Mystic River

R

Released Oct 15, 2003

2 hr. 17 min.

Crime

Drama

TRAILER

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List

89%

204 Reviews

Tomatometer

89%

100,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

When the daughter (Emmy Rossum) of ex-con Jimmy Marcus (Sean Penn) is murdered, two of his childhood friends from the neighborhood are involved. Dave (Tim Robbins), a blue-collar worker, was the last person to see her alive, while Sean (Kevin Bacon), a homicide detective, is heading up the case. As Sean proceeds with his investigation, Jimmy conducts one of his own through neighborhood contacts. Eventually, Jimmy suspects Dave is the culprit and considers taking the law into his own hands.

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Critics Consensus

Anchored by the exceptional acting of its strong cast, Mystic River is a somber drama that unfolds in layers and conveys the tragedy of its story with visceral power.

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Nathan E

The way this movie draws you into its characters was fabulous. I felt connected. I thought the tempo of this movie was great as well, and a thought-out storyline.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/21/24

Full Review

Alec C

The paths that you follow can lead to seemingly random intersections with the past, leading to very tragic results! Former friends Sean, Jimmy and Dave are reunited when a violent murder places these three on a collision course that will leave them altered in ways they never wanted to be, leaving them to pick up the pieces of the aftermath. A dreary mystery that explores the themes of lost innocence and the affects that leaves on the future generation!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/20/24

Full Review

Katie S

Watching again in 2024 and the movie just doesn't pass the test of time. Once thought Sean's performance was so profound but now find it to be a bunch of yelling and brooding but no tears. The Savage brothers are just goofy now. The entire cast in the old neighborhood had me asking myself, were people really like this? I had myself scratching my head on some of the jumps in logic, too. It just didn't hit on rewatch and wow, 2003 was like a 100 years ago.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/19/24

Full Review

Some Guy F

Some pretty good performances, but the plot is predictable and boring because of it's predictability.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/10/24

Full Review

Courtney A

Spellbinding and heartbreaking

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/19/24

Full Review

Stefan N

This movie is seriously amazing, the plot twist!!!! Mood, music, and imagery is fantastic.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/19/24

Full Review

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Clint Eastwood

Director

Sean Penn

Jimmy Markum

Tim Robbins

Dave Boyle

Kevin Bacon

Sean Devine

Laurence Fishburne

Whitey Powers

Marcia Gay Harden

Celeste Boyle

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Mystic River: Trailer 1

2:20

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David Germain

Associated Press

Eastwood and his actors create a brooding drama whose events and interrelationships seem surreally improbable yet painfully authentic.

Nov 12, 2018

Full Review

Neil Norman

London Evening Standard

It is a film of magisterial, slow-burning power, one of the finest examples of recent American cinematic storytelling and certainly Eastwood's most mature film.

Jan 11, 2018

Full Review

Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Powerful performances in graphic story. Only 16+.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 26, 2010

Full Review

David Walsh

World Socialist Web Site

Eastwood's film is rooted in a profound misreading, or more to the point, a profound ignorance of society and human relationships. His false and shallow premises lead the filmmaker to construct an unconvincing, fantastical drama.

Feb 15, 2021

Full Review

Micheal Compton

Bowling Green Daily News

Mystic River features a moving screenplay, solid direction and a superb cast highlighted by Sean Penn's Oscar-worthy performance.

Nov 15, 2019

Full Review

Debbie Lynn Elias

Behind The Lens

While Mystic River is at its basest a crime thriller, it is so much more than that.

Nov 13, 2019

Full Review

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Synopsis

When the daughter (Emmy Rossum) of ex-con Jimmy Marcus (Sean Penn) is murdered, two of his childhood friends from the neighborhood are involved. Dave (Tim Robbins), a blue-collar worker, was the last person to see her alive, while Sean (Kevin Bacon), a homicide detective, is heading up the case. As Sean proceeds with his investigation, Jimmy conducts one of his own through neighborhood contacts. Eventually, Jimmy suspects Dave is the culprit and considers taking the law into his own hands.

Director: Clint Eastwood
Executive Producer: Bruce Berman
Screenwriter: Brian Helgeland, Dennis Lehane
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Village Roadshow Prod., Malpaso Company
Rating: R (Violence|Language)
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 15, 2003, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 2, 2009
Box Office (Gross USA): $90.1M
Sound Mix: Surround

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