A great piece of film-making

Rating: 9/10 (7 November 2003)

This review contains NO spoilers.
Clint Eastwood has directed another fantastic film. This movie is excellently paced and everything in the movie (setting, characters, music, cinematography) goes along to the support the dark and dreary mood and it is becuase of this that the movie is so successful into drawing you in. The plot tugs you along feeding you just enough information to keep you intrigued in finding out what is going on. Moreover, 'Mystic River' is quite powerful in the actions and consequences that are presented in the movie. While some of it may seem not very realistic, it is all about the importance of one decision. The ending is also quite disturbing, but I think it is becuase of this ending that the movie is so greaat.
Beyond the film itself, the acting is superb. This is the best acting job that I have ever seen from Sean Penn. Tim Robbins also puts forth a notewaorthy performance and I woulnd't be surprised if both of them recieve an Oscar nod; and of course not to mention Clint.
If you want to see a happy movie - this isn't it. HOwever, if you want to see a movie with superb acting, great old-fashioned suspense, with scenes that make you think then this is it. I give it a 9 out of 10.