Good movie. It could have been A LOT BETTER if it wasn't for the godawful editing. I wish they could release another version of the movie with a different editor.
A great movie with a great ending. That last part was in fact really unnecessary, but it shed a light in a lot of things that weren't told throughout the movie: we discovered that Jimmy was in fact a good man, but weak, and that Annabeth was the "mastermind" behind its behavior; Even though Sean said that we was not emotionally involved in this whole story, we learned that he is; Dave was never the same after that incident when they were kids, he wasn't so disturbed to the point of killing Jimmy's daughter, but he wasn't normal either; Sean didn't had any proofs that Jimmy killed Dave, apart from his unofficial "confession" on the street, which doesn't count for anything in court if no evidence is presented, Sean knows that and he is still seeking for a legal way to put Jimmy behind bars, not because he resented him for killing Dave or anything like that, but because or his sense of justice.
It would have been a decent movie. But the ending was too frustrating to watch, starting with the scene where Jimmy's wife praises him. The movie should have ended with drunk Jimmy walking down the street, leaving it unknown if he goes to jail or not, also leaving Sean clean. The ending, showing Jimmy and his wife being careless about Dave, and moreover Sean showing that Dave's murder was "no biggy bro" seems like the movie wants to send a wrong message that I don't wanna say out loud since it's disgusting. They could have left it untold about everyone's lives. Instead they chose to show ignorance towards the death of the most tragic character in movie.
Loved the movie, but hated the end. Not because it was bad, but because it is just a sad history. Great performances all around.
Excellent!
I'm not fully sold on the ending, though it isn't anything less than good either way, but the rest of 'Mystic River' is quality. The cast are superb, whether that be the main trio of Sean Penn, Tim Robbins and Kevin Bacon or the supporting Laurence Fishburne and Marcia Gay Harden. Bacon and Fishburne make for a terrific buddy cop duo, miles better than director Clint Eastwood's attempt with Charlie Sheen in the former's 1990 release 'The Rookie'.
The conclusion does I guess go in line with what precedes it, particularly with Robbins' character, but I'm not fully convinced by who is eventually unveiled as you know what. That's not to say it's a bad end, as noted at the top, as it's still entertaining no matter what.
Incredibly raw film, well-directed, with a tragic story about loss, grief and trauma.
This movie should have ended 10 minutes earlier than it did. Why did Sean stop investigating Dave's disappearance, even though Jimmy said something to him that indicated he was the reason behind Daves disappearance, paired with the fact that he knew Jimmy was once crooked. Cut out that part and I would have likely given this a 7, and likely considered an 8.
The ending aside this was a pretty good crime drama.
What a briliant movie. Story and acting both superb. I will focus on the ending since I realise many people dislike the end,and it is true its not a happy ending movie and no sort of justice is served...exactly as it happens in many occassions in real life. Although Daves tragedy is recognised by his old friends, as it would by anybody, the reality remains that they don't value him as an equal. They can not relate with him therefore the tragedy of his death does not have huge impact on them. As it was mentioned many times in the movie, including Dave himself, he was considered dead to many since he stepped into that car. His real death just came as a belated conclusion to everyone in the community. Looking closer at Jimmy and his wife, and the last speach she gives about Jimmy being the king, is just a verbalised example of how deflated ego combined with self-righteousness can justify the most horrible of actions. I thought this attitude was realistic by the particular characters and one can only argue about the way it was explained to us. The movie ending may not satisfy the "political correctness" sensitive crowd, but personally I was not offended by the fact that justice was not served. This movie is a story, is not trying to delive a message of what is right and wrong, but how the characters react to their circumstances and boy it did a briliant job. . Injustice happens more often in life than justice, sometimes for little and sometimes for really important matters. People should be offended by the real life injustice more and less with the ones that appear in fictional pieces of art.
Thriller? Drama? Mystery? Suspense? DEPRESSION. I haven't cried so hard and been so gripped by a story in forever. From the get-go, all you feel is sadness and tension. The character build and casting was honestly some of the best. The acting was phenomenal, it's no wonder Sean and Tim won an oscar. Clint Eastwood proving once again that he's more than just an actor. The directing and score enhanced the mystery by 100. I'm still in shock from the ending. Had me in doubt the whole way through. The juxtaposition between the characters and time and everything was off the charts.
