This movie already has a big “buzz” around it for Oscar considerations. Remember that the Academy Awards are going to be handed out about a month early this year-in late February, so it’s not too early to get that “buzz” going.

First off, I’ve already read a few e-mails from people who want you to boycott this movie. Why? Because it stars Sean Penn and Tim Robbins – remember that little disagreement over invading Iraq a few months back? Ah, it’s a movie - as I’ve said, that’s what these guys do best, let them stick to it. Besides, there will easily be two more guys to speak out to replace them. That’s Hollywood!

Penn and Robbins are joined by Kevin Bacon as a trio of buddies who grew up together in a blue collar neighborhood of Boston. The movie kicks off with a scene of the three boys playing street hockey. One of them, named Dave (Tim Robbins) is abducted and sexually tortured for four days by a couple of dirty old men.

It’s now twenty-five years later and the guys went their separate ways. Sean (Kevin Bacon) in now a cop, Jimmy (Sean Penn) owns a corner grocery store and looks a lot like the local thug, and Dave lives a sad life, marginally employed with a wife and son.

The three guys are reunited when Jimmy’s nineteen year-old daughter is murdered and Dave looks a lot like he’s the killer. It is the perfect emotional circle of morality – Jimmy the distraught and vengeful Dad, Sean the calm, but determined cop, and Dave, the seemingly guilty, mentally messed-up sad sack.

And, as a bonus, add in two more prime cast members – Marcia Gay Harden as Dave’s wife, a complete pushover with little doubt Dave’s the killer, and Laura Linney, as Jimmy’s wife, who loves her man and is as tough as he is.

I felt that things started rather slowly even though there was a kidnapping and a murder. Some of the Boston accents may drive you nuts until you get used to them, and the dialogue was simple and uninspiring. There’s also a side story about Sean’s wife – she’s left him and shows up every now and then as a partial face talking on a cell phone (and saying nothing), that really should have been left out all together.

Now, having given you some of my objections, let me say that this does become a very good potboiler as Sean works on tracking a killer and Jimmy and his thug friends do the same thing (on their own terms of course). It’s hard to take your eyes off of Penn- he is the one that makes this movie a cut above. First, check out his look – he’s a tattooed greaseball, looking like the “bad Fonzie”, but with his graying hair and reading glasses, he answers a question I’ve often wondered about – what happens to the bullies and street toughs when they hit age forty-somthing?

From angst to rage, Penn captures the heart of this movie and drives it home. The looks he gives people and the power he displays, this guy is the local “godfather”, even if he’d rather just be a good Dad and shopkeeper these days. A compelling performance- maybe he’ll finally get that Oscar he believes has been unfairly denied him.

“Mystic River” is not a “feel good” movie, so please don’t show up expecting to be dancing in the aisles. Go see it on a dark, late night. And try to figure out how it’s all going to end. I give it an “8.0”.