A river runs through it?

Rating: 6/10 (31 October 2003)

Mystic River is slow and clunky to say the least - it moves with grandeur but at a snail's pace and really only delivers in the acting department. Sean Penn is excellent, as is Tim Robbins, whereas as everyone else seems to be putting in an appearance to earn the cheque at the end of the day.
It's saved from being a predictable film by the level of acting. Even when you know what's ahead you're pretty much engrossed by some emotional bludgeoning from some character or other. The underlying tension - the events, unshockingly portrayed at the beginning of the film, slowly burn inside of Tim Robin's head but we never really get to sample the uncertainty he holds within. Perhaps this is meant to reflect the messed-up nature of the character but it simply comes across as confused.
The end is strange too - as if it was added to please someone - and it really gives nothing to the previous events. A worthy film that says more about family ties and laying ghosts to rest than any other subject matter it may have thought it was explaining.