Tour de force acting across the board. Sean Penn and Tim Robbins won Oscars for their performances, while Marica Gay Harden was nominated for her’s.

First rate actors fill out the rest of the cast, each delivering outstanding performances: Kevin Bacon, Laurence Fishburn, and Laura Linney being the most notable.

Hell, even Clint’s old running buddy Eli Wallach makes a cameo.

Dennis Lehane’s novel and dialog captures blue collar Boston as few writers do. (He did it again with Gone, Baby, Gone.) Clint’s spare direction unfolds the story crisply, though he allows himself the indulgence of ending many scenes by panning to the cloud-filled sky, no doubt a metaphor for the beseeching pain of the people on the ground.

Brilliant novelistic story.

• Wick Aug 19, 2011 11:08PM

  Regarding MJ5K’s Review
  Perfect review of a perfect movie MJ.