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Showing reviews from 1 to 50 (total: 157)
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A great movie. The acting, photography and direction of the movie was amazing. Sean Penn was great in this movie. It was a very interesting and moving story. Clint Eastwood had his cast come to life and give believable performances.
9/10
24.3.2009 -
mail4coz@ - age: 26-35
Well acted, well scripted, characterization was awesome. You've got to see this one.
10/10
12.1.2005 -
juliajulia40@ - age: 36-49
How can I describe it? I couldn't, it's too much for my analysis capabilities. All I know is you should watch it. No, it's not an action movie, not a comedy nor a sc-fi. It is just a well written movie with a minimum of depth and good actors. It has drama, it has suspense. It delivers emotions, but not the conventional ones.
10/10
24.12.2004 -
c0nfuzi@ - age: 18-25
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I like all Sean Penn movies. This movie is about friends who grew up in a neighbourhood when things are running smooth. The characterization is worth watching with good background score.
7/10
5.10.2004 -
navin_m_us@ - age: 26-35
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[ATTENTION: This review reveals content of the movie.]
Very good acting. First half of the story, a great mystery, interesting characters but the last half was pretty messed up. I mean our standards are so low, when we try to justify a crime with a speech: "stand by your king" Sean Penn's character was smiling at the parade even though he had killed a friend, an innocent man, widowed a young mother, left a young boy fatherless. What kind of a person writes a story sypathising with one of the main characters and has the character who suffered the most just done away with as if he was just an animal to be put out of his misery. He was dehumanised at the end. Even his family, wife and young son was not given too much attention at the end. Shame on a system that's promoting justification of violence. What's this saying about our morals, lack of conscience, responsibility for a crime. This movie could have been a masterpiece with a different ending. Sean Penn's character should have shown remorse for his brutal crime and should have had to face the courts. The movie industry is making our justice system a joke..
6/10
6.8.2004 -
joachimm@ - age: 50+
This movie was superb in its depth and complexity about human emotions and relationships. I now want to read the book. It not only deals with the impact of sexual abuse on one person but all three of the boys; how it effects their future lives, their lack of intimacy, and trust within their own relationships. How Kevin Bacon's character hides behind his professon, how Sean Penn's anger lurks beneath the surface and how Tim Robbin's loss of innocence and clarity is constant. It is powerfully moving and hard to watch because emotional pain permeates throughout the whole movie. It's the first time I have seen a story about sexual abuse in a male context done so well.
10/10
26.6.2004 -
robinko@ - age: 36-49
Definitely one of the best I have ever seen, ranking #10 on my list. While I loved Return of the King, this movie would have won on any other year, just losing because the final Rings movie had come out and it needed the long due win. The ending is brilliant, besides Linney's speech, and is a movie everyone should see, no matter what.
10/10
26.6.2004 -
jim_d_73@ - age: 13-17
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Well I thought this moving kinda sucked, well the ending did anyways.
6/10
21.6.2004 -
smithince@ - age: 18-25
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[ATTENTION: This review reveals content of the movie.]
I liked the movie a lot, my only problem was with the ending. Not that it was too long, that the last scenes of the parade were pointless, but it just seems my sense of justice and morality was betrayed by the movie. They just let a crime like that go unresolved, the perpetrator shows little remorse. It is like they act as if the victim died a long time ago in order to justify his death, but he was still there for his son, and he was still there for other people. Sorry if I got convoluted I just didnt want to give away vital details.
9/10
19.6.2004 -
hellnohellno@ - age: 18-25
This was awesome. I rented it and ended up watching it twice!!
9/10
12.6.2004 -
sarahsaddy@ - age: 18-25
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I am adding my 2 cents worth only because of the people who put this film down, just because they were having a bad day. I didn't especially like the ending to the movie, but, WELCOME TO THE REAL WORLD! This movie is worth seeing.
8/10
4.6.2004 -
jim@ - age: 50+
This movie was so awesome. It had the suspense that I love in a movie as well as an excellent plot. Go watch it now!!
