Famine's Review: Mystic River

[Famine]

A pair of Oscars for lead actor (Sean Penn) and supporting actor (Tim Robbins). Directed by Clint Eastwood. Good signs?

Well, the Academy blew it. The direction was excellent - the story was reasonably good although occasionally telegraphed (the introduction of one character is done so ham-fistedly that their significance is amazingly obvious, and what we're meant to think is also so obvious that almost no-one thinks it). But the weakest point is the acting of the two Oscar winners.

Penn is so over-the-top as crook-gone-straight - and distraught father - that it's nearly laughable. Tim Robbins doesn't play deranged, sexually-abused as a kid Dave - he plays Tim Robbins. Not helped by the fact that I can't stand the actor and must be the only person hoping he was recaptured in the Shawshank Redemption...

In fact, the best acting in the film comes from dippy wife Celeste (Marcia Gay Harden), nuts wife Annabeth (Laura Linney), third friend Sean Devine (Kevin Bacon - really, really good in his role) and, amazingly, Lawrence "I'm made out of floorboards and decking" Fishburne. They, under Eastwood's direction, carry this film from under the weight of Penn & Robbin's ham-acting (which I still can't believe was even nominated, let alone won the Oscars).

Good plot, good finish, good direction, good acting from the ancillaries, the odd ropey "hey! I'm the killer" moment, and the Oscar winning actors su-diddly-uck. Worth your while, probably.

 

[VIPFREAK]

Gee, I'm glad to see I'm not the only one that doesn't get to see movies when they first come out. Anyway, this one sucked... I hate Clint Eastwood movies.

 

[Dave A]

I don't mind Clint Eastwood movies but I was unimpressed with this one. Like Famine I can't see how thoes two (Penn and Robbins) won the oscars, I thought Kevin Bacon played some of the best acting I've seen in a long time in any film, it was watchable but a watch it once only effort.

 

[ledhed]

Will Penn ever stretch himself or will he die as an actor because the so called critics keep kissing his butt whist he revels in thier spittle ? I have to aggree with famine on robbins but I think he was/is an abused crazy ex transvestite who was playing himself in the movie and doing a bad job of it.

 

[Anderton Prime]

Laura Linney is God-Awful in anything she does. She ruined The Truman Show and that stupid speech where she tells Penn's kids about his multiple hearts was so stupid. I know it's partially due to the writing, but the emotion-bloated way she delivers her lines is hard to believe.
I thought Penn's acting was a little contrived at times, but for the most part he was good. He's been in plenty of movies where he was passed over for even a nomination, and sometimes the Academy gives Oscars for different reasons, like holding out until The Return of the King to give Peter Jackson his due, or leaving Russel Crowe without a win for his Beautiful Mind character but giving Ron Howard the Award instead.
Tim Robbins, though, was excellent. His portrayal is haunting, and perfectly tailored to his acting abilities. I don't think I've ever met someone who hated Robbins, especially in Shawshank.

 

[RacyBacy]

Thread from the dead but I used the search function like a good boy! 💡

I'm a fan of Clint Eastwood and loved most of the films he was in when he was younger, so it was interesting to see how this movie would turn out since he directed it. God, he's looking old now.

Ok,

RacyBacy's review: Mystic River

I just watched this movie for the first time and thought it was absolutely brilliant.

Sean Penn was brilliant, Tim Robbins was brilliant, Kevin Bacon was brilliant and so too was Laurence Fishburne!! Can you tell I like the ace acting in this film? Fishburne and Bacon played excellent cops. Robbins played the slow talker/weirdo role which worked so well. And Penn was the ex-con with the history and the beautiful daughter. I thought the storyline was so effective too. As for the main actresses, well they were excellent. (Marcia Gay Harden and Laura Linney).

My favourite scene was when Jimmy's daughter is found in the park (dead) and Jimmy and his mate try to get through the police barrier if you like. One of the most powerful and also one of the saddest scenes I've ever watched. I thought Penn's acting was first class here. I could feel his pain.

I thoroughly recommend this movie. No special effects, no car chases (thought i'd let all you Fast and Furious fans know) ... Just brilliant acting.

Okay, most people here seem not to like Penn or Robbins but they can't be that bad if they won Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor at the Oscars. I also disagree with Famine ... Penn and Robbins are certainly not the weakest point in the acting - I would say the total opposite.

BTW Famine - IMO Robbins was excellent in The Shawshank Redemption ... Not that an actors previous film performance should dictate how you judge him in the next. I think that Tim Robbins is an outstanding actor. Everyone to their own I suppose.

I hope i'm not the only one on GTP who loves this film! Go watch it!