Mystic River (film)#Accolades

{{Short description|2003 American drama film directed by Clint Eastwood}}

{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2015}}

{{Infobox film

| name = Mystic River

| image = Mystic River poster.jpg

| alt = Dark rippling water reflects the shadowy silhouettes of three people

| caption = Theatrical release poster

| director = Clint Eastwood

| producer = {{Plainlist|

}}

| screenplay = Brian Helgeland

| based_on = {{Based on|Mystic River|Dennis Lehane}}

| starring = {{Plainlist|

}}

| music = Clint Eastwood

| cinematography = Tom Stern

| editing = Joel Cox

| production_companies = {{Plainlist|

}}

| distributor = Warner Bros. Pictures

| released = {{Film date|2003|5|23|Cannes|2003|10|15|United States}}

| runtime = 138 minutes{{cite web | url=https://bbfc.co.uk/CVF186230 | title=Mystic River (15) | work=British Board of Film Classification | date=September 10, 2003 | access-date=March 26, 2015 | archive-date=April 2, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402100616/http://bbfc.co.uk/releases/mystic-river-2003 | url-status=dead }}

| country = United States

| language = English

| budget = $25–30 million{{cite web |title=Mystic River (2003) - Financial Information |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Mystic-River#tab=summary |website=The Numbers |access-date=September 14, 2021 |archive-date=September 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210914151621/https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Mystic-River#tab=summary |url-status=live }}

| gross = $156.6 million

}}

Mystic River is a 2003 American neo-noir mystery drama film, directed and co-produced by Clint Eastwood, and starring Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, Kevin Bacon, Laurence Fishburne, Marcia Gay Harden, and Laura Linney. The screenplay, written by Brian Helgeland, was based on the 2001 novel by Dennis Lehane. It is the first film in which Eastwood was credited as composer of the score.

The film was a critical and commercial success. Mystic River was nominated for six awards at the 76th Academy Awards, including Best Picture, winning Best Actor for Penn, and Best Supporting Actor for Robbins.

Plot

In 1975, Irish-American neighborhood friends Jimmy Markum, Sean Devine, and Dave Boyle are playing street hockey in Charlestown, Boston. After writing their names in a patch of wet concrete on the sidewalk, two predators posing as police officers abduct Dave and rape him for four days until he escapes.

Twenty-five years later, Jimmy is an ex-convict and neighborhood convenience store owner; Sean is a detective with the Massachusetts State Police whose pregnant wife Lauren recently left, and Dave is a blue-collar worker continually haunted by the abduction and rape he suffered. Jimmy and Dave are connected by marriage: Dave's wife Celeste and Jimmy's second wife Annabeth are cousins.

Jimmy's daughter from his first marriage, Katie, plans to run away to Las Vegas with Brendan Harris, a boy from a family Jimmy despises that she has been secretly dating. One night, Dave sees Katie and her friends at a local bar. That same night, she is murdered, and Dave comes home bloodied and injured. He tells his wife that he fought off a mugger and possibly killed him. Sean and his partner Whitey Powers investigate the murder while Jimmy, distraught at Katie's death, conducts a separate investigation using his neighborhood connections.

A witness statement suggests that Katie may have known her killer. The detectives learn that the gun used to kill her, a .38 Special revolver, was also used in a liquor store robbery in 1984 by "Just Ray" Harris, the father of Brendan. Harris has been missing since 1989, but Brendan claims he still sends his family $500 monthly. Brendan feigns ignorance about Ray's gun. Whitey suspects Dave, who keeps changing the story about how his hand got injured. Dave continues to behave erratically, which upsets Celeste to the point that she leaves their home and tells Jimmy she suspects Dave is Katie's murderer.

Jimmy and his friends invite Dave to a local bar, get him drunk and confront him when he is about to vomit. Jimmy admits to Dave that he killed "Just Ray" for implicating him in the liquor store robbery, which resulted in his imprisonment. Dave reveals to Jimmy that he did kill someone that night, but it was not Katie. He beat to death a child molester whom he found with a child prostitute. Jimmy does not believe Dave and pulls out a knife. He promises to let Dave live if he confesses to Katie's murder. However, when Dave does so, Jimmy kills him and disposes of his body in the adjacent Mystic River.