10/10
1.6.2004 -
mjdobie87@ - age: 13-17
Most elaborate Drama of the season. I would rank it in top 50 of all time. Clint Eastwood congragulations I didn't think you could come up with something this elaborate. I enjoyed the movie from start to end. Some actors ei, Tim Robbins lead most to believe he commit the crime, that was just great acting...
9/10
7.5.2004 -
method555@ - age: 18-25
Wow, what a film, no wonder Shawn Penn won an award for his performance. Great research on sexual abuse and quite a twist. Enjoyed every minute, Good intrigue. A must!
9/10
1.5.2004 -
lionmike@ - age: 50+
It was a little slow but over all I liked it.
8/10
26.4.2004 -
kalua80@ - age: 18-25
Dennis LeHane writes a masterpiece here with Mystic River, unfortunately, Clint Eastwoods rush style is evident. The saving grace of this movie is the superb actors. Penn was lovely but I though that his acting for I Am Sam was much more worth an academy award. Tim Robbins was excellent, Marcia Gaye Harden was lovely but Laura Linney butchered her role. Much better book but passable movie.
7/10
9.4.2004 -
anderson_robin@ - age: 18-25
Truly awesome performance of Sean Penn... I am impressed! I enjoyed the movie alot and have to admit altho not my kind of film, it was good... got to laugh; cry and even get angry.. That is when you know a film is good, it touches you!
8/10
7.4.2004 -
domina_g_i@ - age: 26-35
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Good however personally I expected more. Comparing two Penn's latest movies, 21 grams was a way better! I must admit- great cast, so if you have some free time and like drama, go and see:-)
7/10
31.3.2004 -
webx@ - age: 18-25
I thought the movie hung together pretty well. I read some people said they knew who the killer was early on in the film... not without a lucky guess they didn't. There simply wasn't evidence to make that call early on... the acting throughout, by everybody, was quite strong, and I thought Tim Robbins was exceptional. I found the ending a little unsatisfying, but I don't like it when people can just bury any guilt they feel for doing really bad things. Very good film.
8/10
24.3.2004 -
braktooth@ - age: 36-49
Nah, could have been better on some points, but still, u gotta go and see this!
8/10
19.3.2004 -
ludde_web@ - age: 13-17
It is a masterpIEce, indeed. Great acting, great story, great movie. There isn't anything negative to say about Mystic River.
9/10
17.3.2004 -
j-h-m@ - age: 18-25
I consider Mystic River a good movie, but not an astonishing one. The acting was excellent and the settings very interesting. The directing was the only deceiving factor, but it didn't ruin the movie. I recommend it without any doubt.
7/10
16.3.2004 -
dialivan@ - age: 18-25
. very good movie. The actors are very amazing.
9/10
16.3.2004 -
doomblaissss@ - age: 26-35
Is there anything worse than a masterpeice that is not a masterpeiece?
1/10
14.3.2004 -
dizzybuckteeth@
The understated acting of Tim Robbins in my opinion steals the movie - the pain and angst he carries on screen from a character suffering the scars of abuse is very touching. Sean Penn was good as well, but a little over the top - but then who wouldn't be I suppose after his daughter is murdered. The downside of the movie - Marcia Gay Harden is almost insufferable in every seen she shows her face... came close to ruining the movie with her mewling and overacting.
7/10
13.3.2004 -
wnrdog@ - age: 36-49
I saw this movie opening day and I knew the acting of Penn and Robbins would be remembered come oscar time... This movie is honest and heartwrenching. Sean Penn you finally got your well deserved oscar, after being robbed of it in Dead Man Walking, Sweet and Lowdown and I Am Sam!
10/10
13.3.2004 -
s_tselem@ - age: 18-25
It was a great movie and we especially enjoyed Sean Penn. Excellent acting... Best I have seen in awhile.
9/10
12.3.2004 -
gna334@ - age: 50+
Very moving.
8/10
11.3.2004 -
rachellebout@ - age: 26-35
A well deserved oscar for Sean Penn, even though his performance in Dead Man Walking was even better and more deserving. One of the best actors of our time, if not the best.
