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Capone has a few brief words to say about Martin Scorsese's magnificently eerie SHUTTER ISLAND!!!
Hey, everyone. Capone in Chicago here, with just a couple of things to say about this week's biggest release, and one well worth seeing. I'm keeping this one short because I truly believe the less you know going into this film the better, but I still have a job to do, so here we go.
As he creeps toward 70 years old, Martin Scorsese still has a few tricks up his sleeve. There was never any doubt in my mind that the guy was still in one of the most creatively vital periods of his long career, but that didn't prepare me for what he gives us with SHUTTER ISLAND, based on the novel by Dennis Lehane (GONE BABY GONE; MYSTIC RIVER) and adapted by Laeta Kalogridies (ALEXANDER). Borrowing a bit from some of the great mental hospital-set films of old, with a dash of Hitchcock mind games, Scorsese has given us a true mind fuck of a movie that I think needs to be seen at least twice to be fully appreciated.
I say "appreciated" and not "understood" because I think the plot is clear, if not straightforward. What you'll appreciate upon repeated viewings are the lengths that Scorsese goes to to manipulate and lull you into a false sense of understand who people are and what exactly is going on. From the film's first scenes of Leonardo DiCaprio's Federal Marshal Teddy Daniels and his new partner Chuck Aule (Mark Ruffalo) arriving on the island off the coast of New England that houses the most dangerous of the criminally insane, Scorsese is guiding us and essentially controlling our minds as only a true master can. I know SHUTTER ISLAND was pushed from a release date of last November, and for the life of me, I can't figured out why, because if this had come out when it was supposed to, it would be a serious awards contender. But I digress...
Set in 1954, the plot involves the two marshals coming to the federally run facility to investigate the disappearance of a female patient/prisoner. The facility's personnel, led by Ben Kingsley and Max von Sydow as doctors, as well as Ted Levine as the warden and John Carroll Lynch as the deputy warden, are somewhat cooperative but they are clearly unhappy about having these outsiders on hand. Scorsese casts a shadow of doubt across every character that floats in front of his lens, and everyone is dealing in half truths, so that makes the guessing game all the more fun. If you're able to figure out what exactly is going on before all is revealing you are a better filmgoers than I, because I did not see some of this stuff coming at all.
I recommend you walk into SHUTTER ISLAND with as open a mind as humanly possible because some of the turns might be considered outrageous in someone else's hands. But Scorsese and DiCaprio know each other too well at this point to let things get ridiculous (they sure as hell flirt with it a few times). It becomes clear that Marshall Daniels has a dark history--including a run as a solider in WWII and the tragic death of people close to him--that has turned him into a short-tempered, occasionally violent man. And there's a prisoner on SHUTTER ISLAND that he has some unfinished business with. It's a race to see what builds up faster, the tension or the number of questions.
I love that Scorsese has filled nearly every role--big and small--with actors you will know. Patricia Clarkson, Emily Mortimer, Jackie Earle Haley, Elias Koteas, and an especially powerful performance by Michelle Williams as Daniels' wife (seen only in flashbacks), all have something great to add to this production. I'm willing to bet that even if you don't buy into everything that happens in SHUTTER ISLAND, you'll still appreciate Scorsese's kind of crazy. It's so complete and visually warped that you can't help but be impressed. It's tough to go into detail about the film without ruining some of the splendor of discovering it yourself, so I'll shut up and just unwaveringly recommend that you check it out a couple times, if only to be sure you saw what you thought you saw.
-- Capone
therealcapone@aintitcoolmail.com
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Not getting my money.
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us brits won't hold our breath...
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All they had to do was get some half ass director to follow the script of the book and it was guaranteed to be great. The very fact that they got Scorsese, a brilliant filmmaker in his own right, to breath new life into it, makes me twice as excited to see this asap.
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that motherfucker pulls exactly the same facial expressions as Bobby D in his younger years.
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I'm guessing, then, that it deviates quite a bit from the book, because what exactly is going on was my first guess. The only reason I found the book suspenseful was because I didn't believe the ending would be something so obvious.