Meanwhile, after finding his father's gun missing, Brendan confronts his mute younger brother "Silent Ray" and his friend John O'Shea about Katie's murder. He beats the two boys, trying to get them to admit their guilt, and then John pulls out Ray's gun and is about to shoot Brendan. Sean and Whitey, having connected the teens to the murder, arrive in time to disarm and arrest John and Ray.

The next morning, Sean tells Jimmy that John and Silent Ray confessed to killing Katie as part of a prank gone wrong. Sean asks Jimmy if he has seen Dave, who is wanted for questioning in the murder of a known child molester. Jimmy does not answer, instead thanking Sean for finding Katie's killers, but remarks, "if only you'd been a little faster." Sean then asks Jimmy if he intends to send Celeste a monthly $500 too.

Sean reunites with Lauren after apologizing for pushing her away, while Jimmy confesses what he's done to Annabeth. She tells him he is "a king, and a king knows what to do and does it. Even when it's hard." Annabeth also mocks Celeste for speaking ill of her own husband Dave. During a local parade, Dave's son Michael waits for his father. Sean sees Jimmy and mimics a gunshot at him with his hand, implying he is going to make Jimmy pay, whereas Jimmy spreads his arms in a “what did I do / do your best” gesture.

Cast

{{cast listing|

}}

Production

Michael Keaton was originally cast in the role of Det. Sean Devine, and did several script readings with the cast, as well as his own research into the practices of the Massachusetts Police Department.{{cite web |last=Gaughan |first=Liam |date=September 24, 2023 |title=Michael Keaton Almost Starred in This Oscar-Winning Clint Eastwood Film |url=https://collider.com/michael-keaton-mystic-river/ |accessdate=October 14, 2023 |website=Collider}} However, creative differences between Keaton and Clint Eastwood led to Keaton leaving the production. He was replaced by Kevin Bacon.{{sfn|Hughes|2009|p=153}}

Principal photography took place on location in Boston.{{sfn|Hughes|2009|p=153}}{{Cite web |last=Trivedi |first=Dhruv |date=2021-04-30 |title=Where Was Mystic River Filmed? |url=https://thecinemaholic.com/where-was-mystic-river-filmed/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=The Cinemaholic |language=en-US}}

Reception

=Critical response=

On Rotten Tomatoes, Mystic River has an approval rating of 89% based on 204 reviews, with an average rating of 7.80/10. The site's critics consensus reads: "Anchored by the exceptional acting of its strong cast, Mystic River is a somber drama that unfolds in layers and conveys the tragedy of its story with visceral power."{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mystic_river/ |title=Mystic River |work=Rotten Tomatoes |access-date=May 5, 2024 |archive-date=April 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417095624/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mystic_river |url-status=live }} On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 84 out of 100, based on reviews from 42 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/mystic-river |title=Mystic River Reviews |work=Metacritic |access-date=September 4, 2021 |archive-date=October 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211024150422/https://www.metacritic.com/movie/mystic-river |url-status=live }} Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B+" on an A+ to F scale.{{cite web|url=https://www.cinemascore.com/|title=Find CinemaScore|format=Type "Mystic River" in the search box|publisher=CinemaScore|access-date=May 3, 2020|archive-date=April 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220413083139/https://www.cinemascore.com/|url-status=live}}

Peter Travers of Rolling Stone wrote "Clint Eastwood pours everything he knows about directing into Mystic River. His film sneaks up, messes with your head, and then floors you. You can't shake it. It's that haunting, that hypnotic."{{cite magazine |date=25 September 2003 |last1=Travers |first1=Peter |author1-link=Peter Travers |title=Mystic River |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-reviews/mystic-river-255802/ |magazine=Rolling Stone }}{{sfn|Eliot|2009|p=307}}

On September 8, 2003, David Edelstein wrote a long article for The New York Times with the headline: "Dirty Harry Wants to Say He's Sorry (Again)." The piece examines Mystic River in the context of Eastwood's entire oeuvre, praising his “evolution [into] cinema's […] sorrowful conscience”.{{Cite news |last=Edelstein |first=David |date=2003-09-28 |title=Dirty Harry Wants To Say He's Sorry (Again) |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/28/movies/dirty-harry-wants-to-say-he-s-sorry-again.html |access-date=2021-09-07 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=July 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709232809/https://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/28/movies/dirty-harry-wants-to-say-he-s-sorry-again.html |url-status=live }}

