|
|
  
Back Shelf Beauties
|
Mystic River If you have ever spoken to Clint Eastwood or seen him in an interview, you'll notice that he's a mellow guy. Dirty Harry is a quiet, soft-spoken, deep thinking man, much like the movies that he directs. Whether it's Play Misty For Me, Unforgiven, or his new movie, Mystic River, Eastwood the director, in his best movies, likes to sneak up on you with the subtle power of the story that isn't apparent until the right moment. Tim Robbins stars as Dave - a troubled man who was kidnapped and taken advantage of when he was a child. He never truly recovered, and the two buddies who were with him always felt mixed emotions about it. They felt horrible about what happened to their friend, but somewhat grateful that it wasn't them. Eventually, they all drifted apart as these things happen in life, but a terrible incident has brought them all back together. On the same night that Dave mysteriously comes home covered in blood with a story that is hard to believe, a young 19-year old girl has been brutally murdered. Her father is Dave's pal Jimmy (Sean Penn), an ex-con who swears to find the man who did it before the cops do. The only thing standing in his way is the third member of the group, Sean (Kevin Bacon), who is the lead investigator on the case and not ready to believe that Dave might be responsible. Who killed Jimmy's daughter? Mystic River is a hard movie to summarize in just a few sentences, which gives me even more appreciation for Eastwood and screenwriter Brian Helgeland (who almost makes good for that atrocious piece of junk that he released earlier this year, The Order). It's a complex tale with plenty of twists and turns that allows the audience to play detective along with the characters on the screen. Helgeland and Eastwood throw out little pieces of the puzzle, some so subtle that you don't realize their importance until later in the movie. It's a relief and a pleasure to be treated with such respect when many filmmakers don't assume that the audience is smart enough to follow along. Along with his storytelling ability, Eastwood should also be commended as a director who understands the power of images. He delivers strong statements by letting the picture tell the story. From a disturbing crime scene to a look at a man who sits on the curb contemplating what has transpired to a passing glance at a woman looking out the window as if she knows something, Eastwood doesn't let anything complicate a simple scene that speaks volumes. He doesn't go for the easy picture, Eastwood goes for the picture that advances the story while giving the audience a chance to reflect and feel for what is happening. While the cast is full of Oscar caliber actors, Penn is the one who stands out the most. Bacon is solid as the detective, but his is not a flashy role and one that is bogged down by a subplot that isn't important to the story. Robbins does a fine job the possible killer, but his role rarely gives him a chance to show much range. On the other hand, Penn is the one who will walk away with an Oscar nomination. His reaction to his daughter's murder is heartbreaking, his rage jumps off the screen and his cold-hearted solution is shocking. Penn gets to show all of the emotions - righteous indignation, sadness, anger, a touch of evil and toughness. It's a tour de force for a fine actor who doesn't get his due. Mystic River has few flaws, but they do take away from its greatness. I already mentioned the subplot with Sean, but I also was bothered by Eastwood's ending. In a movie that doesn't take the easy way out, I think he tries to tie up too many loose ends. Mystic River has a natural and powerful ending, but Eastwood tacks on one more scene that doesn't have any meaning or significance. It doesn't ruin the movie, but it does take it down a notch. Grade: A- Copyright 2003 - WaffleMovies.com
|
