Mystic River
Jimmy, Sean, and Dave were three Boston boys who did everything together. Yet when Dave was kidnapped and molested for a period of several days. Things were never the same after that. Sure, they lived in the same area but they never did get around to seeing each other as often as they once did. They each went on to lead different lives. Jimmy (Sean Penn) runs a small grocery store and has three daughters, his oldest, Katie, from a previous marriage. Sean (Kevin Bacon) is in the midst of a separation and is a homicide detective. Dave (Tim Robbins) became a handyman and has a son. Their lives became closely intertwined once again when Katie is reported missing and later found dead in a park. Sean becomes the lead investigator and is partnered with Whitey Powers (Laurence Fishburne). The wild-card here is Dave who last saw Katie in a bar and later in the night, showed up at home with a knife wound and blood on his hands.

The film is masterfully directed by Clint Eastwood who shows all the experience and appreciation to detail one can show with a number of award-winning films under his belt. But like any mystery, the story gets interesting when there are clues to quench our thirst to find the truth. And for a time in the beginning, clues are found few and far between, leaving the storytelling stuck in neutral as everyone gives their best sob performances. It isn't until all signs point to Dave when the story's true brilliance and conflict comes to light and presents us with a struggle of emotion. That being said, Robbins probably gives the best performance of the movie, balancing a cold demeanor with the potential truths he is hiding. Penn also gives a quality performance, but it's not something that he hasn't done before; same with Bacon. Underused in the film are the wives as they are barely seen; the exception being Marcia Gay Harden who does her best dealing with Dave through her facial expressions. It all ends poignantly, leaving you guessing what happens next. 3 stars