Reviewing the film for The New York Times on October 3, 2003, A.O. Scott wrote a long review of this "mighty" work, at one point observing: "Dave's abduction is an act of inexplicable, almost metaphysical evil, and this story of guilt, grief and vengeance grows out of it like a mass of dark weeds. At its starkest, the film, like the novel by Dennis Lehane on which it is based, is a parable of incurable trauma, in which violence begets more violence and the primal violation of innocence can never be set right. Mystic River is the rare American movie that aspires to—and achieves—the full weight and darkness of tragedy."{{Cite news |last=Scott |first=A. O. |date=2003-10-03 |title=FILM FESTIVAL REVIEW; Dark Parable of Violence Avenged |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/03/movies/film-festival-review-dark-parable-of-violence-avenged.html |access-date=2021-09-07 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=July 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210710003142/https://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/03/movies/film-festival-review-dark-parable-of-violence-avenged.html |url-status=live }}

On October 12, 2003, The New York Times A. O. Scott wrote a piece headlined "Ms. Macbeth and her cousin: The women of Mystic River" which he opened with: "One of the most haunting scenes in Clint Eastwood's Mystic River—a film that consists almost entirely of haunting scenes—comes just before the end. The main dramatic action, we have every reason to suspect, is complete{{nbsp}}... A long, climactic night of revelation and confrontation is over, and the weary streets of Boston are flooded with hard autumnal light. The break of day brings a new insight, one that has less to do with the facts of the story than with its meaning. All along, Mystic River has seemed, most obviously, to be about those three men{{nbsp}}... But it turns out to be just as much about three (or more) damaged families, about the terror and mystery of marriage and about the fateful actions of two women."{{Cite news|last=Scott|first=A. O.|date=2003-10-12|title=FILM; Ms. Macbeth and Her Cousin: The Women of 'Mystic River'|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/12/movies/film-ms-macbeth-and-her-cousin-the-women-of-mystic-river.html|access-date=2021-07-07|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=July 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210707131136/https://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/12/movies/film-ms-macbeth-and-her-cousin-the-women-of-mystic-river.html|url-status=live}}

In the New York Times, on June 8, 2004, anticipating the DVD and CD release, Dave Kehr praised the film as "a symphonic study in contrasting voices and values. Long fascinated by music as a subject,{{nbsp}}... Mr. Eastwood here creates a genuinely musical style, using his performers like soloists, from Mr. Robbins's moody baritone to Mr. Penn's spiky soprano. Their individual arias are incorporated into a magnificent choral piece".{{Cite news|last=Kehr|first=Dave|date=2004-06-08|title=NEW DVD'S; Looking Into a Dark River, Seeing the Shadow of Evil|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/08/movies/new-dvd-s-looking-into-a-dark-river-seeing-the-shadow-of-evil.html|access-date=2021-07-07|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=July 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210710010535/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/08/movies/new-dvd-s-looking-into-a-dark-river-seeing-the-shadow-of-evil.html|url-status=live}}

=Box office=

The film earned $156,822,020 worldwide with $90,135,191 in the United States and $66,686,829 in the international box office, which is significantly higher than its $25–30 million budget.{{cite web|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=mysticriver.htm|title=Mystic River|work=Box Office Mojo|access-date=September 4, 2009|archive-date=June 1, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090601150709/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=mysticriver.htm|url-status=live}}

=Accolades=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
scope="col"| Award

! scope="col"| Date of ceremony

! scope="col"| Category

! scope="col"| Recipient(s)

! scope="col"| Result

! scope="col" class="unsortable"| {{Abbreviation|Ref.|References}}

scope="row" rowspan=6| Academy Awards

| rowspan="6" | February 29, 2004

| Best Picture

| Robert Lorenz, Judie G. Hoyt and Clint Eastwood

| {{nom}}

| rowspan="6" align="center"| {{sfn|Hughes|2009|p=155}}

Best Director

| Clint Eastwood

| {{nom}}

Best Actor

| Sean Penn

| {{won}}

Best Supporting Actor

| Tim Robbins

| {{won}}

Best Supporting Actress

| Marcia Gay Harden

| {{nom}}

Best Adapted Screenplay

| Brian Helgeland

| {{nom}}

scope="row" | American Cinema Editors

| 2004

| Best Edited Feature Film – Dramatic

| Joel Cox

| {{nom}}

| align="center"| {{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2013/film/awards/ace-eddie-noms-show-revealing-splits-from-oscars-1118066143/ |title=ACE Eddie noms show revealing splits from Oscars |first=Anna |last=Dimond |access-date=20 June 2019 |date=February 14, 2013 |work=Variety |archive-date=June 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190608121604/https://variety.com/2013/film/awards/ace-eddie-noms-show-revealing-splits-from-oscars-1118066143/ |url-status=live }}

scope="row" | Art Directors Guild

| February 2004

| Feature Film – Contemporary Film

| Henry Bumstead and Jack G. Taylor Jr.

