It was more that there was a great script and a book that was an even better research tool for an actor, because all the questions I had about character and backstory that I would have normally filled in myself were all right there.
MARCIA GAY HARDEN SPOUSE MOVIE
Kevin Bacon: Lots of times you read the book, and when you see the movie you say, "I wish this was in there," or "They forgot this." I really didn't feel that way.
I read the script and then read the book.
Tim Robbins: Not when you read the script first. The actors candidly shared their views on choosing parts, staying sane in Hollywood, and the legend that is Clint.īack Stage West: Was there some hesitation about doing a film based on such an acclaimed and beloved novel? There is already Oscar buzz building for the cast and for Eastwood, who with his 24th feature, has returned to form by examining the themes of good and evil, forgiveness and retribution.Īlthough the subject matter of the film is heavy, there was an air of levity to the actors off-screen when Back Stage West spoke with them recently in New York. A tense and powerful movie, it is at times gut-wrenching to watch. Mystic River is part crime thriller, part searing family drama, and has earned the actors, including Laura Linney, some of the best notices of their already distinguished careers. Rounding out the cast as the police detective investigating the death of Penn's daughter is Hollywood survivor Bacon, who has juggled a 25-year movie career in an impressive array of roles: a teen idol (Footloose), a leading man (Apollo 13), and risky character parts (Sleepers). As Jimmy, Penn-who has made a career of delivering uncompromising performances in great films such as At Close Range, Sweet and Lowdown, and, of course, Dead Man Walking-offers perhaps his best work to date.
As his loving spouse torn between doubt and loyalty, Oscar-winner Harden puts a unique spin on what could have been the traditional "wife" role. As the adult David, the 6-foot-5 Robbins somehow manages to shrink himself into a man who wears the weight of the world on his shoulders. To bring Dennis Lehane's bestselling novel to life, Eastwood assembled a virtual who's who of acting greats to make up his ensemble. When a second tragedy reunites the three friends years later, it becomes apparent how the sins of the past are destined to haunt the future. On an idyllic afternoon in a sleepy Boston neighborhood, Dave, Jimmy, and Sean are playing hockey when two sexual predators posing as cops take Dave away and into a nightmare from which he never fully recovers. In Mystic River, a young boy's fateful car ride sets in motion a chain of events over the next two decades, that shapes the lives of those who love him. Even Penn, who at times has seemed to turn his back on the craft of acting, confessed to being utterly revitalized by the film. Marcia Gay Harden was thrilled to be surrounded by "the boys." And Kevin Bacon, who first heard about Mystic River three years before filming began, joked that "this was the longest wait I've ever had to get a job."Īll these actors were enthusiastic, not only about the movie, which is earning them some of the best reviews of their already prestigious careers, but also about the experience they had working together and with director Clint Eastwood. Sean Penn greeted his co-star and Dead Man Walking director Tim Robbins by literally leaping into Robbins' lap. This was instantly apparent when the cast of Mystic River sat down months after the film had wrapped shooting and there was still a palpable excitement in the air. When the stars align and a great movie is made, it can be a remarkable event for the audience, but what may go unnoticed is how equally rewarding such an experience can be for the actors involved.