Friday, February 26, 2010
Shutter Island
After seeing what seemed like countless previews for this movie the past six months or so Shutter Island is finally out. I'm honestly not sure how I feel about Martin Scorsese. There is no denying the man is a huge champion of film, especially preservation, but I can't say I've ever been a huge fan of his films. Shutter Island didn't change my mind. There is a sense of self-importance I get watching his films; like they are supposed to be somehow elevated and more cerebral simply because he directed them. This point was driven home about two minutes into Shutter Island when Leo and his new partner ride up to the gates of the facility to the most overly dramatic, ominous score swelling so loudly you start to wonder if it's a joke. Seeing as we know nothing about what goes on here it seems, well, way over the top and a bit sophomoric as far as film making in my humble opinion... you know, not being an award winning director myself. Leonardo DiCaprio has become Scorsese's muse as of late. I'm never sure if I think he's a good actor or not. He seems somehow too self aware. I feel it an random times seeing him act. I will say, there is one particularly dramatic scene toward the end of the film where he gives an excellent performance. The film has plenty of strong performances... Max von Sydow (always deliciously evil), Patricia Clarkson, Jackie Earl Haley and Michelle Williams to name a few. I have a hard time enjoying Ben Kingsley. Like Scorsese, I feel like he finds himself to be a very 'important' actor.
The film is somewhat slow-moving and drawn out and what I assume are intended to be shocking plot twists can be seen a mile away. It wasn't an awful movie. I just thought it might be better... especially since Scorsese would have assumed I would expect it to be.