| {{won}}

|align="center"| {{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2004/film/markets-festivals/art-directors-honor-river-and-rings-1117900160/ |title=Art directors honor 'River' and 'Rings' |first=Courtney |last=Mitchell |access-date=20 June 2019 |date=February 2004 |work=Variety |archive-date=June 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190622062841/https://variety.com/2004/film/markets-festivals/art-directors-honor-river-and-rings-1117900160/ |url-status=live }}

scope="row" rowspan=4| BAFTA Film Awards

| rowspan="4" | February 15, 2004

| Best Actor in a Leading Role

| Sean Penn

| {{nom}}

| rowspan="4" align="center"| {{cite web |url=http://awards.bafta.org/award/2004/film |title=Film in 2004 |access-date=20 June 2019 |website=British Academy of Film and Television Arts |archive-date=June 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613221641/http://awards.bafta.org/award/2004/film |url-status=live }}

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

| Tim Robbins

| {{nom}}

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

| Laura Linney

| {{nom}}

Best Screenplay – Adapted

| Brian Helgeland

| {{nom}}

scope="row" rowspan=2| Boston Society of Film Critics

| rowspan="2" | December 14, 2003

| Best Film

!

| {{won}}

| rowspan="2" align="center"| {{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/article/2003/12/15/boston-honors-mystic-river-translation/ |title=Boston honors Mystic River, Translation |access-date=20 June 2019 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly}}

Best Ensemble

!

| {{won}}

scope="row" rowspan=2| Cannes Film Festival

| rowspan="2" |May 14 – 25, 2003

| Palme d'Or

| Clint Eastwood

| {{nom}}

| align="center" | {{cite web|url=http://www.festival-cannes.fr/en/archives/2003/allSelections.html |title=Official Selection 2003: All the Selection |work=festival-cannes.fr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214204119/http://www.festival-cannes.fr/en/archives/2003/allSelections.html |archive-date=14 December 2013 |df=dmy}}

Golden Coach

| Clint Eastwood

| {{won}}

| align="center"|{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/artists/clint-eastwood-60-years-in-film/clint-eastwood-movie-career46/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/artists/clint-eastwood-60-years-in-film/clint-eastwood-movie-career46/ |archive-date=January 11, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Clint Eastwood: 60 years in film |access-date=20 June 2019 |date=October 2015 |work=The Daily Telegraph }}{{cbignore}}

scope="row" | Casting Society of America

| October 2004

| Feature Film

!

| {{won}}

| align="center"| {{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2004/film/news/kudos-for-casting-1117911948/ |title=Kudos for casting |access-date=20 June 2019 |first=Debra |last=Kamin |date=October 2004 |work=Variety |archive-date=June 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190621132455/https://variety.com/2004/film/news/kudos-for-casting-1117911948/ |url-status=live }}

scope="row" | César Awards

| February 21, 2004

| Best Foreign Film

!

| {{won}}

| align="center" align="center"| {{cite web |url=https://www.screendaily.com/barbarian-plunders-top-cesar-prizes/4017444.article |title=Barbarian plunders top Cesar prizes |access-date=20 June 2019 |date=February 2004 |work=Screen Daily |archive-date=June 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190621043444/https://www.screendaily.com/barbarian-plunders-top-cesar-prizes/4017444.article |url-status=live }}

scope="row" rowspan=8| Critics' Choice Awards

| rowspan="8" | January 10, 2004

| Best Picture

!

| {{nom}}

| rowspan="8" align="center"| {{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2003/film/awards/mystic-in-america-top-b-cast-crix-list-1117897228/ |title='Mystic,' 'In America' top B'cast Crix list |first=Jill |last=Feiwell |access-date=June 28, 2019 |date=December 2003 |work=Variety |archive-date=June 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190629005952/https://variety.com/2003/film/awards/mystic-in-america-top-b-cast-crix-list-1117897228/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3386903.stm|title=US critics give Rings four awards|date=January 11, 2004|access-date=August 28, 2016|work=BBC News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919202541/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3386903.stm|archive-date=19 September 2016|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}

