Mystic River (DVD)

Mystic River is one of those awkward films that it's difficult to talk about without either appearing vague or giving away too much of the plot. At heart, it's s story about a group of troubled childhood friends who grow up into troubled adults and whose paths cross once more when the daughter of one of them is murdered. But that's a bit like saying The Bible is a story about someone who was quite nice. Based on a novel by Dennis Lehane, Mystic River is a deep, complex, multi-layered story. It's a modern masterpiece of storytelling with plenty of twists and turns in a labyrinthine plot which often leaves you wondering how it's all going to end up, without ever ...  Read the complete review

Whilst three young friends are playing on the sidewalk one afternoon, they spot some newly laid cement and decide to carve their names into it. Just as the third boy (Dave) is adding his name to the trophy, a car pulls up alongside them and a man who appears to be a policeman steps out and calls over to them. Apparently angry at their vandalism of municipal property, he asks each of them where they live and when Dave advises that he lives on a different street, he tells the boy to get in the car so that they can all go and speak to his mother about what he has done. Initially reluctant to do so, the frightened boy eventually gives in, but as the car drives away and he ...  Read the complete review

Just now and again during the annual jamboree of movie mayhem, a little gem finds its way into the melee; a gem that needs to be cared for and revered. During 2003 that movie was Mystic River. Director: Clint Eastwood Screenplay: Brian Helgeland Cert: 15 Run time: 137 mins Main Cast: Sean Penn - Jimmy Markum Tim Robbins - Dave Boyle Kevin Bacon - Sean Devine Laurence Fishburne - Sgt. Whitey Powers Marcia Gay Harden - Celeste Boyle Laura Linney - Annabeth Markum Kevin Chapman - Val Savage Tom Guiry - Brendan Harris Emmy Rossum - Katie Markum Adapted from Dennis Lehane’s novel, ...  Read the complete review

note: also appears in part on Flixster and The Student Room Dennis Lehane is one of the best living crime writers, having written superb novels such as Gone Baby Gone and Shutter Island. He also wrote the acclaimed thriller Mystic River, which then became a film, stunningly directed by Clint Eastwood and recieving numerous Oscar nominations, of which is won too (Sean Penn won Best Actor and Tim Robbins won Best Supporting Actor). The film opens during the Summer of 1975, with a young Dave Boyle and two of his buddies, Jimmy and Sean playing on their Boston street, when Dave is abducted and abused over a period of some days. However, Dave manages to ...  Read the complete review

**PLOT** During the summer of 1975 three friends, Dave, Jimmy and Sean are playing out in the streets on a sidewalk which has been recently .concreted, but not yet dry. Being the kids that they are they write their names in the wet concrete. The 'cops' pull up and reprimand the boys and tell Dave (Tim Robbins) to get in the car. When he does it quickly becomes evident that they are not 'cops' at all, but predatory paedophiles, and Dave is subjected to days of abuse at their hands. After the tragedy the boys grow apart but remain living in the same area. The film focuses around the murder of Jimmy's (Sean Penn) teenage daughter, Katie, ...  Read the complete review