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the ending? I am in no way trying to make myself sound smarter than anyone one or any of that bullshit. But tt's kind of like Moon, you watch the trailer, and when you see the basic plot, you can make an educated guess as to the *twist*. Same thing with this movie, a cop goes to an asylum to investigate a disappearance. If you have watched enough movies and read enough books you can probably guess where this is going. But, I do believe Massawyrm sid in his review that you should watch this movie for the performances, not the story. I will watch this movie, but probably on DVD. -
this will be getting my money.
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And he's hallucinating that he's a federal agent
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and I haven't seen the movie
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I mean, really. Would it be so hard to do? This is supposedly a high-profile, "important" website.
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why are you all wet?
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And when you say something like "nothing is what it seems" when nothing does eventually appear to be not what you were led to believe there really is no shock at the revelation. You're just like "Oh that's what was really happening. Hurm."
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Not even a single quick proof read before posting?
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none of the reviews were good. the music and lighting were badley done and the really hard core stuff was sacrificed to achieve an R Rating. The movie should have been NC 17 if they had left that stuff in. Plus one of my favorite moments, (For those who have read the book it was the seen between Daniels and the Orderly) was left out of the book for no particular reason. Still Kostas, Haley, Mortimer and Williams did wonderful Jobs with their roles.
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I certainly don't think we needed to know about characters that only appear in flashbacks and about Di Caprios dark past. So much for having "a few brief words" jeez.
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People were laughing at this movie. It wasn't scary or thrilling at all. Went for rental, unless you really like shots of leo's face.
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That we've seen a million times before just made this movie nothing special. I can't believe Roper called it a masterpiece. The acting is fine, except for Partcia Clarkson. But the problem is that all the actors they used have been in much better psycological movies or thrillers. I mean for fucks sake you've got Baffalo Bill in here and he does nothing. You got 1/4 of the cast from Zodiac as well.
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After the BNAT screening, a bunch of us got together outside to get an overall consensus about Scorsese's film. We were all pretty much on the same page. The film is exquisitely shot and the opening sequence reminded me of Kubrick at his best, however, most of us were a bit shocked that Scorsese would put this much effort into a "mystery" to which the solution was so obvious to those of us that had seen a few films before. Perhaps it won't be so obvious to the mainstream audience. The structure of the film is flawless and the journey the main character takes is a long, slow burning, twisting dagger into the soul that does generate suspense. We all agreed that critics would "lick this film's balls" ( as we eloqunetly put it), but the name Scorsese likely immediately gives most critics a pass on issues that they wouldn't give to an unknown director. For us hardcore fans, we might be a little harder on the film based on the talent of the director. The resolution of the mystery was my first guess five minutes into the film, and I actually hoped that I was either wrong or that there was something more to it. There isn't. The film spends the last 30 minutes explaining the concept in every detail during which time I got frustrated, even impaitient, awating the conclusion. However, it does indeed have an emotional impact. I certainly can recommend seeing the film for the immense skill with which it was made, but I think many of you (who've perhaps seen a few movies before) will be disappointed with the obvious resolution.
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Yeah thats a pretty good review of the movie. I agree with you up until the emotional impact. I didn't really get into Leo's character at all. Also I feel like this is just a renter.
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Call me clinically insane but I think she is one of the hottest women on the planet.
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Well, I'm trying to point out the positives. I was actually nervous voicing my opinion over the last couple of months, because like almost everyone else, I regard Scorsese with great admiration. I agree with you that this is basically a renter, but it pains me to say so. My problems with the film, however, are not Scorsese's problems. They are problems inherient within the story itself, which he didn't write.
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Why did he choose this story? He wanted to make it, he didn't have to, he should know how lame the story was. Yeah its not his fault but you think he would have picked something more interesting. I've got no problems voiceing my problems with the film. here http://tinyurl.com/yhp65ey
and here:
http://tinyurl.com/ya48usk
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Since it is marty (a fan boy favorite) you can enjoy a mysterious thriller (wit an obvious endin) but we would drag m night thru mud and nails for tellin an original mysterious thriller (wit an unobvious endin)? sure sixth sense was essentially a are you afraid of the dark ep, but the guy is creative (maybe not for the best since he is tad pretentious)... but come on you cant say this is good and village wasnt (not sayin i like the village but we need to start bein fair when it counts)... plus fuck leo post titanic... i cant even remember what happened in departed besides his cast bein broke off
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That obvious?