Best Director

| Clint Eastwood

| {{nom}}

Best Actor

| Sean Penn

| {{won}}

Best Supporting Actress

| Marcia Gay Harden

| {{nom}}

Best Supporting Actor

| Tim Robbins

| {{won}}

Best Ensemble

!

| {{nom}}

Best Screenplay

| Brian Helgeland

| {{nom}}

Best Score

| Clint Eastwood

| {{nom}}

scope="row" | Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association

| January 2004

| Best Actor

| Sean Penn

| {{won}}

| align="center" | {{cite web |url=https://www.advocate.com/news/2004/01/08/charlize-theron-honored-dallas-fort-worth-film-critics-ltigtmonsterltigt-10915 |title=Charlize Theron honored by Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics for Monster |access-date=20 June 2019 |date=January 2004 |work=The Advocate |archive-date=June 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190621043450/https://www.advocate.com/news/2004/01/08/charlize-theron-honored-dallas-fort-worth-film-critics-ltigtmonsterltigt-10915 |url-status=live }}

scope="row" | European Film Awards

| 6 December 2003

| Best Non-European Film

!

| {{nom}}

| rowspan="1" align="center"| {{Cite web |url=https://variety.com/2003/scene/markets-festivals/lenin-storms-the-house-at-berlin-s-efas-1117896714/ |title='Lenin' storms the house at Berlin's EFAs |last=Meza |first=Ed |date=December 7, 2003 |access-date=June 28, 2019 |work=Variety |archive-date=June 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190629005952/https://variety.com/2003/scene/markets-festivals/lenin-storms-the-house-at-berlin-s-efas-1117896714/ |url-status=live }}

scope="row" rowspan=2| Florida Film Critics Circle

| rowspan="2" | January 2, 2004

| Best Actor

| Sean Penn

| {{won}}

| rowspan="2" align="center"| {{cite web |url=https://www.floridafilmcritics.com/2013/11/16/2003-ffcc-award-winners/ |title=2003 FFCC Award Winners |access-date=20 June 2019 |date=January 2004 |website=Florida Film Critics Circle |archive-date=June 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190621043440/https://www.floridafilmcritics.com/2013/11/16/2003-ffcc-award-winners/ |url-status=live }}

Best Supporting Actor

| Tim Robbins

| {{won}}

scope="row" rowspan=5| Golden Globes

| rowspan="5" | January 25, 2004

| Best Motion Picture – Drama

!

| {{nom}}

| rowspan="5" align="center"| {{cite web |url=https://www.goldenglobes.com/film/mystic-river |title=Mystic River |access-date=20 June 2019 |website=Hollywood Foreign Press Association |archive-date=May 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190527225910/https://www.goldenglobes.com/film/mystic-river |url-status=live }}

Best Director – Motion Picture

| Clint Eastwood

| {{nom}}

Best Screenplay – Motion Picture

| Brian Helgeland

| {{nom}}

Best Actor in a Drama

| Sean Penn

| {{won}}

Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture

| Tim Robbins

| {{won}}

scope="row" rowspan=2| London Film Critics Circle

| rowspan="2" | February 11, 2004

| Director of the Year

| Clint Eastwood

| {{won}}

| rowspan="2" align="center"| {{cite web |url=https://www.screendaily.com/master-and-commander-sails-off-with-london-critics-awards/4017305.article |title=Master And Commander sails off with London Critics awards |access-date=20 June 2019 |date=February 2004 |work=Screen Daily |archive-date=June 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190621043441/https://www.screendaily.com/master-and-commander-sails-off-with-london-critics-awards/4017305.article |url-status=live }}

Actor of the Year

| Sean Penn

| {{won}}

scope="row" rowspan=2| National Board of Review

| rowspan="2" | December 3, 2003

| Best Film

!

| {{won}}

| rowspan="2" align="center"| {{cite web |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2003/12/national-board-of-review-says-mystic-river-is-tops-for-2003-79297/ |title=National Board of Review Says "Mystic River" is Tops For 2003 |access-date=20 June 2019 |date=December 2003 |work=IndieWire |archive-date=June 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190621043438/https://www.indiewire.com/2003/12/national-board-of-review-says-mystic-river-is-tops-for-2003-79297/ |url-status=live }}

