Mystic River (Eastwood film)

[stonemonkts]

I've just read the second glowing review for this film. David Denby raved about it in the New Yorker. A few days ago A. O. Scott of the New York Times did the same (basically calling Sean Penn the best actor in a group of similar actors such as Marlon Brando, Robert DeNiro, and Pacino). He described Penn's performance as one of the finest in the past 50 YEARS.

Denby also gives kudos to Penn (and the rest of the cast as well) but really praises Eastwood for such an outstanding cinematic achievement. He actually referred to it as "historic".

I'm very excited about seeing it for myself. Anyone else?

Other actors in the film are Tim Robbins, Laurence Fishburne, Kevin Bacon, Marcia Gay Harden, and Laura Linney. Screenplay by the man responsible for L.A. Confidential.

[Monte Smith]

Argh! This is when it hurts to be an open-minded conservative. I will probably be handing over $6.50 to watch Sean Penn. He is a good actor. Double argh--and Tim Robbins is in the picture, too. It's like supporting socialism.

[Cem]

We'll make a responsible member of the human race out of you, yet, Monte! There's still hope. Just a little more lefty propaganda and voila...

Thanks for the heads-up stonemonkts. I really wanna see this. Sean Penn really shines in pretty much everything I've seen him in. Squint usually has good taste, anyway.

[lynn]

I think it's the sensitivity gene that monte lacks, which most highly talented actors/actresses have oodles of.

Can't wait to see it. Thanks for bringing it up.

[Monte Smith]

Originally posted by lynn
I think it's the sensitivity gene that monte lacks, which most highly talented actors/actresses have oodles of.

That hurts. Sniff. Sniff.

[stonemonkts]

I know what you mean, Monte.

Whenever I admire Charlton Heston's performance in Touch Of Evil it hurts so bad, but hey, I grin and bear it for the sake of art.

An "open-minded" conservative? I won't argue that you are one, but may I infer from your language that other conservatives are generally not?

Cem - The only role I couldn't stand to watch Penn do was the one where he played the retarded fellow, along with the grossly miscast Michelle Pfeiffer (who I thought gave a truly horrible performance, but who is capable of much better). I still find it hard to imagine Penn reading that script and going for it. So unlike him (or so I thought). Other than that fiasco, Penn has been brilliant in every other film. I believe I've seen them all.

Oh yeah, wasn't wild about the film nor Penn's performance in the one where he is on death row. I tend toward liberal views but even that film made me roll my eyes several times. I wanted to electrocute that nun myself.

Every OTHER movie Penn's been in has been very good to great. Remember his turn as the coked up lawyer with Pacino....Carlito's Way? That one was a real standout. I also thought he was great and very funny as the Django wannabe in the Woody Allen film, Sweet And Lowdown.

[Chris D]

Penn is scary in the way he can inhabit a character.
Just think about "The Falcon and the Snowman." That guy was real in a way that's truly uncomfortable.

[Monte Smith]

I can only speak for myself, Stone. And for the American people.

But libs have it easy. So you feel disgusted when you watch a Charlton Heston movie. Gosh, that must ruin your Easter. Conservatives have to accept that they can disagree with a talented artist 24/7/365 since Hollywood is so overwelmingly liberal.

Not that it matters at all. I was really just being lighthearted. Politics schmolitics.

[Cem]

stonemonkts, I never saw that flick with Pfeifer (sam something?). I agree about your assessment of "Dead Man Walking". Though it was nebulous enough for me to find appealing in parts, but it really didn't go anywhere. Could have cut a lot deeper, I think. I may be a minority here, but I loved (& loved him in) HurlyBurly.

I actually take sick pleasure in liking work of filmmakers and actors whom I don't dig politically. It's kinda like dating a conservative, it's kinda taboo (In that case, you just wanna open them up and break 'em in , so to speak.)

[Tanager]

The book whence this film springs (I've yet to see the movie) is excellent. Dennis Lehane has written a number of excellent crime/detective thrillers based in Boston. I think Mystic River is one of his best novels. I'll definitely be seeing this, especially since I thought the last Clint-directed adaptation of a novel by one of my fave authors (Blood Work, from the novel of the same name by Michael Connelly) was a bit of a stinker, and I think he's capable of much better.

Count me among those who also dug Penn's performance in Carlito's Way. I didn't see Dead Man Walking, but I also found I Am Sam cloying and saccharine. Penn, when he's on, can just act like nobody's business, though, and I'm curious to see him play a (sympathetic) villain.

[Cem]

Isn't Squint actually a pretty conservative dude? I agree, I gotta first love or hate the piece of art. I, too, was goofin' around with the political stuff.

[stonemonkts]

Originally posted by Monte Smith
I can only speak for myself, Stone. And for the American people.

But libs have it easy. So you feel disgusted when you watch a Charlton Heston movie. Gosh, that must ruin your Easter. Conservatives have to accept that they can disagree with a talented artist 24/7/365 since Hollywood is so overwelmingly liberal.

Not that it matters at all. I was really just being lighthearted. Politics schmolitics.

So was I.

I'm only truly disgusted by Julia Roberts.

I like Heston the actor. As far as actors voicing their opinions I'm disgusted whenever any of them do it, whether I agree with them or not. Talk about ego. Politics schmolitics indeed.

I'm only truly disgusted by Julia Roberts.

What about Jennifer Lopez?

