Has anyone here seen "Mystic River"?

[diplomats]

I found it riveting but depressing.

[jiacinto]

1. Two things about it I didn't get

1) The cop's wife. I don't understand what the point is having that subplot in the movie. I really don't get it. I don't see what the point is having her on the phone silent.

2) The woman's statement at the end of the movie before they go to the parade: She suddenly says diabolically evil things to Katie's father.

[Amaya]

3. I totally agree with what you said

I didn't understand that part at all.

[jiacinto]

4. Yeah

It makes no sense at all.

[Kat45]

5. I loved the movie; loved the book too. To answer your ?s:

It was different for me seeing the movie because I had already read the book, which meant I knew not only what was going to happen but also more detailed background on everything. It's a fairly long book with a lot of complex characters and plot elements, and I thought they did a good job of distilling it into a movie, which was no easy feat.

The subplot of the cop's wife ran throughout the book. I did not feel that it was intrusive in the movie. I think it was just to show a dimension of his personal life. The story followed the three boys, whose paths diverged, yet they still were all somewhat affected by that one afternoon when they were kids. We saw a lot of Dave's and Jimmy's personal lives, but Sean, as the competent state police officer, looked like he was pretty normal and had a normal life; this illustrated that this was not the case.

The woman at the end of the movie, Jimmy's wife, was basically standing by her husband, supporting him, trying to make him not feel so bad about his decision. Although it wasn't as apparent in the movie as in the book, she came from a criminally-oriented family. (She was the Savage brothers' sister.) That was the way of the world to her. You did what you had to do; you stood up for and protected your family. Even though what he did turned out to be wrong, he did it for the "right reasons."

[diplomats]

6. Thanks for explaining that

I didn't realize she was the Savages' sister.

[jiacinto]

16. I see your point

I assume that the book does a better job of explaining the plot lines than the movie does.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

2. Seen the Mystic River? Sure. I have.

I dont get why it is so depressing. I mean it is lots and lots cleaner than it used to be. Would I swim in it? Um, not down by Boston, but upriver, probably.
Yeah, I have stood on bridges and stared at water for hours too. I love the way the light plays off the wavelets. If I could only express what I think with art... I would be great.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

11. Oh, wrong River... sorry. Should I get my eyes checked?

Or go see a shrink?

[Sal316]

7. It could have cut out the last 10 minutes...

...that diatribe had me saying WTF? I accidentally said it out loud at the theater and people laughed. Must've been thinking the same thing.

[papau]

8. "Irish eyes" is the best follow up to "Mystic River" - sort of the Bulgers

bioflic.....

I think it is in limited release in Boston area so as to get the Globe review (which was an ok review but the movie deserved better)

[Kat45]

9. I missed that. Is it still around?

[papau]

17. In Boston yes - it's pulled from NH, western Ma and RI already -nt

n/t

[stanwyck]

10. It's Shakespeare, blood fueds, and

the classic struggle between good and evil. Jimmy (Sean Penn) was redeemed by his daughter Katie after the death of his wife. After Katie's death (the sins of the father revisited on the daughter), Jimmy reverts to his criminal past. Laura Linney, his wife, is Lady McBeth. She revels in Jimmy's descent. Dave (Tim Robbins) is lost. He's struggled with demons since his childhood abduction. He tries, in a desperate act, for retribution, with disastrous results. His wife (Marcia Gay Harden) betrays him, since her own struggle with right and wrong has led her to do what she believes is right. But, she's wrong. Plus, there's Sean. (Kevin Bacon). At the end, he and Jimmy are squaring off for the battles ahead. Mystic River is complex and ambiguous. I was grateful to see, finally, a movie for adults. For intelligent adults. And, you gotta love those liberal actors! Robbins and Penn.

[Skittles]

12. yes

it was very good, showing the devastating, generational results of child abuse.

[Kat45]

13. The book is excellent. I couldn't put it down when I read it.

The writer, Dennis Lehane, is my cousin's brother-in-law so I was turned on to the book early on. He's an excellent writer, and I liked his work so much that I went back and read the rest of his books.

[diplomats]

Maybe I'll read the book

[stanwyck]

14. Mystic River

was the first I'd read of his. But now I'm going to read more.

[Submariner]

15. I was born and raised on the Mystic River

a couple of miles upstream from where that movie was shot. And in the 50s/60s I lost pucks and balls down the storm drain too!

It was a good movie, albeit the Tim Robbins character Dave tried a little too hard putting the Boston accent in a few words. I give it 3 stars out 4.