Mystic River

Aroview: Dignified crime thriller shot in unfussy style by old pro Clint Eastwood, this is less thrilling than a reliable entertainment, with the emotional pull of the material showcasing a prestige cast and securing Best Actor Oscars for both Sean Penn and Tim Robbins (supporting).

Set near the River Mystic in the city of Boston, the tragic murder of a teenager connects the victim’s father to his estranged and emotionally scarred childhood friends – one the investigating officer, the other a chief suspect. Adapted from a best-seller, the layered plot isn’t always water-tight and at times it’s weighed down by the conventions of the ‘police procedural’, but it pays off interestingly and in a way you’re unlikely to second guess.

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