****
Teddy Daniels is a former US Marshall who was assigned to do an investigation on a missing woman at an insane asylum on the mysterious Shutter Island, but soon Teddy finds out that there is more to the island then meets the eye. Sounds like the normal story, right? That's what I thought until I watched the new rental. It was surprisingly a great thriller that was well thought out where all of the twists and turns made sense at the end! Also, I loved how the great Martin Scorsese trusted his audience to pick up clues with the slightest touch of common sense. So often you watch films where you know whats will happen and I as much as the next person enjoy those films completely (sometimes), but it is nice every once in a while to watch a film where you have to think to find the answer or at least watch the entire thriller to know the truth. Leonardo DiCaprio was incredible as the fearless Marshall, Teddy Daniels, along with the rest of his co-stars! I would SO recommend to rent the film and if you have seen it, watch it again. There are many things that you would miss in the first viewing. Hope you enjoy!
~ChaChi
Well, as much as I hate to disagree with great critics, I found "Shutter Island" a bit underwhelming. Unfortunately for "gotcha" films like this, it's been done over and over by movies like "The Others" and "The Sixth Sense." Today, a viewer comes to movies like this expecting twists and turns with surprise endings, and can often predict them unless masterfully crafted. If you're going to make a movie in that genre, you'd better come prepared, and it had better be good.
ReplyDeleteLeonardo di Caprio is as good as ever, but--as ever--he plays pretty much the same character as his has in his latest films, including "The Departed": intense, driven, and a little off-center. He works harder on his heavy Boston accent than Costner did with his British in "Prince of Thieves," but is still rather inconsistent.
Scorsese shone in the 70s and 80s with heady police dramas. He has a gift for pacing, and focusing the viewer where he wants them to, but is off with his misdirection in this movie.
As I said above, if you're going to make a movie with an unexpected twist at the end, you need to step up your game. It's not to say the ending in this movie was bad, it's just that the explanation was too Hollywood--too easy. The movie did a great job hiding the ultimate surprise while providing clues throughout, but the "reveal" was weak and unrealistic.
I agree with ChaChi that this was an entertaining romp, with good performances, and good direction. I certainly wouldn't discourage people from seeing it (though there are some scenes to make people with weak stomachs a bit squeamish--remember, this is Scorsese). However, I think 4 FaChi's (stars) is a bit generous. I would give 3.