The Director's Series: Clint Eastwood, No. 2


Throughout 2025 I'm turning my focus to Directors. They help craft the vision on screen that makes a movie work. This year I'm looking at five favorite films from 18 directors I admire and 10 films directed by different women that I have enjoyed. Join me Fridays and Saturdays throughout 2025 as we take this journey.

Mystic River (2003)
Starring: Sean Penn, Kevin Bacon, Tim Robbins, Marcia Gay Harden, and Laura Linney
Director: Clint Eastwood
About: Eastwood has had a long career both as an actor and a director. When we hit this stretch in the early 2000s, I think he hit his apex as a director. This is one of the rare films he's done that he's not in, but he delivers a beautiful and powerful story. The performances here are excellent, but it's the story and the way it unfolds with the visuals and score that stick with you. Denis Lehane crafted the story, with Brian Helgeland working on the screenplay. But it's the way Eastwood puts it all together, with some incredible shots and building tension, that makes it a classic.

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