MYSTIC RIVER (2003)

Director:
Clint Eastwood

Writer:

Brian Helgeland

Starring:
Sean Penn
Tim Robbins
Kevin Bacon and others

Mystic river is a delightful movie in a depressing sort of way. The movie opens with three kids playing ice hockey with a plastic ball, little do the kids know what is in store for them. Soon one of the three kids gets kidnapped.

This is followed by a time jump to when Dave (Tim Robbins), Jimmy (Sean Penn) and Sean (Kevin Bacon) are all grown up. Dave is a stay at home dad married to Celeste (Marcia Gay Harden) who is Annabeth's (Laura Linney) sister. Annabeth is married to Jimmy. Thus Dave and Jimmy have maintained contact over the years. On the other hand Sean is a police officer and has maintained little to no contact with the above two after the incident as kids. What brings these three together is the murder of Jimmy's daughter Katie (Emmy Rossum).

Now this movie is quintessentially a slow-boil thriller which is handled masterfully by Clint Eastwood (of the Letters From Iwo Jima and Changeling fame). His exceptional knowledge and vision are on display here as he tackles sensitive issues of childhood fears with aplomb. His execution is spot on and Helgeland's a revelation. The subtle nuances at display in the movie are the mark of a talented writer.

But according to me, the reason why this movie is my favourite thriller of all time (beating The Silence Of The Lambs) is Tim Robbin's and Sean Penn's performances. They won Oscars for their portrayal of Dave and Jimmy respectively. The scene in which Dave breaks down and recounts the horrific details of his childhood is sensationally acted and elicited chills. This movie reinstates my belief in thrillers and I recommend this movie for all those people who find the corny run of the mill thriller more than mildly annoying.

Pranit’s Rating: 9/10