Analysis: Mystic River - Movie Review Example

Movie Analysis: Mystic River Introduction The mystic river is a 2003 film based on three main characters and the impact of perception on the murders that occur in the film. However, the film has issues of grief and loss with the past influencing the behaviour of the main characters. In fact, the main issue of the film is the relationship between the three main characters in childhood and adulthood. The differences in perception and the impact of the death of Katie and the wounded hand of Dave are linked together leading to loss of lives and negative perception on behaviour of Dave (Eastwood, 2003). The blood stained clothes, injured had of Dave makes him a suspect in the murder of Katie which he did not commit. The cause of his hand injury is fighting with a child molester which he tells his wife but she doubts the information leading to death. The doubt of the wife and the desire for revenge by Jimmy illustrates that they were not good friends in adult life compared to when they were young. The grief and loss and tacking of the problem of death in the film is adverse. According to Jimmy, the perpetrator of the murder of Katie must be murdered leading to the death of Dave. Even though Dave is not involved in the murder of Katie, he pays the price because of the doubt of the wife and the friend Jimmy. In the conclusion of the film, the truth comes out, but it is too late because Jimmy has killed Dave for the death of Katie. In his response, he tells the investigators that they could have come early to counter the actions. The coming early of Sean would have helped and reduced the casualties in the play. Grief and loss in Mystic River. The handling of grief and loss in the film is different and diverse depending on the past experience. The abduction of Dave during his childhood years leads to negative emotions against child molesters. The true feeling of Dave is revealed in the action taken when he met a child molester later in life leading to the attack of the molester and the consequent doubt as a result of coming home with blood stained clothes. The recovery from the abduction and sexual molesting he received was not handled effectively (Sorrells, 2012, p. 56). From the incident, Dave becomes engrossed in his thought over the years affecting their relationship. The three boys become distant as a result of the abduction. The use of trickery to obtain confessions is revealed in the action of Jimmy because he takes Dave for a drink with the motive of obtaining a confession from Dave in relation to the death of Katie. Jimmy’s response to the death of the daughter is different. Instead of grieving for the loss of sister, Jimmy takes the journey of revenge and the investigation of the murder instead of leaving the case to the investigators. The loss of a loved one leads to mental disillusion and may lead to serious challenge for the person. Effect of past experience on future The effect of past experience on the behaviour of the character is revealed in the life of Dave. After the abduction incident, he becomes an introvert and the behaviour affects the relationship of the three friends. The action leads to breakdown of the relationship between the three boys which continue and become severe in the adult hood (Elsaesser & Buckland, 2002, p. 65). The doubt in Jimmy mind is a result of the introvert actions of Dave. After the incidence, Dave becomes withdrawn and does not participate in building back the friendship as it initially was. The impact of the abduction experience is revealed on the actions taken when he met a child molester. The killing of the notorious child molester by Dave reveals the hatred that burnt him internally. It reveals the grief and bitterness he had resulting from his experience with the molesters. It also reveals that he did not overcome the event and continually lived with the trauma and could not overcome it (Lehane, 2010, p. 45). The challenge of living life in fear or bitterness leads to mind seclusion and the development of a different character allowing friends to doubt the action of Dave. The experience of Dave contributed significantly to the adult actions and behaviours depicted in the film. The effect of living with trauma is revealed effectively in the life of Dave. The personal experience of Dave affects the development of relationship with friends and family. Even is wife lives doubting him and thinking that he is behind the death of Katie. Loss of Katie and impact on Jimmy In the case of Jimmy, the loss of Katie leads to doubting of his friend and he resorts to killing his friend as a result of the doubt. Handling of grief in the film is revealed in the behaviour of the Jimmy and Dave. However, Jimmy’s reaction to the death of the daughter leads to complicated relationship between the two friends. Despite not killing Dave, the effect of jealousy and overprotection of the daughter is presented in the film effectively (Eastwood, 2003). The coming of Sean on time helps rescue the situation and spare the life of Dave. Grief after the loss of the daughter is great while Dave is affected by his childhood experience and does not allow the two main characters to have a stable of effective relationship. The loss of innocence by Dave does lead to introvert behaviour and thus affects the friendship between the two characters. The grief of being sexually abused and the loss of a lovely daughter are issues that affect mental stability of the characters and allow them to take actions that lead to different results. Impact of death of Katie Death and loss of a loved one is major grief that has affected humanity over the years. Despite knowing that it is the destiny of humanity, the challenge is when and how the death occurs and its effect on the loved one. In fact, it can have a catastrophic effect on the individual as revealed in the actions of Jimmy on knowing that his daughter is dead. He engages in the exercise of investigation even when he is not a police officer or investigator (Feist, 2005, p. 32). In addition, it leads to actions that are regrettable when the truth finally is revealed in the conclusion of the film. The power of grief and its impact on behaviour is revealed in the film by the degradation of the communication between the two main characters as a result of different experiences. From the death of the daughter, it is evident that the friendship between the two aim characters was not effective as thought and leads to doubt and trickery in a bid to obtain the truth and allow the friend to confess to the murder of Katie. Such actions reveal that the degradation of the relationship has been a gradual process with the main cause being the different experience in life. The action of Jimmy reveals how death can influence even friends to become enemies. In the film, the relationship is strained after the discovery of the body of Katie and the revelation that Dave was the last person to see her before her death. The hand injury and blood stained clothing makes the case difficult and compounds the problem further. The loss of the over protected daughter leads to diverse reactions from Jimmy including being myopic in reasoning. He does not consider that the encounter Dave has with the molester can be true. Even Dave’s wife doubts the story leading to sharing with Jimmy the events of the fateful night which leads to Dave being a suspect in the case. Conclusion The effect of grief and loss of loved ones is dynamic and unexplainable because individuals react differently to the loss. In the movie, the reactions of Dave and Jimmy are based on past experience and loss of a loved one making the actions different. Doubt leads to the problem witnessed in the movie which is degradation of relationships and suspicion. In addition, the behaviour of Sean illustrates the connection and relationship between the three main characters of the movie. Grief and loss of loved ones lead to change in behaviour and affects the development of the relationships. Reference Eastwood, C. (Director). (2003). Mystic River [Motion Picture]. Elsaesser, T., & Buckland, W. (2002). Studying Contemporary American Film: A Guide to Movie Analysis. Chicago: Arnold. Feist, G. J. (2005). Theories of personality. New York: McGraw-Hill. Lehane, D. (2010). Mystic River. Chicago: Little, Brown Book Group. Sorrells, K. (2012). Intercultural Communication: Globalization and Social Justice. London: Sage Publications. Read More