Mystic River (2003)
Let me start by saying that I've had a mixed-reaction to Sean Penn movies. Some I've really liked, some I haven't, but there have never been any that, due to his performance, I've flat-out loved. That's changed with this movie. I loved him in this film. He plays Jimmy Markum, a local "businessman," who has had throughout his life a criminal connection, even doing time for a friend whose crime Jimmy admitted to. He believes in loyalty of friendship. But, going back to his childhood, he had a friendship with two neighborhood boys, Dave and Sean. Dave is abducted by two men in a car and is sexually abused for days until he escapes. This event causes a rift between the three friends. Dave (Tim Robbins) and Sean (Kevin Bacon), along with Jimmy, drift apart in their adult life, yet are still somewhat friendly with each other. Then Jimmy's beloved daughter Katie (Emmy Rossum) is found murdered and Jimmy's life crumbles. He will do anything to find out who killed her and mete out "justice" to that person.
On the same night that Katie was murdered, Dave, who has never been the same since his childhood trauma, comes home with someone else's blood on him and a bruised hand. His wife Celeste (Marcia Gay Harden) suspects him in association with Katie's murder. He says he beat a mugger. The truth is somewhere in-between. Sean is now a detective, who, along with his partner Whitey Powers (Laurence Fishburne), investigate several leads. All of this brings the three estranged friends back into each others immediate circles, with major tension resulting. But in this movie, it's Penn's performance that really anchors this movie for me. In the past I've disliked certain Penn roles because he seemed to always be scowling throughout the entire movie, almost like he didn't want to be there. But here he's a family man (albeit one with a criminal past) who isn't afraid to show a softer side in his love for family, and sorrow when he loses his character's daughter. I know he's done movies where his role is more sensitive. I've just been unfortunate enough to see him in the "scowly" flicks where his persona, at least to me, was negative throughout. This movie changed all that for me. I was really jazzed by his Jimmy Markum in this.
Clint Eastwood directed this, and I'm a huge fan of his. That's what really drew me to this movie. Tim Robbins won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, but I think Penn had the more nuanced role. The entire cast is perfection and there are more than a few surprises in the script. I really liked the final scene in particular between two men across the street with a parade between them. I want to see this one again soon. It takes its time, deals with the characters mostly over the mystery, which in this case works in spades. Best of all, I'm inspired to see more Sean Penn films. A highly recommended movie.
Reply to Topic
