Screen Adaptations of Dennis Lehane novels
Noir is a genre of loss, of men and women unable to roll with the changing times, so the changing times instead roll over them.
Only two other tv/movie scenes have made me feel like my whole body is shuddering uncontrollably at the force of the emotion in the actor's face, voice and gestures...
#1 - Sean Penn wailing "Is that my daughter in there?" in Mystic River as you watch his whole world collapse in his eyes. Never fails to bring tears to mine.
#2 - Rhea Seehorn yelling at a stunned Patrick Fabian "Fair? Let's talk about fair. Hey, let's let Jimmy dig around in the fire-damaged wreck where his brother. Died. SCREAMING!" I can literally feel the force of her rage and heartbreak tearing at my chest. And fine, I get a bit scared of her too!
And finally, a new #3 for me.
Just Kieran Culkin grieving the death of his father by being unapologetically enraged at the narcissist trying to bully them into selling off their company. The pain in his voice and the almost manic anger in his eyes. Every gesture perfectly encapsulates his personality and his emotions. So far, he's the best actor on the show this season. Breathtaking.
In this second installment, Laura Linney leads all females with nine honorable mentions. Sissy Spacek is in second place with six. Bette Davis continues to lead all women with ten.
Her honorable mentions are Dave (1993, with Kevin Kline), Primal Fear (1996), You Can Count On Me (2000), The Laramie Project (2002), Mystic River (2003), PS (2004), Kinsey (2004), The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005) and The Squid and the Whale (2005).
A park near a neighboring school, adjacent to the Mystic River. I hope the middle schoolers take time to look up from their phones and enjoy the beauty around them.