Mystic River

Is Mystic River really that mystical?

To muse over buying this book is like debating whether to watch a Quentin Tarantino film: the dialogue is great, the characters are worthy of empathy, yet, both book and film fall short in plot and story.

Initially, I was hyped to read this novel, to enjoy a nice week of entertainment that I truly could get into. And initially, the book promised just that: an interesting, yet jaded premise, with kids going their separate ways only to cross paths when they turned adults, each being the complete antithesis of one another by day's end. The dialogue is fantastic, paralleling screenplay dialogue matched by Quentin Tarantino. The characters - well, you empathize with them, feeling for their loss, their overt flaws, their lackluster, down-to-earth lives. But, these typical facets of a book just are overshadowed by the terrible, unsatisfying ending in which grief and mourn, indigence and extreme irritance (for having read a book and then discovering the pitiful ending) is like a punch in the face (or worse, a waste of 3 days).

My advice, you want to become a writer, learn from the author how to write dialogue.
- My advice, you want to learn 3-dimensional characters, learn from the author how to write about 3-D characters.
Yet, you want to be thrown in the gutter by the 'read's end', then by all means this book is just for you.

But seriously, it was an ok-kinda-sorta, I-wish-I-never-heard-of-it, I-wish-it-didn't have-to-happen-like-that kind of book, you know?

Pen Name: The Master Critic of Critics

Not impressed, insulted by the writer

I found that the book, Mystic River, was very insulting to anyone who grew up in the Boston area. I, myself, grew up in East Boston. I was very offended by the descriptions of the houses and neighborhoods as being old and decaying and of the people who suffered from depression and hopelessness because they had to live there. Most of us had a wonderful and happy childhood. I don't know where Dennis Lehane thinks he lived, but it sure wasn't in East Boston. I was also very disappointed that the writer chose a subject(child abduction and abuse) that has already been written about many times. I thought that his story was going to be original and interesting. As for the movie, it wasn't too bad, one of the locations was Falcon St. where I had lived, and the houses looked pretty good to me. The church was St.John the Baptist, which I am very sad to say, is now closed. This is where my mother and other relatives were married and where we went to services. It looked the same as in my childhood, beautiful. I was too distracted by seeing the familiar places, to really concentrate on the movie itself. As for the Boston accents, another failed attempt. I certainly don't sound that way. No one can immitate our accents, especially in movies, so don't even try. The acting was good, but the movie was overated. I don't know what all the hype was about.

Anything but Mystical

A very depressing film that will not put you in a good mood after you leave the theater. Don't expect a happy ending. This follows a very intricate plot line that goes all the way back to the characters's youths. One who becomes a gangster, one a recluse, and another a cop in the Irish enclave of South Boston. One of Eastwood's finest films, this is more psychologically gritty, a little more insightful, and realistic than some of his previous films. For some reason, though, it is not the type of film to watch a second time.

WOW!!!!

I had owned this movie for some time, but had never gotten around to actually watching it. Today I finally sat down and watched it for the first time, and I am SO glad I did!!! It was breathtaking and absolutely fantastic. I felt so many over-whelming emotions all at once in this film....some parts had me laughing, other parts had my jaw dropping to the floor, some parts had me on the edge of my seat, and other parts had me bursting in tears. I highly reccomend this fantastic story played out in a film that falls nothing short of brilliant.

This movie didn't really end -

It led you to believe that there would be more. It was very unsettling but mostly well done - I think this is part of Clint Eastwood's style as a director. He likes to leave you thinking.

Great movie

This is a good movie which shows what it is like to live in the poor Irish blue collar area of Boston called Charlestown. The only problim that i have with this movie is my family is from Boston, Mass and my Grandfather was born and raised in another poor Irish part of Boston called South Boston (known to the locals as "Southy")and it makes all poor Irish Bostonians look like they are all in the Mob... which is not true. but the acting was well writen and was played out well (Except for the realy fake sounding Boston acents). Clent Eastwood had alot of good actors in this movie who looked the part and played there part well. ov er all i highly recomend this movie.

Best Film of 2003

Although the final chapter of "The Lord of the Rings" won the Oscar for Best Picture, this film will be seen in the future as the best movie of 2003. In this film, Clint Eastwood's unique style of directing is perfectly suited for the characters and their situations. Certainly a depressing story, but put me down as the kind of person who finds films like that refreshing. Not every movie can be happy, mostly because life isn't always happy. A downbeat story is played to perfection by all involved, and Sean Penn and Tim Robbins won well-deserved acting Oscars. This movie would have run away with Oscars galore if it hadn't been for "LOTR", but everybody saw the loss coming and accept this film for what it is: a true classic of our time.

Horrible, horrible, don't waste your time....read the book instead

If you haven't read the book and don't plan on reading the book, you'll probably like this movie. What I didn't like was how the movie rushed through a lot of the character and plot development (finding the body and the 'other' murder) that was so critical to the book's success. Trust me - the book was so much better. Not really sure how this movie got nominated and won so many awards. Oh, and Tim Robbins as Dave - no way, didn't buy it at all.