10/10
10.3.2004 -
chotson@ - age: 36-49
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Over rated. Some decent acting, yes. Some story, yes. Some silly plot turns, yes. Think Robbins did a much better job than Penn - or maybe Robbins was just a more sympathetic character? Some people seem to feel that Penn's character was sympathetic but I have no sympathy for angst ridden thugs who are smart enough to know better than to make the choices they make. Don't regret seeing the movie, but I don't think it is as "important" as it thinks it is.
6/10
9.3.2004 -
ssanders@ - age: 36-49
Despite the Oscar buzz this movie fails to impress. Sean Penn and Tim Robbins aside - they both deserve the Oscar and more - the film was a little flat, long and ultimately, pointless. The acting was good but even the cast couldn't hide the incohesive, weak plot - what was Kevin Bacon's side story about? And the ending? Very odd and really rather unsatisfying... wait to rent on a boring Sunday afternoon.
5/10
9.3.2004 -
afodon@ - age: 18-25
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One should be leery of a film when critics hype it as "the story takes a backseat to the acting." The movie usually ends up being something of a bore. Well, that's exactly the case for Mystic River. This movie stretches its thin content over a period of nearly two hours and fifteen minutes. Sure, Sean Penn gave a good performance, but was it Oscar-worthy? Uh, no. Not when up against Ben Kingsley or Johnny Depp. And in the Best Actor category? I do believe Tim Robbins should have been in that category instead, with Penn swimming in the supporting actor pool. And Robbins actually deserved his award. I don't want to ruin the ending, but it was a real letdown for more than one reason. And when the final credits began to roll, I found I was morally disgusted by it. I felt like I was being asked to be sympathetic towards Sean Penn's character, when in reality, he was a scum-sucking pig who deserved the tragedy he suffered near the beginning of the film (even though the actual victim did not) Don't get me wrong, it's still an okay movie. Even though we're mostly watching detectives Kevin Bacon and Laurence Fishburne instead of Sean Penn and Tim Robbins, the mystery is a bit on the intriguing side, and there's no way you can imagine the ending will be as predictable as you think it is. But when a lame plot device like "Oh, did you listen to the 911 tape? " "No, I thought you did, let's listen to it, " three-quarters of the way into the movie serves up the key to the mystery, you have to wonder how long the writer actually tried to conceive of a believable story. Overall, an okay film, but to be considered worthy of a best picture Oscar, well, that's just plain silly, isn't it..
6/10
6.3.2004 -
newscott13@ - age: 26-35
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Suspenseful, articulate, raw, twisted, and interesting from beginning to end. The movie is a social commentary at many different levels: ghetto characters, abandonded children, misuse of firearms, broken dreams, dysfunctional families, etc. One of the better films of last year!
7/10
2.3.2004 -
angberr@ - age: 26-35
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Amazing amount of hype over a mediocre movie. Eastwood was going for a art house film but it really came across cheesy with very little artistic value. The story line had potential but the plot was too predictable and you knew who the murderer was a soon as Kevin Bacon said she was beaten with a stick. There wasn't much for character development so you really didn't care about any of the innocent victims. If you want to see a movie worthy of an Oscar go see Cold Mountain.
4/10
2.3.2004 -
dwaylar@ - age: 36-49
I saw this movie, yesterday, it had one of the worst plots ive seen EVER. Don't waste your money on this movie, not even renting it on vhs or Dvd, man what a waste of time!! Horrible Acting too!!!
1/10
29.2.2004 -
subxzero15@ - age: 18-25
An O. K. movie, it was very dark and dragged on in a lot of spots. It was far too long of a movie for the story.
5/10
27.2.2004 -
gwb@ - age: 36-49
I was expecting an incredible film, WOW what this film ever hyped to death!! All I saw was too much grit & not enough logical plot or character development. Too many things linger that add nothing to the story & many things that could have been brilliantly manipulated were done shottily or not at all. Sean Penn's performance is very good but it's simply not enough to carry this entire film... It's too bad really because it's an interesting idea that was under exploited by a very uninspired Clint E... Shame on him for self indulgent -half hearted efforts that allowed an otherwise great cast to cheapen themselves... I still think Penn deserves an Oscar for performances in 21 grams!