Best Actor

| Sean Penn

| {{won}}

scope="row" rowspan=5| National Society of Film Critics

| rowspan="5" | January 3, 2004

| Best Film

!

| {{draw|2nd Place}}

| rowspan="5" align="center" | {{cite web |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/sns-oscars-criticssociety-ct-story.html |title=Critics society names 'Splendor' best film |access-date=20 June 2019 |work=Chicago Tribune |date=January 5, 2004 |archive-date=June 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190621043439/https://www.chicagotribune.com/sns-oscars-criticssociety-ct-story.html |url-status=dead}}

Best Director

| Clint Eastwood

| {{won}}

Best Actor

| Sean Penn

| {{draw|2nd Place}}

Best Supporting Actor

| Tim Robbins

| {{draw|2nd Place}}

Best Screenplay

| Brian Helgeland

| {{draw|2nd Place}}

scope="row" rowspan=8| Satellite Awards

| rowspan="8" | January 23, 2004

| Best Drama Film

!

| {{nom}}

| rowspan="8" align="center"| {{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081218060836/http://www.pressacademy.com/satawards/awards2004.shtml|archive-date=December 18, 2008|url=http://www.pressacademy.com/satawards/awards2004.shtml|title=8th Annual Satellite Awards|website=International Press Academy|access-date=October 28, 2015}}

Best Director

| Clint Eastwood

| {{nom}}

Best Actor – Drama

| Sean Penn

| {{won}}

Best Supporting Actress – Drama

| Marcia Gay Harden

| {{nom}}

Best Adapted Screenplay

| Brian Helgeland

| {{won}}

Best Cinematography

| Tom Stern

| {{nom}}

Best Editing

| Joel Cox

| {{nom}}

Best Sound

| Alan Robert Murray and Bub Asman

| {{nom}}

scope="row" rowspan=3| Screen Actors Guild

| rowspan="3" | February 22, 2004

| Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Male Actor

| Tim Robbins

| {{won}}

| rowspan="3" align="center"| {{cite web |url=https://www.eonline.com/news/46627/sag-swept-away-by-mystic-river |title=SAG Swept Away by "Mystic River" |access-date=June 20, 2019 |work=E! Online |date=January 15, 2004 |archive-date=June 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190621043441/https://www.eonline.com/news/46627/sag-swept-away-by-mystic-river |url-status=live }}

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor

| Sean Penn

| {{Nom}}

Outstanding Ensemble

!

| {{Nom}}

scope="row" | Vancouver Film Critics Circle

| February 2, 2004

| Best Actor

| Sean Penn

| {{won}}

| align="center" |{{Cite web |url=https://vancouverfilmcritics.com/2004/02/02/4th-annual-award-winners/ |title=4th Annual Award Winners |date=February 2, 2004 |access-date=August 28, 2016 |website=Vancouver Film Critics Circle |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160913060757/https://vancouverfilmcritics.com/2004/02/02/4th-annual-award-winners/ |archive-date=September 13, 2016 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}

scope="row" | Writers Guild of America

| February 21, 2004

| Best Adapted Screenplay

| Brian Helgeland

| {{nom}}

| align="center" | {{cite web |url=http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/Movies/02/20/sprj.aa04.leisure.sag.reut/index.html |title=SAG, WGA awards lead into Oscar |access-date=20 June 2019 |date=February 20, 2004 |website=CNN |archive-date=September 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200915010135/http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/Movies/02/20/sprj.aa04.leisure.sag.reut/index.html |url-status=live }}

References

{{Reflist}}

=Bibliography=

  • {{Cite book|last=Eliot|first=Marc|title=American Rebel: The Life of Clint Eastwood|publisher=Harmony Books|year=2009|isbn=978-0-307-33688-0|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/americanrebellif00elio}}
  • {{cite book|last=Hughes|first=Howard|title=Aim for the Heart: The Films of Clint Eastwood|publisher=I.B. Tauris|year=2009|isbn=978-1-84511-902-7|location=London}}
  • {{cite book|last=Ostermann |first=Eberhard |chapter=Mystic River Oder Die Abwesenheit Des Vaters |title=Die Filmerzählung: acht exemplarische Analysen |location=Munich |publisher=Fink |year=2007 |pages=29–43 |isbn=978-3-7705-4562-9}}