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Mystic River driven by good performances
Clint Eastwood's Mystic River is one of the best films of 2003. Filled with an out
standing ensemble cast, at the helm of which is Sean Penn, the film is saturated with
atmosphere and melancholy emotions. It's uncomfortable, yet powerfully moving.
The story centers around a trio of estranged friends, Sean Penn, Tim Robbins and
Kevin Bacon, who are continuously haunted by a chilling childhood experience.
When Sean Penn's daughter is suddenly murdered, the trio, and their families, are
brought together in an attempt to solve the grisly case. Things go awry when suspi
cions arise and evidence is revealed creating conflicts between childhood memories
and present day problems.
This is by far Clint Eastwood's best film as a director, which is to say his direction
finally meets the level of his script. It's adequate, but nothing more. Nevertheless, he
is able to develop mood and momentum that perfectly encases his characters making
them shine like new Cadillacs. That's what Mystic River is about the performances.
I predict that Sean Penn will be nominated for an Academy Award for best actor this
year. The emotions and sincerity he is able to exude are painfully brilliant. It's his best
performance since Dead Man Walking.
Marcia Gay Harden will also be nominated this year in the best supporting actress
category. Her turn as Tim Robbins' paranoid wife is incredibly poignant and telling,
and well deserving of recognition.
Mystic River is by no means a perfect film, but it is leagues ahead of most of the
commercial movies to have come out this year. With the exception of a really poor
character device involving the Kevin Bacon character, and an overblown red herring in
the second act, the film is fantastic. You can't help but be reminded of Barry
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By MATT MOSLEY
Film Reviewer
SEE DEM REVIEWS
WPSH Thia. itclactcor
Ftciclia CILIb
Travis, the winner of 2003's Best Album, and Best British group at the Brit Awards, released their fourth album enti
tled 12 Memories. With great albums like The Man Who, and The Invisible Band, I was sure this record was going to be
just as a great. I wasn't entirely incorrect. Travis goes a different route on 12 Memories. The songs aren't as breathtak
ing and moving like their previous ones. This album includes a lot of tracks about living alone and being angry where
as their other albums talk about the grass being greener on the other side, and just being happy. Although it seems as
though they've created a detour for themselves, the album is still full of incredible talent.
On previous albums, lead singer, Fran Healy's voice resembled Chris Martin's from Coldplay and the band, in it's
entirety, sounded similiar to Radiohead. On this album, "The Beautiful Occupation" brings back memories of The
Beach Boys. "California Dreamin" perhaps? And I swear that this CD was mistankenly switched with the Steve Miller
Band. The music itself is pretty average. Nothing
really blew me away. "Peace the **** Out" is a
powerful tune ending with a group of people chanti
ng and "Walking Down The Hill" is without a doubt
the best track on this record. Unfortunatly, I think
Travis should turn themselves around and stick to
the type of music they're good at. With beautiful
arrangements in both the lyrical and instrumental
portions, their other three albums make it hard for
another record of theirs to compete against
Levinson's Sleepers (also starring Bacon), a similar film from the mid-90s with equal
power and strength. As good as Mystic River is though, it brings out a disturbing ques
tion that you may, or may not, want to know the answer to. What is it with Kevin
Bacon and movies about pedophiles?
Kevin Bacon and Sean Penn star in Mystic River, which was
directed by the legendary Clint Eastwood.
*
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RLviLwtd By
ARIIS I /GROUP
Albunit TinlE
LAbEI
REIEASE DATE
GENRE
OVERALL RATING
MICHEHE O'MAllEy
1 2 MEMORIES
Epic REcoßcls
OcrobEß 13,2003
Pop/Rock
TRAVIS