Good, but not great

Rating: Null/10 (23 February 2004)

Mystic River is an example of a potentially great movie that when realized, was merely very good. Mystic River's biggest flaw is the way previously unimportant characters are thrust into the spotlight and character traits before previously explored are given full attention. What I am about to say may be a spoiler of sorts if the reader has not already seen the movie, so avert your eyes quickly (like now)so as to not be deprived of full enjoyement of the aforementioned movie. Okay, so as I was saying, I think Eastwood and Brian Helgeland probably wanted to give those watching the movie the sense that an invisible, but omnipresent, wall had developed between Sean(Bacon) and Jimmy(Penn), and David(Robbins). When David was taken away at the beginning of the movie, his life and the lives of the other two boys, began to take on two very different paths. I believe the filmakers were trying to show that division still existed even to the point of Sean protecting Jimmy even after he took David's life without reason. As Jimmy's wife(Laura Linney) put it, Sean and Jimmy were "kings" of their world, able to protect what is theirs at all costs. David, due to his unfortunate encounter as a child, was devoid of the power that Sean and Jimmy assumed. The closing seen seemed to enhance this feeling, as Sean's and Jimmy's families are seen together, whole and joyous. David's, on-the-other-hand, is left fatherless and lost. Unfortunately, this theme is barely hinted at until the closing scenes. My guess is the novel is more focused when it comes to this theme, because it seems to be the driving force behind the entire story. The movie forsakes that theme until the end, in order to tell a murder mystery.
Therefore, the movie is a very good murder mystery, with a few excellent dramatic moments. The acting, of course, is paramount. Any movie that names Sean Penn, Kevin Bacon, Tim Robbins, Laurence Fishbure, and Laura Linney is sure to include top-notch acting. Penn will probally win the Best Actor award, and justly so. I haven't seen better acting by a male lead in the year past. Bacon or Robbins could have recieved nominations. Robbins character is more pronounced, therefore got the nod. Yet, Bacon's sympathetic, yet powerful acting is great in its subtlety. Marica Gay Harden's portrayal is heart-breaking as an unwitting bystander in the drama between the three men, and Tom Guiry delivers a breakout performance as the boyfriend. Clint Eastwood is overrated as a director. His direction is merely what every novice director would do. The flashbacks, pans towards the sky, and over-head shots are stat-quo for the scenes in which they are used.
The great acting brings this movie to life. Without it, it would be average. With it, I would give it a 7 out of 10. Unfortunately, I haven't seen the other Oscar nominated movie's this year, so this is the best movie I have seen this year. I hope this is not the case.