#Sean Penn’s 15 Best Film Roles Ranked

“Mystic River” is a heartbreaking depiction of a tragedy at the heart of a seemingly normal small town, and one of the greatest American films of the 21st century. Clint Eastwood’s slow, methodical direction has produced mixed results throughout his long career, but with “Mystic River,” Eastwood’s deliberate pacing escalates the latent tensions within a Boston community haunted by generational family conflicts. 

Jimmy Markum (Penn), Dave Boyle (Tim Robbins), and Sean Devine (Kevin Bacon) were childhood best friends, but a shocking tragedy in which Dave endured unthinkable abuse has haunted them well into adulthood. Dave is now a likeable, quiet family man who attempts to raise his son in a nonviolent environment, and Devine is a police detective who rarely contacts his former friends. However, Jimmy has earned a fearsome reputation, and rumors persist about the crimes he may have been involved with.

The shocking death of Jimmy’s teenage daughter Katie (Emmy Rossum) brings the trio together again. Jimmy is beyond heartbroken, but his mourning is quickly followed by a need for vengeance. He questions Sean about the details of the case, and becomes obsessed with Dave upon learning that he’s a suspect. Jimmy becomes convinced of Dave’s guilt, and is willing to go to extreme circumstances to achieve justice.