In Clint Eastwood's MYSTIC RIVER, a murder mystery in South Boston unites three men who have been friends since childhood. Grippingly powerful performances from the entire cast--Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, Marcia Gay Harden, Kevin Bacon, Laurence Fishburne, and Laura Linney--combined with gritty photography, an exceptionally emotional script, and a convincing working-class Boston setting make this film one of Eastwood's most consistent and penetrating works.
Though they live in the same houses where they grew up, Jimmy (Penn), Dave (Robbins), and Sean (Bacon) have drifted apart over time. Their distance is due to a disturbing and violent episode that occurred when they were children. Even now, as adults married with kids, they have never managed to overcome their fear and guilt about what happened. Dave and his wife (Harden) still live next door to Jimmy, who is married to a tough-sexy blond (Linney) and has three daughters. When Jimmy's 19-year-old girl is murdered, he turns to Sean, who works as a policeman, and delivers an ultimatum: find the killer fast or I'll go after him myself. Little do they know, the culprit is the last person they'd ever suspect.
Theatrical Release Date: October 8, 2003 (LIMITED)
October 15, 2003 (NATIONAL)
DVD Features:
Region 1
Digi-Pack
Widescreen - 2.40
Audio:
Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
Dolby Digital 5.1 - French
Disc One:
Additional Release Material:
Audio Commentary - 1. Tim Robbins - Star, Kevin Bacon - Star
Disc Two:
Additional Release Material:
Documentaries - 1. "Beneath the Surface"
2. "From Page to Screen" (Bravo Special)
Interviews - 1. Clint Eastwood ("Charlie Rose")
2. Tim Robbins ("Charlie Rose")
3. Kevin Bacon ("Charlie Rose")
Trailers - 1. Theatrical Trailer
Disc Three:
SOUNDTRACK CD (Clint Eastwood's Score Performed By the Boston Symphony Orchestra)
Stars
Sean Penn: Actor, Director
Tim Robbins: American Actor/Director, BOB ROBERTS (1992)
Kevin Bacon: Omnipresent American actor, FOOTLOOSE, MYSTIC RIVER
Marcia Gay Harden: Oscar winning american actress, POLLOCK
Laurence Fishburne: American Actor, BOYZ N THE HOOD (1991), THE MATRIX (1999)
Laura Linney: Actress
Director
Clint Eastwood: American actor/director, THE GOOD, THE BAD.../UNFORGIVEN
Producer
Robert Lorenz: Producer, MYSTIC RIVER (2003)
Judie G. Hoyt: Producer, MYSTIC RIVER (2003)
Clint Eastwood: American actor/director, THE GOOD, THE BAD.../UNFORGIVEN
Screenwriter
Brian Helgeland:
Composer
Lennie Niehaus:
Director of Photography
Tom Stern: Director/Screenwriter
Executive Producer
Bruce Berman: executive producer
Source Writer
Dennis Lehane: Author, MYSTIC RIVER (2003)
Music
Clint Eastwood: American actor/director, THE GOOD, THE BAD.../UNFORGIVEN
Review 1:
"...MYSTIC RIVER is a dark masterpiece that can stand with UNFORGIVEN. It takes a piece out of you..."
Source: Rolling Stone
p.94 10/16/2003
Review 2:
"...The real strength of MYSTIC RIVER is what's underneath the story -- the hearts and souls of the characters which are fearlessly and thoroughly plumbed by the cast..."
Source: Premiere
p.22-4 11/01/2003
Review 3:
"MYSTIC RIVER is a major American motion picture, an overpowering piece of work that involves some of the most basic human emotions..."
Source: Los Angeles Times
p.C1 10/08/2003
Review 4:
"...Brooding and bursting with ambition that is substantially fulfilled..."
Source: USA Today
p.1E 10/03/2003
Review 5:
"...Its care lies in performance, tone and theme....Eastwood's tone is mournful, autumnal..."
Source: Sight and Sound
p.47-8 12/01/2003
Review 6:
"[P]owerful..."
Source: Film Comment
p.45 01/01/2004
Review 7:
"...Brian Hegeland's script and Eastwood's controlled direction strike just the right balance, giving the actors room to work -- Penn's brimming rage is terrifying, his pain heartbreaking..."
Source: Total Film
p.98 11/01/2003
Review 8:
"...Magnificent....Eastwood directs MYSTIC RIVER with an invigorated grace and gravitas. This is a true American beauty of a movie..."
Source: Entertainment Weekly
p.97-8 10/10/2003