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...the humanoid version of that pug dog from MIB in part three...They look exactly alike minus the dog wears a collar
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OK, I'm going to try to clean up your comment for those of us who might have a little difficulty reading it (like I did) because I think you have a good point:
Since it is Marty (a fan boy favorite), you can enjoy this mystery/thriller with an obvious ending. But if this had been M. Night, we'd be dragging him through mud and nails for telling a similar story with a less-obvious ending [did I get that right? I think that's what you meant.] Sure, SIXTH SENSE was essentially an episode of "Are You Afraid of the Dark?", but the guy (M. Night) is creative (maybe not for the best, since he is a tad pretentious). You can't say SHUTTER ISLAND is good and VILLAGE wasn't (not saying I liked THE VILLAGE but we need to start being fair where it counts).
I stopped there because the part about DiCaprio was a little ranty and, frankly, didn't make much sense, since DiCaprio's been in far more than just The Departed in the past 15+ years.
I haven't seen SHUTTER ISLAND yet (I'm planning to see it Sunday, and I'm thinking I'll probably like it), but I have a feeling yourSTEPDADDY is right. If this movie had been by M. Night Shyamalan, it would be the butt of every joke (we'd be subjected to countless comments saying "What a twist!" and people complaining "I saw that coming a mile away!") Not saying SHUTTER ISLAND isn't worth the praise, but he has a point. -
Im going to see this tommorrow, but I have to say that the shots I've seen so far look like bad hollywood sets and green screen shots-really fakey ones at that. My expectations are L.O.W. for this one, as it looks to be more GANGS OF NEW YORK bad then GOODFELLAS great.
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Basically frozen... also like to apologize for my rantin and ramblin... but bout what i said bout Leo, i havent seen two movies of his after titanic (only say departed but like i said it was forgettable for me)... i just dont like him or his career choices (i liked romeo, liked beach, liked titanic, but i dislike biopics and all his other oscar baitish movies)... but yea in short, if shutter island was by Night, we would call for razzies but Marty is great!
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You notice the only real positive thing the review says is that it is masterfully eerie... thats not technically a good thing cuz Cabin Fever was very VERY eerie (um finger bang rape scene?) but that was a terrible TERRIBLE movie... also eerie, Wrong Turn...
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..., but as a rat that ran it's maze, I'd happily run it again. I saw a screening at Paramount and I have to say, one of my gripes were the score, which was overbearing at times, and the pacing in the middle of the film which seemed to lose it's steam for about half an hour. Other than that much of it was note perfect. Some STUNNING visuals and DiCaprio, Kingsley, Williams, Haley and Koteas all crushed their performances. Watching DiCaprio and Kingsley play out the fucked up, deeply twisted, chess match was enthralling.
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Twilight... i watched twenty mins of that durin the snowstorm, OM fuckin G! a foster family of albino incestuous teenagers? well, i guess its not really eerie, but the fact that people actually liked it (some of my friends will no longer have a valid opinion of good movies ever again)
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You are absolutely right about Elias Koteas. It's scary sometimes how much he looks like a young Bobby D!
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That's exactly what I thought the first time I ever saw him in anything. Which was, erm, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles I think. "How'd they get Robert DeNiro for this?!" Hey, I was just a kid...
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Feb 19, 2010 1:12:09 PM CST
Regarding Shyamalan and the "twist ending" genre.
by the reluctant austinite
Your point is well taken here. However, Scorsese has been around a lot longer, and even though he is sometimes hit and miss regarding the choice of material, he has a legimate 5 or 6 masterpieces under his belt across the span of his career. Shyamalan risked becoming a one trick pony with his "twist endings" (something Scorsese has never done) and he seems to have peaked early even amid the controversy surrounding his second major film, which I think is his best to date). Can we all agree not to count the first two? The downhill slide starting with "The Village" through "The Happening" is hard to deny. That's three films in a row of declining graces and "surprise" features that fail to surprise or entertain. He's in a bad place right now, and it doesn't help that he seems to think these films are brilliant and that we don't get it. I'm rooting for him, personally. He has a unique style and vision and the potential to make more great movies. Right now he's in the fan punching bag. Marty has rarely ever even seen the punching bag. Misses like "Bringing Out the Dead" just left the critics silent, but not angry. This time Scorese did his job very well, but the story failed to live up to his execution. It's still good cinema.