The Most Awesome movie of 2003

This is a great movie, that explores the deapths of human personality and makes you think about it.

Great until the end

This was a well acted, well directed and well told story until the very end. I could not believe that after two hours of gripping drama, emotion and heart that it slipped into something so aggravating. Are you telling me that Jimmy (Sean Penn) wouldn't feel any more remorse than what he did after killing Dave (Tim Robbins) whom he thought killed his daughter by mistake who just happened to be his old friend? Suddenly he is the 'king of the town' and has this cocky smirk on his face and Sean (Kevin Bacon) lets him get away with it just because he gets his wife and child back? I don't know, I just didn't care for the ending and it ticks me off the more I think about it. If you didn't like the ending in the movie like me, you had better not read the book. You will be even more upset.

Dry River Bed

An over-publicized production that wallows in a predictably boring plot conveying absolutely no theme. I disagree with the critics who claim that this is more than a simple 'who dunnit' film. The plot and character development being so shallow and disjointed, it's hard to find any of the deep meaning the critics are raving about. The acting of Sean Penn, Kevin Bacon,and Tim Robbins is overblown for such a mediocre screenplay. The mystery of who killed Sean Penn's daughter is rather predictable making the characters' attempts at solving it seem amateurish if not idiotic. The story also focuses too much on issues that arose between the characters in the past that have absolutely no manifestation or relevance with their present dilemmas: they might as well have been complete strangers and the story would have had the same impact: none. Although critics praise the film as a complex exploration into the human psyche one never really gets that impression from the film. The characters and plot are too poorly developed to comprise a meaningful character study. What does Tim Robbins' past as a victim of pedophilia have to do with anything in this story? Absolutely nothing. Although it functions as a plot technique for suspense, it could have been just about any other traumatic experience to make the character seem odd, evasive, and suspect. The film focuses too much on this and makes it appear an important element when it really has very little relevance. In sum, the film's plot and theme are poorly woven: they have little to no logical relationship to each other and comprise little else than big a non-sequitur in logical reasoning. This film is but a shallow, if not dry, river bed of a story with no character or thematic depth whatsoever. This by far has to be the most over-rated film of 2003. It deserved no Oscars.

Are you insane??????????????

For the people who don't enjoy this movie, we must have been watching a different movie. This film with superb direction from the master storyteller Clint Eastwood and great acting from all it's roles especially from Tim Robbins was easily the best film of 2003. Clint Eastwood takes every scene like it is his magnum opus and visually creates a moving, cinematic masterpiece that doesn't feel like a film, but it's like they dropped you into the streets of Boston. Brian Helgeland is one of the greatest screenwriters in the era, with this and L. A. Confidential, which was the best film of '97, has just proven to many that he has such versatility. But Helgeland wouldn't be working if it wasn't for people like Dennis Lehane, who is easily one of the best crime writers of all time. Mr. Lehane, please write until your 100, you rock, keep it up!!!!!

RIVER BAD.

I agree - some great acting, but no plot or characters to be concerned with, and some unbelievable coincidences make this overrated farce watchable but one I will never see again. But don't give up on Clint - Watch 'Bloodwork'. Or 'Play Misty'. Or 'Outlaw Josie Wales' or 'High Plains Drifter'- you'll love 'em.

Depressing movie

Good acting, but when it is all said and done, you just wonder why anyone would make such a depressing movie. This one went in the trash heap.

magnificent, edge of your seat thriller

with such real deep searing emotions, at times it will rip you apart! each character is so fully realized, so 3 dimensional as to kick you in the butt with their deep torments! i was so enthralled that upon it's climax, i found myself both weeping and laughing! the performances by sean penn, tim robbins, marcia gay harden, laura linnley, and kevin bacon will astound you. the direction by clint eastwood is so meticulous as is the music score that you will not know where the 2 &1/2 hours went. the digital transfer as is the 5.1 ac-3 sound all mesh together to present one of the very best dvds of this year! rent it or buy it, than savor it over and over. bravos to all involved

Blown away!!

I must say, I really enjoyed this movie. It was very easy to follow, had a great story line and the acting was phenomenal. It was good to see that movies can be very enjoyable and entertaining without a cliche' happy ending.

Okay , a bad story almost overcome by performances

This movie tries to be a character study as well as a murder mystery. It fails in both respects. The acting and directing were excellent, but the story is told in an extremely clumsy manner. It is as if the writer decided to change themes halfway through the story. The viewer gets distracted by separate elements of the story. It begins as a character study, then takes a sharp turn into the realm of murder mystery and then repeats this transormation every few minutes for two hours. It feels like this movie can't decide what it wants to be. This is the cinematic equvalent of the fifth year college student who is still undeclared, but gets great grades and has plenty of all purpose credits. You can see lots of potential just beneath the surface, but watching this pattern repeat itself is frustrating. The actors and director did a terrific job working with terrible material(Penn and Robbins deserved these Oscars for effort). But, I cannot help thinking that their work was akin to a master sculptor trying to make the best of a can of Playdoh.

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No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.