A riveting actor's tour de force

Rating: 9/10 (26 October 2003)

As if it was not yet obvious, this movie clinches Sean Penn's ascent to godhood. He _is_ Jimmy Markum, the hard man struck down by the murder of his beloved daughter and pulled back into a darkness he thought he'd left behind. Tim Robbins is at least as good in his portrayal of Dave Boyle, the poor soul tormented by childhood trauma he has never been able to overcome. Kevin Bacon comes off a little flat, but the supporting roles - including Marcia Gay Harden, Laurence Fishburne, Laura Linney, and Tom Guiry are all very well executed.
Some commenters have criticized the direction for being slow, but they are mistaking deliberate pacing with dawdling. This isn't an action movie and should not be directed and edited as such. The film proceeds exactly as it should given its nature. I loved the way scenes atmospherically dissolve into another, something Eastwood learned well from Don Siegel, who was something of a mentor earlier on in Clint's career.
If you are a movie-goer who appreciates a movie that isn't just non-stop explosions, car chases, and fight scenes I think you'll find much to sink your teeth into here. 9/10