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That way Max von Sydow can program the loonies to play hockey via the tones from an electronic organ. Beauty!
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which gives away the ending.
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Feb 19, 2010 3:03:05 PM CST
SCORSESE/DICAPRIO NEED TO DO THE SHADOW OVER INNSMOUTH!!!FACT!!!
by tehcreepythinman
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the last 25 minutes in my mind are completely open for interpretation. there is no clear resolution. Leo's character could be completely loony but there is also a great possibility that he is not & that he really was being fucked with. the last shot of the film imo really drives that point home.
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Ruins the movie, then its not a good movie if it relies only on the ending. I saw The 6th Sense years after it was out on DVD and thought it was great. Same with Usual Suspects and totally bought into both that I was still a little blindsided by the ending. I never got that engrossed with Shutter, and I only really knew PART of the ending.
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Whats left open to interpretation? That Mark was really his partner and not a Dr?
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...Usual suspects was great... but fuckin Jay Z spoiled it for me (he had a video that had the same twist ending)... never been so mad at a ex drug dealer...
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There you have a free 2hrs use them wisely
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Seeing as we nearly lost a great filmmaker to the Catholic Church before he decided to make film, the only story he should adapt is The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russel. He's talked about wanting to do science fiction before (Hyperion) so what would be a better fit for a guy who seriously flirted with priesthood than a story about a Jseuit priest sent on a deep space mission to make first contact with an alien race but comes back tortured, mute and the only surviving member of the expedition (the mission itself is told in flashbacks as they slowly get the guy to talk). This is tailor made for this guy. I wonder if he even knows about it? I can't see how he wouldn't. He seems like quite the reader.
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wow he gave the ending in the previous SI talkback. You really are just a miserable being. I'm actually going to skip it now because of you. Of course you'll insist you've done me a favor but you really are a dink.
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He will be beat to death by a angry crowd in line for Shutter Island after he blows the ending with a megaphone Michael Moore style. The megaphone will be so far up his rectum that they will just bury him with it.
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Phoenix might had spoiled the movie but MARTY made this! meaning you have to watch it cuz he directed the actors so magnificently and cuz its soo eerie! the twist ending doesnt matter cuz its MARTY! he is the greatest!
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No, the ending wasn't open to interpretation. It was very clear that Leo was a patient, as you saw him beginning to lapse back into his delusions. What possible reason would he have to do that, if it wasn't for real? The closing shot of the lighthouse, I think, was an ominous symbol of his mental illness. Pretty good movie, but surely not up to Scorcese standards. I will watch it a second time though when it comes out on DVD.
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If they didn't kill me when i gave away the ending to 6th sense. By doing that only not with megaphone then ill be ok now. Enjoy the flick ;). P.s. someone above me spoiled it long before I did in this threat and again blame the trailer. If u have seen that u know the ending
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his "lapse" back into insanity at the end was a ruse, or did you miss the meaning of his final line? Yes, he was a patient there all that time, but the rp therapy worked. He was faking his relapse so they'd lobotomize him, committing cognitive "suicide", so to speak.
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Don't even try to come up with a justification. You spoiled it without any warning because you are a c-u-n-t.
And strange you mention 6th sense because someone on these TBs spoiled that for me too. It might've been you. Cunt. Go back to your hole. You've had your moment, not of fame, but of outing yourself as a complete fuckwit. Small, small person. Didn't your mummy love you? I'm outta here. -
in a Scorsese movie? No way!
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I read the book and loved it and will be seeing the movie this weekend. For those who say they saw the ending coming, I did too when reading the book but I kinda think that was the whole point. He (the author, Dennis Lehane) almost wanted you to know what was really happening. As the story progresses and you see the dark places the main characters have been and continue to go (emotionally) you see the inevitable end but are hoping there is a way out for the characters. You become emotionally invested in them, to the point that when the ending finally arrives, it hits you even harder because you and the characters were like deer in the headlights. We saw it coming and couldn't get out of the way no matter how much we wanted to. I think that's what I really liked about Aaron Eckhardt in TDK. You knew what was going to happen to Harvey but they built him up so well as the White Knight you actually felt bad that he was going to get fucked. It was more tragic. Shutter Island is more about the journey, knowing the destination but still having to go through everything with no chance of changing the result. That's my philosophical waxing for the day.
