So, I'm jumping on the bandwagon and reviewing Martin Scorsese's latest thriller, Shutter Island starring Leonardo Di Caprio, Mark Ruffalo and Sir Ben Kingsley. This is one of those films that I feel I need to watch again to give it a fair shot, but here are my initial impressions: It's a flawed psychological thriller that tries too hard to be something it's not--a homage to Hitchcock. I never say a movie 'sucks' because I feel that most films have something to offer--however, saying that, I have to admit to never having seen From Justin to Kelly.
Shutter Island, if you haven't already seen it, is the story of US Marshall Teddy Daniels (DiCaprio) who is sent to mysterious Mental Institution for the Criminally Insane, Ashecliffe Hospital. Messy cinematography highlights the better part of the first half of the film as Teddy and his Portland-native partner Chuck (Ruffalo) find themselves on an island off Boston Harbor with dozens of the criminally insane. The orchestration that was recorded for the film at times feels like someone at the mixing board twisted the knob a little too high. There are times when "going up to 11" isn't the best idea. Some argue that the orchestration and accompanying soundtrack only highlight the tension in the opening scene as Teddy and Chuck arrive at an area lost in time and space. I, however, felt it to be distracting, unecessary, and way too gimmicky of a nod to thriller films of the early forties and fifties. Thematically, the story takes Teddy and Chuck through narrow brushes with the over-zealous ward officers, as they try to discover the whereabouts of a missing patient. Plot twists emerge, questions get raised, and flashbacks flood the theatre.
I go to work and hear people come in and out lauding the film because it made them "think." I want to laugh everytime I hear that. Not because I want to ridicule them, but because I am certainly at a loss for words to understand what exactly about the film was so thought-provoking. Could it be the glorified tv-movie nature of the first half of the film? No, that's just me--I feel that the first hour and forty five minutes were unbearably slow. And no, I don't have a problem with sitting through long movies. My roommate, Max, and I always agree on one thing: "if a film feels long, then there's something wrong." And that's exactly what this film does. It makes sure that I know it is 2 hours and 25 minutes long. I found myself constantly checking my phone to see when it would end.
There were times in the film when I questioned the necessity of certain visual elements. Critics typically agree that some of the Dachau Concentration Camp scenes border on offensive. Most movie-goers who think they are edgy defend the decision by saying, "It's a source of contention!" They, however, could be done without, and in the grander arc were unecessary to propel the story forward.
A film's enjoyability is strongly dictated (especially in thrillers with a plot twist) by the journey it takes viewers on. This film falls daringly close in being categorized with Secret Window. Another film with an incredibly obvious plot twist, Secret Window serves as a benchmark that Shutter Island strives to match, at best. Succinctly, the plot twist that have so many people murmuring is obvious and disappointing to say the least. The end of the film, which has sparked many-a-debate with my coworkers and myself, is supposedly the big quesiton mark that audiences are left to decide on--what's true?
It should be noted, however, and again stealing a line from my roommate that Scorsese is like pizza: even when it's bad, it's good. The film is enjoyable, but certainly not the lauded film it has become. Already on IMDb's Top 250 list, it has quickly become one of the most overrated films I have seen. Echoing my favorite film-critic (thanks, Max) A.O. Scott, this is definitely a film to skip in the theatres, but (now this is me talking now) definitely pick up when it hits the shelves of your local Blockbuster or hits your queue on Netflix.
If you really want to watch a movie that will have you questioning the "truth" all the way through and even after it's done, I'd definitely suggest one of my favorite movies, Memento, a film that truly deserves the hype it has been afforded and the position it has as, at the time of this review, #27 in the Top 250.
Luis' Rating of Shutter Island: 6/10 Watch, but don't hold your breath.
Luis' Rating of Memento: 9.0/10 Definitely rent/own. Instant classic.
first off...sambile told me i should watch memento after we got out of this film.
