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MOVIES / ON DVD / MYSTIC RIVER
Mystic River

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Mystic River (2003)

87%
89%
90%
N/A
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N/A
87 %
Reviews Counted: 186 Fresh: 162  Rotten:24 Average Rating: 7.8/10
 
Consensus: A thriller of great emotional power.
 

How does the Tomatometer work?

The Tomatometer measures the percentage of positive reviews from Approved Tomatometer Critics for a certain movie.[-]

Runtime: 2 hrs 18 mins

Synopsis: 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... 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. This movie screened in October 2003 as part of the 41st New York Film Festival organized by the Film Society of Lincoln Center. [More]

Genre: Dramas

Starring: Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, Kevin Bacon, Marcia Gay Harden, Laurence Fishburne

Director: Clint Eastwood
Screenwriter: Brian Helgeland
Producer: Robert Lorenz, Judie G. Hoyt, Clint Eastwood
Composer: Lennie Niehaus

DVD Info

Release:

Aug 6, 2004

[DVD Details]

DVD Features:

  • Region 1
  • Snap Case
  • Widescreen - 2.40

Audio:

  • Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
  • Dolby Digital 5.1 - French

Reviews

 
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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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4/5

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Full Review | comment Comment
12/30/06
Empire Magazine
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N/R

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06/24/06
Derek Adams
Time Out
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3/4

It's not the masterpiece people have been claiming, but Eastwood does set up a gripping moody atmosphere and get some fine performances out of his actors.

Full Review | comment Comment
02/24/04
Ian Waldron-Mantgani
UK Critic
N/R

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01/15/04
Guardian [UK]
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N/R

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10/22/03
This is London
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3/5

It's Penn's heavy-lidded, dead-behind-the-eyes turn that overshadows all, carrying the weight, pain and misery of the world -- and the picture.

Full Review | comment Comment
10/22/03
Nev Pierce
BBC
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Ratings Image
N/A

Deeply serious, sombre, long and humourless, it reeks of integrity. Eastwood's best since Unforgiven? Maybe, but it's the one I'd least like to sit through again.

Full Review | comment Comment
10/19/03
Tim Robey
Daily Telegraph
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4/5

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10/17/03
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon
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4.5/5

This is mature, meaningful, thoroughly grown-up filmmaking that has something vitally important to say about the expanding effects of violence in society.

Full Review | comment Comment
10/02/03
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall
N/R

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06/10/03
Channel 4 Film
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N/R

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11/01/07
David Ansen
Newsweek
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Full Review | comment Comment
09/01/07
Claudia Puig
USA Today
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B

Good, occasionally powerful noir that's been overhyped.

Full Review | comment Comment
08/05/07
Christopher Smith
Bangor Daily News (Maine)
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3/4

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Full Review | comment Comment
07/14/07
Joe Lozito
Big Picture Big Sound
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3/4

With characters that don't belong in the film and resolutions that seem mere fantasy, Mystic River never surpasses adequacy.

Full Review | comment Comment
08/08/06
Wesley Lovell
Oscar Guy
Ratings Image
3.5/4

Eastwood nos sumerge en el ambiente de su historia con lentitud, sin vestigio de apuro, utilizando la contemplación.

Full Review | comment Comment
05/05/06
Flavio J. Arosemena
Doncinema.com
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4/5

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12/06/05
Film Threat
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A

This is one of the finer dramas to come down the pike in some time.

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06/21/05
Bill Clark
FromTheBalcony
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84/100

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05/13/05
Apollo Guide
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3/5

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03/05/05
Ethan Alter
NYC Film Critic
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