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And I have. That's all.
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...the staging and performances as the final puzzle pieces click into place in the last flashback just KILLED me. DiCaprio is SUPERB in this movie, and Michelle Williams was stunning. And I too question whether or not DiCaprio was relapsing at the end, or not. Great movie. A shame it'll just cause half the audience to mutter "I saw it coming...!" as they shuffle out of the theater. To quote Roger Ebert, "A movie is not what it is about, but HOW it is about it". That's why The Usual Suspects holds up to multiple viewings, while Shyamalan's films do not.
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i used to be schizophrenic and i could relate to leo at the end in a way that rarely happens with major film characters and me. but i got better and havent relapsed yet its been almost two years. i didnt know really what schizophrenia or psychosis was until i had it then got better but for those who dont believe, what happens to leo in this movie is 100% believeable in my opinion as a person who used to have a serious mental condition. im sure theres others out there but i havent seen before, a movie that captured so well the way people believe false realities
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Thought the first hour or so was brilliant. Loved the atmosphere and camera work. The scene in the graveyard and chapel was cinematic perfection. Middle act dragged (the meeting in the cave sucked out a lot of the tension) and the end revelations somewhat predictable. A noble effort but ultimately lacking film. Score it a "B" in my opinion.
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Are you a fucking retarded, mean-spirited asshole?it doesn't count as an insult because I'm asking a question...
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maybe i can appreciate it cause of my situation. for me the tone of the movie is dark and scary and mysterious, because leo is the main character, and is completely insane and violent and confused about reality. you see most often the case is the filmmakers try to make the world around the normal characters seem dark ect, which doesnt work cause the world is usually neutral and always open for interpretation. but in this one it is the main characters internal struggle that reinforces the tone of dark, mystery, danger, because he is insane and if he doesnt recover he will essentialy be killed, and all around him know this yet he doesnt. so when the music is playing and the dark suspense, its all about him being insane and they'll lobotomize him if he doesnt get better. its very scary and touching. sure its not the most original movie, but if you only care for movies that are totally original, have fun watching maybe two movies this year. i had a hunch what the end would be, but still want to watch it again, knowing the end for sure. some parts i remember like the car conversation with the head warden seem even more interesting now. also for me the ending leaves no doubt, he chooses the lobotomy.
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But I wish they had so I hadn't wasted my time. No twist ending could be genius enough to make up for the hour and a half of overwrought horseshit that preceded it. And Leonardo DiCaprio peaked in Gilbert Grape and then he woke up one day and his head had swollen grotesquely.
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As so many others have already talked about the ending: I don't believe it was open ended, but he definitely did not relapse. He was still cured and couldn't live with what had happened now that he knew the truth and was pretending to have gone insane again so he could become a zombie and forget about it all. That's why he said to Chuck, "This place has taught me one thing. It's better to die a good man then live as a monster."
I hope anyone that sees this movie don't look upon the ending as a twist, because it's not. People are kind of acting like it. But the movie could only have went one of two ways, he was sane and Shutter Island was a massive conspiracy or he was crazy. It's not a twist if the movie is just logically following the story it set up.. -
And everyone in this movie was fantastic, especially Leo in the final flash back. Tore my heart out.
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The Mrs. Something (Kerns?) character in the scene with Ted... asks for and gets a glass of water... appears to MIME drinking from a glass of water, then puts down an empty glass, but the next shot shows a half full glass. Deliberate or error? It's a tiny thing, but driving me nuts.
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All throughout the movie I noticed there were very discontinuous, jagged cuts between shots. People's hands would move in and out of their pockets, they'd change posture and facial expressions, it was completely on purpose. Thelma Schoonmaker is one of the world's greatest living editors and Marty's one of the greatest living directors, it was intentional to create a sense of discord and a subtle feeling of things being off kilter and not adding up. Pretty cool I thought.