ReplyDeletei dont know what morons you work with or lack there of (but i do consider everyone who doesn't study film a moron) but i'm gonna agree with them and say that it did make me think. i don't know what it made them think OF; probably about the whole "ooo maybe we should listen to crazy people now or treat them nicer". but i go through fits of obsessiveness where i think i'm going to end up in an institution so i am no stranger to knowing that crazy ppl are humans too. what it highlighted for me WAS the amazing ways that people can project trauma. i found the explanation of what he did to hide from this horrible horrible thing fascinating and extrememly sad: the way his daughter was projected in his dreams of dachou, the way he interacted with "rachel" and gave her the same crime his wife had committed, the anagrams. that is what i LOVED. and that is what made me cry like a baby so fuck ya'll >P...but that all has to do with writing. on the technical side, i have to disagree, i think it started too damn fast (and the music at the very beginning me not likey >,<), and maybe because he was tryint o emulate old 50s and 60s thrillers. i think it was too polished for scorsese. everything was too clean, the flashbacks were too artsy and contrasted too much with reality which would proabably work for another film maker but it's just not his style. the whole offensive/edgy dachou thing didn't even relaly phase me as being one or the other, so maybe ppl are just being dumb hipsters or sheltered dumb asses. but in the end as it tied together i was greatful they were there in some form because they thoughrouly confused the fuck out of me as to what was really going on with this guy, and that i felt was an extremely successful directorial tool. the acting was great in my opinion. dicaprio is turning into scorsese's johnny depp.
apparently sambile thought it was "predicatable" and you obviously thought it was trying to be something it wasn't. maybe i was just being naive, and i had no expectations from this movie other than the fact that i wanted it to be good and i wanted it to scare the shit out of me and i think it did both. i was seriously wishing that he would be able to get out and blow the lid off the place or he would go crazy trying. and if the whole "predicatable plot twist" ever entered my mind, scorsese did something to make it run right out. i'm not sure how he did it, but if he did, then he must have done something right.
OMG I LOVE YOU FOR OPENING UP THIS CONVERSATION BB
Ah, those are great points, Maddy. I agree, a lot of what Scorsese does is a little unrefined: Taxi Driver, Goodfellas, but in a very good way. A lot of the dreamscapes were quite well done. They were an interesting nod to a genre that Scorsese has very little experience in. The projection, etc was well done, I agree. I never had much of a problem with the thematic elements of the film. It was enjoyable, and for the most part easy to follow. The pragmatic approach that he takes to convey the message of human trauma, institutionalization of people, the poor treatment they endure, etc. was quite well developed and articulated. I, however have a problem with a lot of the post-production editing. Messy for the most part, it is quite a shock to find out that one of the best post-production teams could mess up so badly. The lighthouse scene is the one important caveat that I'll agree to. I as quite piqued and thoroughly enjoyed the confrontation between DiCaprio and Kingsley.
ReplyDeleteI do have to disagree with DiCaprio's acting, however. He, at times, begins to overact. It's like his Departed accent and mannerisms are manifested again in this Boston Harbor Thriller. It is too fake for me at times. It reminds me of another terrible film, Gangs of New York. It might just be me, but I prefer subtle cues over blaring realities.
Depp's personality is translated in his characters: Sweeney Todd, Jack Sparrow, Edward Scissorhands, and even Mort in Secret Window. I know what to expect of him--a lot like that Burton-whore, Helena Bonham-Carter. That's not fair--she was married to him (I think?).
All in all, I think the film is good. (Like I said, it's like Pizza)I, however, had way too high expectations. It's a common issue, I fear.
But, to remark back on my comment about people saying "it made me think!" A lot of the people that I've been speaking to about the film argue that the end, and the overall twist was one of those things that made you really question the "truth." They don't really take into account the abhorant treatment of the criminally insane, or for that matter, for anyone with a mental disability. They, rather, focus on the thematic twist of the film--whether or not certain things were acted out or nascent acceptance of the status quo.
I'll have to watch it again, put the technicalities aside and give it another chance.