Shutter Island
Directed by: Martin ScorseseStarring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Max Von Sydow, Emily Mortimer, Michelle Williams, Jackie Earle Hayley, John Carrol Lynch, Patricia Clarkson, Ted Levine and Elias Koteas
Shutter Island follows two U.S. Marshalls taken to the mysterious Shutter Island mental health facility in 1954 to investigate the disappearance of a dangerous murderess, but of course, there's something fishy going on over on Shutter Island. What Scorsese creates is a tremendous work of suspense and terror. Despite a few poor green-screen moments and a fairly languid pace at times, the film is consistently intriguing and pretty damn exciting. Scorsese builds an atmosphere of of paranoia throughout with DiCaprio's dream and hallucinations, they are often shocking and terrifying and help to set the tone for the film. Its one of those movies you don't want to discuss too deeply for fear of spoiling any of the surprises. But I can easily recommend this film. Scorsese creates an amazing atmosphere, and is able to draw absolutely brilliant performances from every cast member, no matter what material they are working with. DiCaprio in particular gives a performance on par with his career best. Every emotion comes through perfectly. That's as far as I want to go, its a brilliantly made, intense film that is thoroughly enjoyable. Its not exactly at the heights of Scorsese's best, but it is easily the best movie of the short year, and is actually a step above Scorsese's last thriller Cape Feare.
On another note about Shutter Island.
Shame on you Michael Phillips and A.O. Scott. Everyone has an opinion, and I happen to respect yours, but you really lay into this movie. Phillips calls it "It is less a film than a puny trampoline -- an occasion, though a grim one, for this most fervently movie-mad of American directors to show off his love for the various pulp genres mooshed together by the 2003 Dennis Lehane novel", Do you know what this describes too? (eliminating the Lehane novel reference) Inglorious Basterds which Phillips praised. The only thing is this one works as a cohesive film, its not just a director who is infatuated with style and throwbacks, Scorsese makes an intriguing and entertaining film. They also deride the "twist" that they claim they saw from miles away, well congratulations, and congratulations to anyone else who got it. But most people, from what I've understood in a small sample, haven't seen the thousands of films they have (including me) and are so wrapped up in the effective narrative of the film that it stays pretty hidden. So to call this schlock, to call it well acted trash is pretty shameful and insulting when they turn and praise what is actually over-stylized mash-up trash coming from Quentin Tarantino, a very good, but grossly overrated director. This rant is a little unprofessional, and is the sort of anti-intellectual diatribes I don't like, but they really misfired on this movie, and it bothered me. They also talked about the use of holocaust imagery in the film crossing the line, but I don't get how, that line was not only way off, but particularly insulting to Scorsese. For shame!
Rating: 8/10
Crazy Heart
Written and Directed by: Scott CooperStarring: Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Colin Farrel, Paul Herman and Robert DuVall
Crazy Heart tells the story of Bad Blake, a broken down country legend who while on a tour of bowling alleys and bars meets a young reporter. The set up sounds familiar, and the film has a sense of easy-going familiarity. It doesn't try anything incredibly new, and there's not much to be surprised by, except maybe the performances. These are the engines of the film the Academy Award Nominated performances by Gyllenhall and most importantly Bridges. Bridges eclipses all of his co-stars in a very un-flashy, but supremely solid performance. Every little movement from the way he walks, to always having is pants undone when he drives, help Bridges disappear into this character in a way that a lot of actors have a hard time doing. Its one of those performances that you completely forget that you are watching an actor at work, and he becomes the character. The film as a whole despite the slight lack of originality is actually very good, it moves at the same pace as Bad's life which is quite effective. The film is enjoyable and doesn't shock you with the level of depravity that Bad falls into, which might actually lessen the impact, but the film works as a nice comfortable and enjoyable film. The music by T-Bone Burnett is a huge factor on the film too, it feels authentic and is actually really good (which isn't surprising from T-Bone Burnett, but surprising from a movie). Everything works so well in this film that even Colin Farrel gives a good performance.
Rating: 8/10
2 comments:
I'll go one further on Shutter Island...of course the critics saw the "twist" coming a mile away. But they are missing the fact that it likely wasn't a twist at all, just the final culmination of the conspiracy. Sorry for the potential spoiler, but it's been out for a week.
The legacy of this movie should be these questions:
1. is he a victim of a perfectly played conspiracy, or insane.
2. if a victim of conspiracy, is he willingly walking toward the lighthouse (as a final escape off the island)?
Martin Scorsese made a fabulous job executing this film. Shutter Island had a huge success, and that was due to the fact that the cast and staff made an enormous effort.
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