Topic: Shutter Island

[Dragonfire]

After not being sure I wanted to see Shutter Island at first, I decided to go see it.  I just wasn’t sure about the movie from the trailers.  It seemed like it would be more of a scary movie, and while I like some of those types of movies, I wasn’t sure.  I’m glad I did decide to see it because it is a really good movie.

All most all of the movie takes place on Shutter Island, an island where a mental hospital is located.  The patients are all violent criminals who can’t be sent to regular prisons.  Teddy Daniels, a U.S. Marshal, and his new partner Chuck, arrive at the island to investigate the disappearance of one of the patients, Rachel.  The men are only supposed to be there a short time, but a bad storm moves in and they are stuck.

The pace is a little slow, but I think that works for the story.  Several things wouldn’t have worked as well if the pace had been faster.  The slower pace allows for more build up of suspense and tension and also for more details to be shared.  The plot does get a bit more complicated.  I did end up figuring out something fairly early in the movie.  Despite that, I still really enjoyed it.  I think at least part of the reason I did that is because of a commercial I saw that started airing a few days after the movie was released to theaters.  It said just a tad too much.  I also think some of the other previews were showing a little too much.  I hate when that happens. 

There are several characters, many of whom are just in a few short scenes and not that developed.  Teddy receives the most attention and I think Leonardo DiCaprio does a wonderful job with the part.  I do think he’s a very talented actor.  Mark Ruffalo also does well as Chuck and Ben Kingsley is great as Dr. Crowley, the doctor in charge. 

This is one I would have given four and a half stars at Epinions if I had the option.  Since I didn’t, I rounded up to five when I did my review there.

 

Here’s the link to my longer review if anyone would like to take a look.

Shutter Island

[filmincarnate]

I agree with you for the most part. However, I definitely had a different experience viewing this having had read the book it is based on prior to seeing it. Given the twisty nature of the film, I always felt ahead of it, which really hindered the element of suspense/surprise for me. This is one of those rare cases where the film is just TOO faithful to the source material. I seriously felt as if I was watching the novel unfold for me visually. If that was Scorsese's intent than he more than succeeded but I would have liked for him to do something with it that made it feel more like a Scorsese film than just a really strong adaptation.

As it is, it is as well made as anything else Scorsese has done. The production values are strong, it is great to see Scorsese get a decent budget to work with and it is clear that he put it to good use. The performances are all really strong, I especially dug Ben Kingsley and Max von Sydow (damn, he's getting old). However, I would really like to see Scorsese make a new film without Leo. Don't get me wrong, they have done great work together but I feel as if their collaborations really peaked with The Aviator and since then have just felt more so routine than anything else. Almost as if they're working with each other do to contractual obligations rather than out of necessity for the film.

Despite my reservations I did really enjoy watching this. If I had to compare it to any other Scorsese film it would be Cape Fear, not just in the eerie tone but in the style of filmmaking as well. This is Scorsese making the type of Hollywood B-movie he grew up watching and although it may not feel as personal as some of his other films, it is clear that he is having fun with this and as long as his fun projects maintain of this caliber, I can't really fault him for it.

[Dragonfire]

I haven't read the book.  I'm not sure everything would have worked as well for people like me - who haven't read the book - if things were changed too much from the book.  Depending on what was changed, certain things might not make sense.  This is always an issue when books are turned into movies.  Too many changes or not enough changes, and someone is unhappy.  Even without having read the book, I still figured out something major very early, but I still enjoyed the movie overall.

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Within 20 to 30 minutes, I guessed what was shared about Teddy late in the movie.  Not every detail, but I was still right about him.

[snowcat]

¬_¬ just finished watching this and whilst I admit I really enjoyed the film... there are some things that annoyed me ¬_¬ mainly the little inaccuracies ive been taught to make sure don't happen in my own films like... someone drinking water and it disappearing in the wide shot only to return in the medium shot... and when conversation is seen from one side a characters hand is on his head and when it seen from the other angle his hand is by his side :/

...I don't think this was purposeful, if it was it was silly and wasn't necessary... just seems like pure laziness to me. good movie though

[Dragonfire]

I noticed the drinking glass thing.  That didn't bother too much though.