Mystic River
Academy Award × 2
Rent/Purchase
The lives of three men who were childhood friends are shattered when one of them suffers a family tragedy.
What critics thought
Eastwood's crime drama drew near-unanimous critical admiration for the weight and ambition it brings to Dennis Lehane's source material — critics framed it less as a thriller than as a Greek tragedy about how childhood trauma radiates outward across generations. The performances, particularly Penn and Robbins, were singled out repeatedly, though some reviewers couldn't resist reading the film through the lens of Eastwood's broader career rather than on its own terms. Audience enthusiasm was notably more restrained than critical enthusiasm.
“Clint Eastwood pours everything he knows about directing into Mystic River. His film sneaks up, messes with your head, and then floors you. You can't shake it. It's that haunting, that hypnotic.”
Peter Travers·Rolling Stone
“Mystic River is the rare American movie that aspires to—and achieves—the full weight and darkness of tragedy.”
A.O. Scott·The New York Times
“a symphonic study in contrasting voices and values. Long fascinated by music as a subject, ... Mr. Eastwood here creates a genuinely musical style, using his performers like soloists, from Mr. Robbins's moody baritone to Mr. Penn's spiky soprano. Their individual arias are incorporated into a magnificent choral piece”
Dave Kehr·The New York Times
Genres
Crime, Drama, Mystery
Cast & Crew
DirectorClint Eastwood
StarringSean Penn, Tim Robbins, Kevin Bacon, Laurence Fishburne, Marcia Gay Harden
ComposerClint Eastwood
Mystic River
Academy Award × 2
The lives of three men who were childhood friends are shattered when one of them suffers a family tragedy.
What critics thought
Eastwood's crime drama drew near-unanimous critical admiration for the weight and ambition it brings to Dennis Lehane's source material — critics framed it less as a thriller than as a Greek tragedy about how childhood trauma radiates outward across generations. The performances, particularly Penn and Robbins, were singled out repeatedly, though some reviewers couldn't resist reading the film through the lens of Eastwood's broader career rather than on its own terms. Audience enthusiasm was notably more restrained than critical enthusiasm.
“Clint Eastwood pours everything he knows about directing into Mystic River. His film sneaks up, messes with your head, and then floors you. You can't shake it. It's that haunting, that hypnotic.”
Peter Travers·Rolling Stone
“Mystic River is the rare American movie that aspires to—and achieves—the full weight and darkness of tragedy.”
A.O. Scott·The New York Times
“a symphonic study in contrasting voices and values. Long fascinated by music as a subject, ... Mr. Eastwood here creates a genuinely musical style, using his performers like soloists, from Mr. Robbins's moody baritone to Mr. Penn's spiky soprano. Their individual arias are incorporated into a magnificent choral piece”
Dave Kehr·The New York Times
Genres
Crime, Drama, Mystery
Cast & Crew
DirectorClint Eastwood
StarringSean Penn, Tim Robbins, Kevin Bacon, Laurence Fishburne, Marcia Gay Harden
ComposerClint Eastwood
Rent/Purchase