The Boston Orchestra does a marvelous job of capturing the mood and the total essence of the film. They know when to hold back and when to be forceful with their instruments. I found them to be very relaxing and full of subtle tension at the same time. There is a definite theme that can be established throughout this score, as you'll hear certain patterns through a good majority of the tracks.
As always, the people who will enjoy this the most are the people who have already seen the movie. I love to listen to scores because I get to relive the movie through them. Especially if they're something extremely memorable and hypnotic. I found this score to be both of that, although I will admit right now that it is most likely something that won't be playing non-stop in my stereo. It's nice to listen to it every now and then, though. It's just nothing that screams out to me, "Play me again! Play me again!" My favorite tracks are "abduction," "Jimmy's anguish," "orchestral variations #1 (and #2),"Dave's past," "Brendan's love of Katie," "the confrontation," "the resolution," and "the full heart."
Here's a great pointer for you potential buyers. If you have not already purchased the DVD and you are curious about the score, spend a little extra dough and buy the 3 Disc Deluxe Edition of "Mystic River." The third disc is actually the audio CD of that very score. All of the same exact tracks are included that you can find on the score that is sold separately. That's what I did, and I'm glad that I spent a little more to buy the Deluxe Edition of the film.
All in all, I think Clint Eastwood has done a great job of composing a solid score that does a great job of nailing the film's mood and tone. Again, this is mainly recommended to those who really loved the film, although people who love listening to great music composed by a great orchestra might want to check it out as well. The original motion picture soundtrack of "Mystic River" is a nice and haunting listen. -Michael Crane
