Shutter Island

augusta · Post by **augusta** » Tue Feb 23, 2010 10:22 am

I saw "Shutter Island" over the weekend with my 18 year old son. We both thought it was excellent.

Leonardo deCaprio stars in it, and he isn't the skinny kid who yelled "I'm King of the World!" anymore. He's a full-fledged man now and a remarkable actor. Ben Kingsley also stars, and is near-perfect in his role with those penetrating eyes.

It all takes place on this island off of Boston, "Shutter Island", where the criminally insane were kept. The movie takes place in the 1950's, and they still talk about lobotomies but thorazine has been invented so they don't do those a whole lot anymore there. DeCaprio plays a U.S. marshall who goes to the island with his partner to investigate the disappearance of a female patient. There's no place the woman could have gone, since the island consists of a men's building, a women's building, and an extremely violent Building C that was built in the Civil War. There is a lighthouse, which the guards all say they've searched.

The guards, they act funny. As if they're not telling the marshalls the truth for some reason. The patients interviewed - some are helpful, but again there's something they seem to be afraid of telling, as is so with the doctors as well.

I can't say any more than that without giving the plot away. But it does keep your attention every minute. It runs a little longer than most movies. DeCaprio went to the trouble to do a decent Boston accent, and he probably could have just floated on his fame in this one but didn't.

A $4 ticket for going before noon, a large popcorn that I got sick off of (my fault; not theirs) and a huge Pepsi they offer refills of and know most people can't finish one, made it good. But the movie made it great! (Except for the getting sick part...) It makes one think "Oscars".

Forgot to mention: NOT FOR KIDS

kssunflower · Post by **kssunflower** » Tue Feb 23, 2010 6:24 pm

Yes, great movie! I've seen it twice. Had to go back and see it from another perspective after the twist ending. DiCaprio was incredible in this. I never quite bought his character in Gangs of New York, but he was very believable here. Kingsley was wonderful too. Did you notice the scene where he was interrogating the woman and his partner got her the glass of water. She took a drink, but there was no glass in her hand. Was this Scorsese messing with our heads (as much of the film did) or an editing error? It's definitely worth spending time on Shutter Island.

nbcatlover · Post by **nbcatlover** » Mon Mar 08, 2010 11:52 am

I'm glad you are finding the movie so enjoyable. I'm sure the visual aspect enhances the story.

I thought Dennis Lehane's book was weak and not very well written. Unfortunately, the "twist" at the end was not enough of a twist to make the book worthwhile.

augusta · Post by **augusta** » Wed Mar 10, 2010 10:14 am

kssunflower, you know, I don't remember the glass of water scene. I mighta been in the rest room then.

My son said he wanted to see it a second time, just like you said.

I agree with Leonardo deCap's performance in 'Gangs of NY'. I didn't see 'The Aviator' but everyone tells me he is great in that. I have the DVD but never played it yet.

nbcatlover, Oh, that's a shame that the book wasn't all that. I hate investing all those hours reading a book and then finding I didn't like it. I don't know if you'll see the movie now that you know the twist ending (unless in the movie, it's different?). It's too bad if it soured you on seeing it, because it was one of those movies that was actually worth the price of the ticket.

nbcatlover · Post by **nbcatlover** » Fri Mar 12, 2010 11:50 pm

There's something about Leonardo diCaprio in a Martin Scorsese picture that transcends the original material. Let's hope they keep making movies together.