For over 20 years, Mystic River has been the greatest encapsulation of grief ever put on film.
This movie, and Dennis Lehane's novel, is one of the most tragic stories ever.
Penn screaming "Is that my daughter in there" as he's being tackled to the ground, and then talking about how much he wants to hug his daughter again...goddamn, it always hits hard.
Not to mention: "The last time I saw Dave Boyle was 25 years ago, going up this street in the back of that car."
B***h just warrants her husband's death out of suspicion. "Wife" of the year.
Ending dragged on a bit and the second last scene with Penn and Linney seemed out of place. Other than that it was good, albeit a bit slow.
Really shines due to the acting talent on display. I’ve always been weirded out by that scene in bed with Laura Linney, but I have mostly fond memories of this gut-punch of a movie.
So the lesson from the movie was bad guys win??
A great movie, I didn't think it was slow, but the third act is a lot better than the rest of the movie, excluding the last scene, that one was unnecessary.
Also it's nice how the movie makes you feeling like a detective, the mystery was never obvious.
Didn’t like the story.
Hard to watch film about the impact of childhood abuse. it's extremy good and with watching again though.
Bad movie, it's wrongfully long, this story could've been told in a lot of less time. And what about that ending, at least I expected something excited to happen at the end but nothing, what a waste of time.
Seemingly such an obvious plot twist, but revenge can always confuse you.
"This part... you do alone."
Sean Penn... I never know what version of him I will get. In this.. I got the Sean Penn I love and want more of. What a performance. I was scared of him, and felt for him. The movie in general is pretty good, dare I say a little overrated, but I enjoyed it. I think it might've been the music that deducted a few points for me. A little too dramatic during non-dramatic moments. I still recommend watching because it has great actors in it.
One of my all-time favorites!! I've watched it at least a dozen times. Amazing storyline and tremendous cast. Also, I'm a sucker for anything that's based in my hometown #BostonStrong
Bacon and Fishburne easily the strongest bits of this mediocre snooze fest. The writing here is stilted and melodramatic—doesn’t even seem to care enough about its red herring to cover it up to make the plot twist feel worth it. Editing is straight up laughable at times.
If you’re in the mood for a neo-noir set in Boston, Gone Baby Gone is a significant improvement.
Solid movie, solid story and solid acting. Tragic and sad, but definitely not bad !
Except for the ending (where Jimmy doesn't go to jail even though he has committed two murders) this is a great movie! What I don't get is why Eastwood only hints that Sean tries to get Jimmy to jail and why he doesn't end the film with Jimmy's imprisonment (additionally I found Jimmy's wife's statement at the end of the film ridiculous...)
the best film i've ever seen!
Review by moonkodiBlockedParentSpoilers2017-02-20T22:21:51Z
Slow. Built to a finale but a terrible ending. Bacon suddenly stopped being a cop for no reason and allowed Penn's character who is at least a murder suspect to walk away drinking whiskey. This is moments after some forced sentimental talk about the past to try and neaten up the story. Again. The ending was that the bad guys win ending. The bad guys being local bully mobster Penn with his two annoying cock sucker friends. Obviously true to life in that evil prevails but it didn't work for me in this movie by its own logic failures. Was it true to Penn's character, a man so proud with truth and paying for his crimes, how he never even confessed? Again, Bacon stopped caring about being a cop about the man he was just protecting?. Why didn't Robbin's just tell the truth instead being an obvious suspect? Instead of confessing he asks for a Sprite. That'll make you seem innocent yeah. Why could a boy that didn't talk secretly talk or was hinted to being able to? How did the cops just happen to show up in time? Was Penn's wife so sick that she really called him a king for being a murderer? Yes. Did Robbin's wife more or less get Robbins killed by presuming he murdered her to Penn thus leaving her child fatherless? Yes. Did Penn just kill a guy based on his own forced confession with no asking for evidence and then he's actually suprised when he got the wrong guy? Yes. And what was Kevin Bacon's wife's about, especially when we had over two hours to explain her? But it's OK... because Bacon makes a gun sign at the end to Penn and that has to mean something.
It's like the ending was a different movie which also revealed split personalities and a terrible movie.
What about the portrayal of Dave by Robbins. Acted well but a cliché abuse victim or what?
Talk about a movie with bad morals and holes