4/10
23.2.2004 -
auburnscorpio@ - age: 26-35
Simply one of the year's best... I'm not sure how the reviews are so low... Tim Robbins & Sean Penn are amazing as is the movie. Go see it while you still have the chance!
9/10
23.2.2004 -
tony82@ - age: 18-25
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[ATTENTION: This review reveals content of the movie.]
I'm a guy, I never cry at movies ever. This is the first. This movie had one of the most intense, heartfelt, not to mention sad endings I have ever seen. Marcia Gay Harden told a reactionary Sean Penn that her emotional reclusive husband Tim Robbins was responsible for killing his daughter. Sean in a fit of rage kills Tim, giving him virtually no choice in the matter. In the end it's not him. A couple days later it looks like everyone bounces back, (happy ending you get the idea) Except for Tim's newly widowed wife who is responsible. She unknowingly helped kill her husband and her sons father. In the end we find she's frantically looking for her son. She see all these families around her Happy, whole, enjoying the festivities. (It's one of most emotional gut wrenching sequences I've ever seen) She sees her son atop the float and tries to call for his attention, to salvage something, show her son SHE"S still there. But the kid doesn't pay attention, he's lost his crazy but caring father. And no one in the cast sees this. No one sees the unreparable damage Sean Penn has done. It's so sad. Doesn't anyone else see that? Anyone?
10/10
22.2.2004 -
jeminye511@ - age: 18-25
OMG, wat a movie.
7/10
21.2.2004 -
dowido@ - age: 1-12
This story had so much potential to be amazing on film, and a wonderfully talented cast... but Clint & Co. Obviously spent WAY too much time second-guessing themselves in the edit room, and the result was a disjointed, awkward and over-processed movie that is about 20 minutes too long yet doesn't say enough. What a waste of talent.
5/10
20.2.2004 -
kamott@ - age: 50+
It was wonderful! I couldn't believe how involved I became into the movie. You could feel for everyone. Their discomfort, social group and families. The sceneries were awesome. A must see movie!!!
10/10
17.2.2004 -
paulet@ - age: 50+
Excellent movie. Finally a movie with a story that will make you feel for all the characters... good and bad. See it. Its worth the $12.
7/10
17.2.2004 -
jls78@ - age: 18-25
Good movie - great book!!!
7/10
17.2.2004 -
jrxcal@ - age: 50+
Great movie. The actors played there roles very well. Sean Penn was amazing in this movie. A must see!
9/10
16.2.2004 -
b_barrett200@ - age: 18-25
This is the best film of this genre that has come out of Hollywood. I thoroughly enjoyed the profoundness of the story. Eastwood and the writers did a fantastic job telling it on the screen. All the actors made it worth all the nominations that they got and more. They should all win on Oscars night, indeed! Thank you, Dennis Lehane for the book, I shall be looking for it to buy and read and enjoy again your great story. I only hope the book is as good as the movie. Books usually are so I should not be disappointed.
10/10
16.2.2004 -
lenny,chong@ - age: 50+
Very good good movie, I love Sean Penn, he is so good, its worth that he took best actor. I love this movie, u got to see it.
10/10
14.2.2004 -
rana_soussou@ - age: 1-12
Excellent movie. The acting was super. Sean Penn is excellent. Well worth seeing.
9/10
10.2.2004 -
kamloopsgal@ - age: 50+
Another phenomenal Sean Penn movie. The story was great. The actor's were great. Tim Robbins blew me away. What a chilling story! When everyone was leaving the theatre, all I could hear was, "Wasn't that great! " or "Oh my God! " Everyone was deeply affected by this movie. And as if that weren't enough, I went to the bathroom afterwards and all the women were talking about this film. It was awesome! If you like cliched, passe, hollywood happy-ending movies that don't challenge you intellectually then you might be better off checking out something else.
10/10
10.2.2004 -
corinne1@ - age: 18-25
Excellent.
9/10
7.2.2004 -
vahidgear@ - age: 18-25
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