Reviews of the "Mysterious River" should be of interest to everyone who wants to get acquainted with this film. A dramatic detective with the same name was directed by Clint Eastwood in 2003. The main roles in the film were played by Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, Kevin Bacon. In this article, we will talk about what this tape is about, what reviews and critics have left about it.
Creature
The painting "Mysterious River" received mostly positive reviews, although work on it did not last very long. The filming process itself took 39 days.
This is a film adaptation of the novel of the same name by American writer Dennis Lehane, who appears in the episodic cameo in the film. In the parade scene, he waves his hand to the assembled, driving in an open-top car.
Interestingly, at the beginning of the picture in the episode in which Dave is thrown into the back seat of the car, you can see that the person who is sitting in front has a priest's ring. There is nothing of the kind in the novel. Eastwood specifically added this detail when it became known about the priest of the Boston diocese, Bernard Lowe, who was involved in the story with the silence of cases of sexual harassment by the clergy.
Awards
Reviews of the film "Mysterious River" from many were enthusiastic. The picture was nominated in six categories for an Oscar. She managed to win two figurines. Sean Penn received a prize for Best Actor and Tim Robbins for Best Actor in a Supporting Role.
Also, the picture was presented in the nominations "Best Film", "Best Directing", "Best Adapted Screenplay" and "Best Actress in a Supporting Role" (Marsha Gay Harden was counting on the award).
Penn and Robbins also won the Golden Globe. Eastwood's tape was nominated in four more BAFTA Award categories, but failed to win a single one.
Plot
The film "Mysterious River" begins with the events of 1975, when a neighbor catches three 11-year-old teenagers for hooliganism during a baseball game. Posing as a policeman, he takes one of them to the police station in his car. After some time, it turns out that it was a pedophile who raped the boy until he managed to escape.
30 years pass. One of the children named Sean Devin becomes a policeman. He and his partner are currently investigating the murder of a 19-year-old girl. This is the daughter of his friend Jimma Markum (another of those 11-year-olds).
In parallel, the father begins his own investigation. He wants revenge on the killer. Moreover, their third friend Dave Boyle suspects of a crime. He is suitable for the psychological portrait of the criminal, mainly due to the fact that in childhood he became a victim of sexual violence. The tragic death of the girl confronts three former friends who have not seen each other for many years.
Memories of youth
Investigating the crime, Sean at the same time tries to establish relations with his pregnant wife, but she ignores his calls.
Throughout the whole picture, the heroes always return to the events of 30 years ago. Again and again the question arises, why did all this happen to Dave, why did someone else not get into the car to the pedophile.
Soon, police discover Dave's car with traces of blood. During interrogation, he claims that the car was stolen, he does not know how the criminals acted with him. He is being released, but Jimmy finds out about these details, making even more sure that his old friend is a criminal.
Denouement
At the end of the film, Sean discovers the perpetrators of the murder of Jimmy's daughter. But he is already blinded by a desire for revenge and rage. He makes Dave confess to the crime by threatening him with a gun. After that, Jimmy kills a man, his body is thrown into the river. He concludes with the phrase that in it we all bury our sins.
The next day, Sean tells Jimmy who actually killed his daughter. By the face of a friend, the policeman realizes that he committed the murder. But he does not arrest the inconsolable father, leaving everything as it is.
On the same day his wife calls him, they put up. Jimmy decides to live on with his family (he still has a wife and two daughters), realizing that Dave will not be returned.
In the final of the film, all the hero of the film with their families go to the festive city parade. That's what the Mysterious River movie is about.
Spectator Impressions
In reviews of The Mysterious River, most viewers were impressed by the next directorial work of Clint Eastwood. The name of the painting itself is already fascinating. For a long time it remains incomprehensible, and here the river, until the understanding comes that it is the mysterious plot itself and the intertwined lives and fates of the main characters.
Each of the characters has their own. In Jimmy, this is a river of a person who always follows the call of his heart, therefore he considers himself strong and successful. But, blinded by revenge, and he makes many mistakes. The Sean River is as simple as possible. At first glance, it flows exclusively straight, without turning anywhere. However, under the guise of a police officer, who becomes an instrument in the hands of justice, a suffering person is hiding. The Dave River is the most winding. There are many whirlpools in it, which is very difficult to get out of. However, for many, it is he who causes the greatest respect.
In numerous reviews of the Mysterious River, viewers emphasized that the tape has several semantic implications. She's not really about killing. An investigation only allows you to add detective intrigue to the story. The essence of this work of Eastwood in the analysis and evaluation of the fate of the three main characters. This gives us the opportunity to think about human destiny, learn a lot of new and useful for ourselves.
You can also see in the film an obvious reference to the works of Sigmund Freud, who claimed that all of our complexes come from childhood. Interestingly, the most important and interesting thing is not who the killer is, but who as a result is not.
Negative
It should be noted that there were enough negative reviews from the audience about the film "Mysterious River". For many, the culmination of the picture seemed too long. Because of this, there is no sensation of an emotional push, the most important scene on the shore takes so long that everyone manages to come to terms with the injustice that is about to happen.
Moreover, many are frankly disappointed by the final scene at the parade, after which it remains only to shrug. It seemed to many that the tape, which began with a famously twisted plot, impeccable acting, the presence of a large number of images and subtexts, frankly "sags" towards the end.
The biggest claims against the creators of the film are connected with the ending. To those who watched this Eastwood detective drama, it seemed illogical and far-fetched.
The opinion of critics
In the reviews of film critics about the film "The Mysterious River," many experts associated the leisurely and unhurried manner of narration with the age of the director, who at that time was 74 years old. Emphasizing that this is one of the shortcomings of the tape.
In all this psychological narrative, individual compensating moments save. It is worth recognizing that with its heaviness, the picture was nevertheless made very soundly.
Acting work was especially highly praised. Eastwood is used to working with old-school professionals whom he trusts immensely. Therefore, it is not surprising that the actors who play the main roles in his films regularly receive the most prestigious world film awards, as in this case. After all, both Sean Penn and Tim Robbins became the owners of the Oscars and Golden Globes.