The ending to Mystic River (plot spoilers)...

[vi5]

O.K. so what was the story here? I had heard people talk about the ending. I thought the movie was ending right when Sean Penn confessed to Kevin Bacon what he had done. But then when it went on a little longer I expected some sort of twist ending. But I don't get what the whole parade epilogue was getting at, nor do I understand what the Laura Linney speech was supposed to be about. Why did Kevin Bacon do the smile/finger gun thing to Sean Penn.

Was this supposed to be ridiculously ambiguous and unclear? Was there something I missed? Was this tacked on piece in the book as well or was it just for the movie.

Either way, I did like the movie. Well acted, well directed. And maybe if I hadn't heard so much about the ending I wouldn't have been so conscious of it.

[BootinUp]

1. Maybe you're trying to read

too much into it. I thought that the Penn and Bacon had decided it was fate more or less, what happened to Robbins. And the parade at the end said that life went on basically, that it was over.

[vi5]

2. That's what I think. I had too many people tell me....

..about the ending and how weird it was and how it didn't make sense, so I was looking for it.

Although I will admit that the suddenly evil speech from Laura Linney at the end felt very tacked on.

[SlingBlade]

3. Just saw this movie

What a depressing cast of characters, The fellow who was abducted as a child and latter killed by Penn.
Lots of what if’s and so on, But I enjoyed it, It was thought provoking.

[bushwakker]

4. I just watched this flick last night

I hated the ending and the "you're a king" speech by Jimmy's wife - I can't remember if it was in the book or not? I think the parade was just a vehicle to have all the characters gather in the old neighborhood and the Bacon finger gun really had no meaning other than to acknowledge Jimmy's presence. I was not as impressed with the flick as you were. Living here in Boston I always cringe when I hear actors doing the Boston accent thing - although Robbins pulled it off better than anyone I've ever heard. He really was great in this movie. His look, his accent - he really nailed it.

[underpants]

7. I just watched it last night also

I thought the finger point at the end was to say "Hey you owe me one now......buddy."

I was wondering about the accents but I don't know what a real Boston accent sounds like other than what I have seen on TV and in movies.

I thought it was a really good movie unlike one of my other choices this weekend-Club Dread WOW was that horrible.

[bushwakker]

8. They usually do the Boston accent well for a line or two

then it starts to sound a little weird to someone who hears it all the time. Having lived in Boston for 20 years I've mercifully never acquired the accent and managed to keep a little of my New York bark. I would say that Mystic River came as close to capturing that Boston neighborhood feel and the accent as any movie I've seen. Good Will Hunting doesn't count since Damon and Affleck didn't really have to learn the accent.

[chelsea0011]

5. Bacon was just pointing out to Penn that your time will come

I'm looking forward to reading the book this summer. Dennis Lehane has been somewhat nice about the movies but makes very clear that the point of the book didn't translate to the movies very well. I understand bacon's character is much more developed and and hsi wife relationship is frabricated for film.

[bushwakker]

9. as usual the book beats the flick - enjoy*

[pretzel4gore]

6. wonderful movie!

The Dave character was doomed anyway, having killed the pedophile...that was unspoken in the ending. Sean the cop said 'now you gonna send $500/month to Dave's wife too?' to Jimmy, which summed up the fact they both knew.....