[Cem]

Originally posted by Scott Dolan
What about Jennifer Lopez?

They both suck...one can actually shake it, at least.

[Uli]

I am probalby gonna like the Groper's movies much more in the future. He has given new meaning to "socially liberal".

[stonemonkts]

Originally posted by Scott Dolan
What about Jennifer Lopez?

She doesn't bother me. I think she can actually act, given the right situation. Of course as far as her music goes, she's another in that long looong line of head-mic-wearing-Madonna-dance-moves-in-front-of-a-bigass (srceen)-on-stage-for-the-teeny-bopper-set types.

Madonna started that whole gig, follwed by Janet Jackson, at al ad nausea.

That movie she did with Clooney was not too bad, she wasn't half bad in it, I thought she showed some nice qualities, a certain style which came off as genuine in terms of her character in the flick.

Roberts I swear makes me wince, I can't grab the remote fast enough. That whole fucking self conscious shtick of being a "pretty" woman and hamming it for her throng is a real puker, IMHO. Her Oscar appearance a few years ago was especially revolting.

I agree Stony. In every way.

BUT, I will admit to liking Erin Brockovich. That was a really good flick. But other than that, she's a one trick pony. All those gooey, sappy, happy-laughy, warm and huggy, comedy/love stories are enough to make a grown man consider killing his neighbor.

and of course my wife loves them all.




ARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.........................................

[john williams]

I hope Clint hasn't messed this one up. He's not so bad in many ways but he has no idea how to edit or chosse an editor for his films, and they often lose momentum, particularly his thrillers. Suspense/thrillers just can't afford to be as pedestrian as Clint makes them.

However, I will watch it simply for Penn/Robbins.

[Al in NYC]

Originally posted by Cem
I may be a minority here, but I loved (& loved him in) HurlyBurly.

A minority of at least two. A truly underappreciated fun nasty little piece of work.

[john williams]

Originally posted by Al in NYC
A minority of at least two. A truly underappreciated fun nasty little piece of work.

No Three!

[stonemonkts]

Originally posted by JBW
No Three!

Four!

[patricia]

I've been marvelling at Sean Penn's talent since I first saw him in "Fast Times At Ridgemont High" and "Bad Boys" [with Esai Morales, now on NYPD Blue].

His work in "Carlito's Way" was amazing and I mention it, only because it stood out from all his other roles, including the one [with his brother Chris and the great Christopher Walken] "At Close Range".

As has been mentioned, Penn is an actor's actor in that he is absorbed by the character. I never think I'm watching and listening to Sean Penn, pretending to be someone else.
The "I Am Sam" role was a little hard to take and probably my least favourite.

[Valerie]

This movie received the most glowing review by the L.A. Times critic I've ever read! He absolutely raved about every aspect of the film. It sounds like an extraordinary piece of work. I think Sean Penn actually plays a character very closely based on himself in this one!

[Tanager]

Originally posted by Valerie
This movie received the most glowing review by the L.A. Times critic I've ever read! He absolutely raved about every aspect of the film. It sounds like an extraordinary piece of work. I think Sean Penn actually plays a character very closely based on himself in this one!

Sean Penn led an Irish gang in Boston?

[Brian Olewnick]

Pat mentioned 'At Close Range', a big favorite of mine and the one in which I first marveled at Penn's acting ability. The scene where Walken looks up toward Penn from the lake (where they'd just drowned a weak link in their gang) and puts a raised finger to his lips is on eof hte most chilling I've ever seen. I also think Penn's brother is a very under-rated performer (and, of course, chooses his roles less wisely).

Looking forward to 'Mystic River' too.

[patricia]

Originally posted by Brian Olewnick
Pat mentioned 'At Close Range', a big favorite of mine and the one in which I first marveled at Penn's acting ability. The scene where Walken looks up toward Penn from the lake (where they'd just drowned a weak link in their gang) and puts a raised finger to his lips is on eof hte most chilling I've ever seen. I also think Penn's brother is a very under-rated performer (and, of course, chooses his roles less wisely).

Looking forward to 'Mystic River' too.

Brian, you're right about the scene you mentioned in "At Close Range". Chilling.

I've mentioned before, many times, my admiration for Christopher Walken.
To see Walken and Chris Penn teamed again, as well as a cast which includes Benitio del Toro, Vincent Gallo [Buffalo 66], Annabella Sciorra and Isabella Rosselini [playing Penn's wife] check out an unusual period gangster film called "The Funeral".
Chris has been over-shadowed by Sean, but since his appearance, with his brother in "At Close Range", you're right, his choices of roles have been sometimes unwise, but he is superb, I think, in "The Funeral"

[Chris D]

Originally posted by stonemonkts
Four!

Five! Meg Ryan was killer in that, too.

[Tanager]

Originally posted by Brian Olewnick
I also think Penn's brother is a very under-rated performer (and, of course, chooses his roles less wisely).

What? You didn't think Best of the Best was a sufficiently challenging vehicle for his talents? ;-)

[Gary Sisco]

I don't have any problem putting Sean Penn up there in that league. And his brother's good, too, but not that good. Penn's a major actor, though he doesn't always get to make the best movies. Not many do, anymore.

[Cem]

Originally posted by Chris D
Five! Meg Ryan was killer in that, too.

She sure was, I forgot to mention. Too bad she doesn't tap into that kind of thing more often.

Chris Penn was great in both Short Cuts & Reservoir Dogs.