Thriller: Shutter Island
Shutter Island
Year: 2010
Score: 9/10
Bottom Line: Share with the world in the pursuit of world peace!
My Thoughts:
Let me get this out of the way: I'm not a particular fan of Leonardo DiCaprio. Haven't been since Titanic - or I should say after Titanic. The movie itself I enjoyed and cried like a good girl. However, for me, it was always the tragic story of the sinking of the ship itself and it's actual place in our history - rather than a boy that loved a girl, painted her naked, and then saved her ass. Okay? See I'm still pissed Rose didn't pull his ass up out of the water, and he was just A-Okay with that.....But...there I go digressing!
Leo himself has struck me as kind of an arrogant pompous ass in the years since. Full of himself in a way that exceeds the norm of pompousness/full-of-myselfishness we see and expect in Hollyweirdos. The projects he's chosen both onscreen and offscreen to take part in aren't ones I easily identify with. (That whole OneOrg or whatever it is chaps my conservative hide..) I hate being lectured to by actors who represent themselves as the ones with THE answers to the world's problems - when most of them are PAID to read the lines they speak. (And I'm not saying that there aren't some smart cookies ot there at all....oh hell you know what I mean!) And on a superficial level I haven't like the way he's somewhat bloated out as he's gotten older. Call me a bitch - I don't care. I'm just laying it out for you as to why I tend to AVOID his films like the plague.
And yet - the man was DAMNED GOOD in this psychological thriller. Seriously good. So good in fact that as I see the trailers for Inception I don't cringe and think oh yay another Leo pic. Instead I think ..hmm..maybe just maybe I'll see that one.
The story is pretty simple and I have to keep it VERY simple here so as not to hint or spoil in anyway. Federal Marshall Teddy Daniels comes to Shutter Island (a jailhouse/island for the criminally insane) to investigate the "impossible" escape of one of the inmates. During the investigation, the Daniels notices that the entire place seems "off" - from the staff to the patients/inmates and starts to question himself in ways he hasn't ever before. (Yeah that's all you're going to get out of me!)
The film is beautifully shot. The score is over the top and out of place in some scenes but right on in others. The cast is truly terrific and convincing. And the movie really makes you pay attention and THINK. And surprisingly, FEEL. I found myself, even as I was figuring it out and getting some things right and some things very wrong, truly invested in the outcome of the film and the lead character. And I was also genuinely surprised and twisted up. GREAT psychological thriller and executed nearly flawlessly by Scorcese. Oh yeah he's not one I also tend to runout to see - but he and DiCaprio seem to work well together.
I honestly don't want to go on too much about the movie because I don't want to give anything away - not even a whiff. If you're looking for a movie that is going to visually stun you and make exercise your brain and heart at the same time - this the film for you. Small warning, some of the visuals are fairly intense. It isn't for the weak of heart.
On a last note, I can't remember when I last gave a hard core 9 to a film of this sort. Perhaps it's due to not finding that many truly great dramas/thrillers these days that surprise me. Or perhaps it's due to the nice coffee-I'm-up-all-by-myself-as-my-son-is-still-asleep rush I have. But whatever - this film is GOOD.
Check it out!
**Like what you've read? Looking to buy?**
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**Clicking on the link embedded in the above DVD cover takes you to the specific genre store for this movie.**
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Year: 2010
Score: 9/10
Bottom Line: Share with the world in the pursuit of world peace!
My Thoughts:
Let me get this out of the way: I'm not a particular fan of Leonardo DiCaprio. Haven't been since Titanic - or I should say after Titanic. The movie itself I enjoyed and cried like a good girl. However, for me, it was always the tragic story of the sinking of the ship itself and it's actual place in our history - rather than a boy that loved a girl, painted her naked, and then saved her ass. Okay? See I'm still pissed Rose didn't pull his ass up out of the water, and he was just A-Okay with that.....But...there I go digressing!
Leo himself has struck me as kind of an arrogant pompous ass in the years since. Full of himself in a way that exceeds the norm of pompousness/full-of-myselfishness we see and expect in Hollyweirdos. The projects he's chosen both onscreen and offscreen to take part in aren't ones I easily identify with. (That whole OneOrg or whatever it is chaps my conservative hide..) I hate being lectured to by actors who represent themselves as the ones with THE answers to the world's problems - when most of them are PAID to read the lines they speak. (And I'm not saying that there aren't some smart cookies ot there at all....oh hell you know what I mean!) And on a superficial level I haven't like the way he's somewhat bloated out as he's gotten older. Call me a bitch - I don't care. I'm just laying it out for you as to why I tend to AVOID his films like the plague.
And yet - the man was DAMNED GOOD in this psychological thriller. Seriously good. So good in fact that as I see the trailers for Inception I don't cringe and think oh yay another Leo pic. Instead I think ..hmm..maybe just maybe I'll see that one.
The story is pretty simple and I have to keep it VERY simple here so as not to hint or spoil in anyway. Federal Marshall Teddy Daniels comes to Shutter Island (a jailhouse/island for the criminally insane) to investigate the "impossible" escape of one of the inmates. During the investigation, the Daniels notices that the entire place seems "off" - from the staff to the patients/inmates and starts to question himself in ways he hasn't ever before. (Yeah that's all you're going to get out of me!)
The film is beautifully shot. The score is over the top and out of place in some scenes but right on in others. The cast is truly terrific and convincing. And the movie really makes you pay attention and THINK. And surprisingly, FEEL. I found myself, even as I was figuring it out and getting some things right and some things very wrong, truly invested in the outcome of the film and the lead character. And I was also genuinely surprised and twisted up. GREAT psychological thriller and executed nearly flawlessly by Scorcese. Oh yeah he's not one I also tend to runout to see - but he and DiCaprio seem to work well together.
I honestly don't want to go on too much about the movie because I don't want to give anything away - not even a whiff. If you're looking for a movie that is going to visually stun you and make exercise your brain and heart at the same time - this the film for you. Small warning, some of the visuals are fairly intense. It isn't for the weak of heart.
On a last note, I can't remember when I last gave a hard core 9 to a film of this sort. Perhaps it's due to not finding that many truly great dramas/thrillers these days that surprise me. Or perhaps it's due to the nice coffee-I'm-up-all-by-myself-as-my-son-is-still-asleep rush I have. But whatever - this film is GOOD.
Check it out!
**Like what you've read? Looking to buy?**
**Support this site by checking out our Blabapalooza Store!**
**Clicking on the link embedded in the above DVD cover takes you to the specific genre store for this movie.**
**Clicking on the link below takes you to the general store.**