EASTWOOD’S Oscar-worthy film

Columbus day. October 2002. In order to reach the east Boston location where Clint Eastwood is starting the 16th day of shooting Mystic River, one has to drive through the Callahan tunnel. Remember? It is Dirty Harry’s last name.

Destination: Monmouth Street, a small street lined with narrow semi-detached houses nicely painted in pastel colors. It is 10 a.m., and despite a lovely sunshine, the temperature barely reaches 50°F. A crowd is assembled, good humored and eager, waiting on both sides of the street. Couples bundled up, kids of all ages cheeks pink with cold, senior citizens snuggling up with each other... these are the extras assembled for the day as itemized on the call sheet. Some of them have been given balloons. Others have flags to wave. And a shiny vintage fire truck is parked not far. A marching band is ready to go, its members wearing white pants and royal blue jackets with golden buttons. All is set for scenes 86 and 88. Exterior Day. Parade Street.

It would be impossible not to notice the camera truck with its impressive titan crane parked along the sidewalk right in the middle of the street. Wearing a navy parka and silver framed sunglasses, Eastwood is having a conversation with Tom Stern, his director of photography, in order to finalize the strategy of the first shot of the day.

At 72, Eastwood is amazingly fit and athletic. Mystic River is his 24th film as a director and this time, he only acts behind the camera. "I don’t think I’ll ever do one where I am in it and do both. I think it is too hard. I am much more relaxed here."

Adapted from the bestseller by Dennis Lehane, Mystic River is a riveting and powerful story, full of darkness, unexpected twists, secrets and lies. The book is a harrowing tale of friendships and lost illusions, a gripping and melancholic saga about three childhood friends with a tragic past–Jimmy Markum, Dave Boyle and Sean Devine–who are brought together 25 years later by another tragedy, the murder of Jimmy’s daughter Katie.

A lot of actors wanted to join the cast of Mystic River, especially with Eastwood directing. Early on, he sent the script to Sean Penn, asking him to read and tell him what he thought. "Sean called back and said to me, ‘Boy this is a killer,’" Eastwood explains. Kevin Bacon and Tim Robbins also had the same reactions. "Both of them had expressed interest in the past in working with me. The material was there and it fell into place. Each of them brings something different."

Penn is playing Jimmy Markum, Robbins is Dave Boyle and Bacon is Sean Devine. Both Penn and Robbins have made their marks as directors as well. This suits Eastwood fine. "I think when actors have directed before, it makes them easier to direct because they know what you are doing and also have acquired a certain sympathy, having been on the other side of the camera," he remarks.

Penn arrives dressed in character –stooped shoulders under a rather worn overcoat, funny-looking old-fashioned pointed shoes. His pants are too short. He wears oversized sunglasses and his hair is slicked back in a pompadour. His face translates no emotion. He seems deeply concentrated and takes his mark on the porch, facing the camera crane on the opposite side. Soon Laura Linney, who plays his wife Annabeth, joins him. They talk briefly.

"With Sean there is no compromise," the actress says with admiration a little later, between breaks. Eastwood is equally complimentary. "He is very good, very instinctive. He prepares well in his mind but doesn’t overwork the script. So he is adaptable and he is ready to work as soon as he comes to the set. We can shoot the first take."

Bacon and Harden are there too. In the crowd, surrounded by flag-waving and balloon-holding extras. Eastwood is watching the set on a tiny remote controlled video monitor, a new $4,000 toy which delights him. He is able to see exactly what the camera is framing without having to be perched on top of the crane. And he can also walk around, not worrying about a restricting cable. It is a much better gadget than the usual regular screen monitor.

Despite the gravity of the story, the atmosphere on the set of Mystic River is friendly and relaxed. One doesn’t feel any tension as is sometimes the case on films where the egos of the stars might be conflicting and create bad vibes. Eastwood would never tolerate such behavior. And, as