The film, set and filmed entirely in Boston, commences innocently enough with a few kids (Jimmy, Sean and Dave) playing (ice) hockey on a neighbourhood street and being pulled up by cops for defacing a pavement. After the initial intimidation by these supposed police officers, one of the boys is taken away under highly suspicious circumstances. The upshot is that the cops were impostors, and that Dave is a victim of kidnapping and sexual abuse.

The story then fast-forwards 25 years to the three boys as adults ? Dave Boyle (Tim Robbins), a seeming doting father and former baseball player who remains troubled as a result of the assault long ago; Jimmy Markum (Penn), a seedy looking ex-con who is the father of 19 year old Katie from a former marriage, and Sarah and Nadine with his second wife; and Sean Devine (Bacon), who appears to be the straightest of them all and has become a cop, but who appears to be in an unsatisfactory marriage.

The crux of the whole story is the murder of Katie one night ? this event occurring the same time as Dave comes home injured, claiming to his wife that he has killed a mugger. Though this shocking event would normally increase the pace of the storyline, in this case the pace of the film barely increases.

We are led at length into Jimmy?s grief, frustration and self-recriminations; his interaction with his former childhood friends; and the investigation by the police into potential suspects. We see Dave lying about his supposed fracas with the mugger to Jimmy and Sean, and his wife Celeste?s growing doubts about the mugger story. We also follow Jimmy?s underhanded investigations, including the use of local ?muscle? and the dire consequences of his actions.

Mystic River is a nicely filmed and tightly directed movie that has its tense moments. It also managed to maintain its interest throughout. The music credited to Clint Eastwood, with some of the score penned by his son Kyle, is almost unobtrusive. At times I thought the usage of coarse language was unnecessary. The ending of Mystic River is certainly not typical of ?production line? Hollywood-type films; but the movie?s last few minutes were a trifle clich?d (the goodies will win, the baddies will lose) ? but it was not a completely ?happily ever after? picture? One element of the plot that did irk me was the way in which Katie died (revealed late in the film) ? not only was it convenient, it also beggared belief!

The three principal cast members (Penn, Robbins and Bacon) are all quite excellent, as is Marcia Gay Harden in a lesser, yet significant role as Dave?s wife Celeste. Despite not having seen too many male performances prior to this years Oscars; the fact that Penn won the best actor, and Robbins the best supporting actor gongs does not surprise ? I may have even transferred the awards if Robbins had lasted longer. The rest of the cast is efficient and believable without being sensational ? though a small line of dialogue for Laura Linney as Jimmy?s wife Annabeth, near the end of the film, is quite striking and sinister; and enhances her role substantially.

2 hours 12 minutes plus special features.

THE EXTRAS

Plenty!

This 2-disk edition contains an audio commentary on the film by Robbins and Bacon on disk one. I didn?t check this commentary out beyond the first 30 minutes; the cloying and irrelevant dialogue, and pathetic attempts at jokes turned me off. For fans of the commentators only!

Disk two contains the following:

Mystic River: Beneath the Surface ? a 22-minute ?making of? documentary that is a typical backslapping affair that did not provide me with any exciting or interesting insights into the film - 1.78:1 aspect ratio with wider screen movie snippets

Mystic River: From Page to Screen ? an 11-odd minute featurette that is no more of an insight to the film as is the first documentary above. Strangely it appears to be presented in a 2.35:1 aspect ratio, so the movie scenes are unusually small. Some of the commentary/dialogue is repeated from the first feature

The Charlie Rose Show Interviews ? a series of three interviews on The Charlie Rose Show at different times with Clint Eastwood (42 mins, October 2003); Tim Robbins (51 mins, October 2003) and a short reprise of the Eastwood interview plus Kevin Bacon (19 mins, December 2003). I couldn?t view this all the way through this - it?s nearly two hours in length, much is not related to this movie, and I don?t have much of a regard for Charlie Rose as an interviewer. This entire feature is presented in a full screen format (apart from movie scenes). As suggested earlier on, one for the star?s fans?

Theatrical teaser narrated by Clint Eastwood ? just over one minute ? 2.35:1 aspect ratio

Theatrical trailer ? just over two minutes ? 1.78:1 aspect ratio

Language menu ? (on both discs) this contains subtitles in English and English for the Hearing Impaired on the first page; with a second page containing copyright information only! I could not find a menu/switch for the audio, though the slick indicates that the film is in both 5.1 and stereo?

CONCLUSION

Considering the name and notoriety of the director, Clint Eastwood (Spaghetti westerns, Dirty Harry movies et al, Play Misty for Me etc); this is a subtle, slow moving and (mercifully!) relatively bloodless movie that surprises this reviewer. The storyline contains its moments of intrigue and unpredictability, but it lacks an ?edge? in suspense and edge-of-your-seat thrills that I had anticipated ? the title including the word ?mystic? is therefore a bit of a misnomer.

An aficionado of earlier Eastwood-type action theatre may struggle with this film; though I nonetheless recommend this film to most potential viewers. Mystic River is really quite good, but it is not a ?great? film.