mcgruff) of this review are saying `What's up with that, Dog?' I guess Meeza got too pushy when he asked Clint to rename the movie `Meeztic River'. Nevertheless, make sure you take a bite out of `Mystic River'. **** Good