Intermission: 'Mystic River' may be Eastwood's best work as director

With Mystic River, director Clint Eastwood as opposed to actor/action star/icon once again explores themes that have served him well in his most widely acclaimed films. The forces of good and evil, revenge, redemption, violence and vengeance are no strangers to Eastwoods body of work.

The setting is much different in Mystic River than in Eastwoods Unforgiven, but there are many similarities. Some events and emotions are archetypes of the human races collective unconscious and seem immediately familiar.

There are many secrets in the story that must not be revealed, but considering the novel, written by Dennis Lehane, was a bestseller, a lot of people in the audience will already know the eventual turn of events. I will endeavor not to spoil anything with this review.

Its the summer of 1975 in Boston. Three kids, Jimmy Markum, Dave Boyle and Sean Devine, are doing what kids do in the summer. Playing around in the street, talking about hopping in a car and taking a joy ride, and finally, writing their names in some fresh cement.

They are interrupted by a plainclothes cop who makes Dave who lives a few blocks away get in his car to be driven home to his mother. Jimmy and Sean stare as Dave looks back out of the rear window of the car in terror. Theres a big problem, as is underscored by the cinematography and an ominous score, which was composed by Eastwood.

We soon know what has happened.

The film then jumps ahead to the same neighborhood in present day Boston. Jimmy (played by Sean Penn) is an ex-con turned family man who runs a corner market. Sean (Kevin Bacon) is a homicide detective. Dave (Tim Robbins) seems to wander through menial jobs, content to take care of his young son and content to let his wife Celeste (Marcia Gay Harden) take care of him.

The apple of Jimmys eye is his 19-year-old daughter Katie. The girl is from his first marriage. Her mom died while Jimmy was doing time. Jimmy also has two daughters with his second wife, Annabeth (Laura Linney). He loves them all, but its clear to see by means of great writing, direction and acting theres a special bond between father and oldest daughter.

Another tragedy strikes when Katie is brutally murdered.

Jimmy and all concerned are devastated.

Detective Sean Devine happens to be the one assigned to the case. The whole neighborhood, a tight-knit community, is affected. More secrets are revealed.

The official search leads in many directions.

Thats as much as I can say about the plot.

What I can say is Mystic River and I intend to read the book is classic writing with incredibly developed characters, realistic dialogue and a narrative flow that is relentlessly compelling.

It has the weight of which legends are made. And it weighs heavier hours and even days after one has seen it.

The cast is impeccable, but Sean Penn tops himself here and has entered the realm of the great Method actors like Marlon Brando, Dustin Hoffman, James Dean and Robert DeNiro.

Movies, or for that matter stories, dont get much better than Mystic River.