Mystic River is a dark and enthralling tail.

Rating: 7/10 (13 August 2014)

In this tragedy about three childhood friends Dave, Jimmy and Sean are reunited by the murder of a daughter and forced to reopen old wounds. Sean, a detective, and his partner are assigned to the case. Jimmy distraught by the death of his daughter goes about the business of handing out justice on his own, as Dave deals with the demons of the past. Clint Eastwood is a skilled storyteller who will keep you on the edge of your seat. The movie opens as three boys play hockey in the street. The picture is washed out and the brightest color in the frame is the red tape that protects the new cement on the sidewalk. A dark car pulls up, two hard looking men posing as officers, get one of the boys into the car. Ominous music plays in the background, your stomach turns when you see the boy look back at his friends from the rear window of the car. The boys look on helplessly as the car pulls away. Through skillful editing this movie employs techniques that leave the viewer scared for the characters and emotionally vested in the boys. The movement of the film is seamless as you watch the story unfold. The cinematography takes you away to this Irish-Catholic working class neighborhood. Dave is seen again with his own son, as they walk it can be felt that his experiences haunt him. The film cuts to flash backs and then to him, his eyes sorrowful. After being at the bar he comes home with blood all over his clothing and a cut to his chest, with a story of a mugging. At the same time Jimmy's daughter has not been home all night and no one is sure where she is. Sean is assigned an investigation into an abandoned car, which turns out to be that of Jimmy's daughter. The following sequences show the visceral reaction of Jimmy as he attempts find out what has happened to his daughter. The skillful editing adding to the intensity of the emotion as the film cuts to show the reactions of a father whose young girl is lost. Just when you feel you can't take any more, the camera lifts you up and away from the scene. As Jimmy starts to suspect that his childhood friend is responsible for the death of his daughter he takes matters into his own hands. Has he heads down this dark path, the lighting dims in the film, you can feel the danger upon Dave once again. The action cuts to Sean who continues to follow his leads. The light fades more and more from the film as Jimmy pursues his revenge and the boys who did kill his daughter are caught. The futility of revenge is fully realized in his blind anger he has killed a man who is not responsible for the murder of his daughter.
This movie speaks to the effects of sexual abuse on its victims. The abuse suffered and then perpetuated by that same victim. This is a cycle of violence, guilt and revenge, without hope of resolution.
I would recommend this film; it hooked me in and didn't let go. I would give it a 7 out of 10.