Mystic River – a film directed by Clint Eastwood (who also composed the musical score as he had for Play Misty for Me), starring Sean Penn (Jimmy), Tim Robbins (David), and Kevin Bacon (Sean) with several Oscar nominations; a thriller about three boyhood chums, one of whom David had been abducted and abused as a child; a mystery involving the murder of Jimmy’s 19-year-old daughter investigated by Sean, a police detective, with David as a suspect.

The story’s tension develops over the question of who murdered the girl and the knowledge that David had suffered the trauma of an earlier random act of violence, but this fact allows him no mercy in Jimmy’s rage-filled eyes. An instance of false confession under extreme duress speaks to the current debate over the efficacy of torturing detainees for information. 

Click here for links to places to buy or rent this movie in video and/or DVD format, or to buy the soundtrack, posters, books, even used videos, games, electronics and lots of other stuff. I suggest you shop at least two of these places before buying anything. Prices seem to vary continuously. For more information on this film, click on this link to The Internet Movie Database. Type in the name of the movie in the search box and press enter. You will be able to find background information on the film, the actors, and links to much more information.

Copyright © 2006 Patrick Ivers. All rights reserved.
Reproduced with the permission of the copyright holder.

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