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I think the confusion isn't that he chooses lobotomy, but that the lighthouse is the final shot (the place where Teddy had thought the tests were happening). However, when he enters the lighthouse it is empty except for the top floor (occupied by Kingsley).
If he is being lobotomized why would it show the lighthouse as being the site of surgery?
Side note: Did anyone else picture Roland in the Dark Tower as he climbed the spiral staircase? Very similar I thought. -
Quick shout out to a great character actor. Loved him as the supremely creepy ZODIAC suspect Arthur Leigh Allen, and he rocked as Eastwood's smartass barber bookend in GRAN TORINO.
Character actors are what makes a period piece, and this Gawddamn show's overflowing. Can't wait. Scorcese is the shit. -
Saw the ending coming, although I didn't figure it all out by any means. Loved the last line:
"Would you rather die as a man, or live as a monster?" I think it asked valid questions about sanity and reality, and was a worthy project for these artists. -
..." used to be schizophrenic"... sorry stoned but it just seems funny (especially since i thought it wasnt curable)... but keep up the good work... would love to hear how it is bein schizophrenic if ya ever have the time
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I've read several reviews from critics who couldn't follow or were confused by this plot and said that you'll never see the plot twist coming. Maybe if you've never seen another movie like this. Within the first 20 minutes or so (or just from the trailer), most people will figure out the main twist. You won't know the specifics of everything, but you'll know enough that there will be no surprise whatsoever at what's supposed to be the big shocking revelation. There are so many obvious clues you can't miss them.
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Not sure if that was the reason for the delay but there were some downright terrible composites in the film. So bad in fact I thought maybe it was intentional as part of the "real story". Green spill, excessive light wrap, crawling roto all over, especially in close ups. Did Marty do the comps himself to try something new?
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It could have won and Leo definitely would have been nominated. Crazy people. Anyhoo, I was in love with this movie until you find out what you know. Because I think it's a better movie if that's not the case. And I'm going to keep on thinking that that's not the case so I can like it better. And I would ask question but I don't want to say anything even though other people are talking spoilers. I agree about not knowing anything. I knew nothing and I want to say that it reminded me style-wise of a great old BW horror movie but I'm not even going to say that in case that somehow is spoilery. LOL Well I really liked it anyway and I am NOT a Scorsese fan. I do seem to like him better in his old age when he's making "movies" like normal people do, instead of gritty "films".
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I kinda figured out what the twist to this movie was back in October, althought it it still a good flick.
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I doubt it would be championed by many.
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What a cunt muscle, he spoiled the ending in the other thread as well, like some attention-whore troll's cunt hair...what a miserable bastard, that son of a bitch probably gets off on it. Fuck him AND his slutty whore of a mother. You hear me you bloody cunt??? Get fucked!
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I would agree with Roper that it's a masterpiece. The complaints about the trailer are true...because it pretty much gives the whole movie away...and most of the plot. But the brilliance is in the execution...and the film definitely is brilliant. Team Leo/Scorsese scores again.
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I'd like to hear details about you being schizophrenic if you are open to sharing...I'm pretty certain it's not curable...you can experience periods of relative clarity, especially if on medication, but if you've got it...you've got it. But I'd still be interested in hearing your story.
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Genius interpretation of that last scene.
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If any other director had made this movie and it turned out exactly the same, people would not be so kind to it. People were laughing ALOT at the screening I went to. No one bought into the thriller/mystery aspect. Also not a single scene of this movie is remotely scary. Horror movies are only good when they shot on no budget.
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Also, do you base your like or dislike of a movie based on audience reaction? There were a few laughs at my screening too...by brainless girls behind me who found mental patients to be really funny. The only line that I thought deserved a laugh was when Ben Kingsley says to Leo, something along the lines of, "Come on in, baby."
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It's hard for me to believe any film critic couldn't see the ending revelation coming. Leo is only there five minutes when he starts complaining about a headache and is given "medication" by the doctors. Pretty soon he's gotten his Marshal's clothes wet and the only extra clothes are inmate style scrubs. Next he is let right into the disturbed ward. More and more he becomes an inmate as the story progresses. I was sure he was nuts the first time he cried out, "I AM A U.S. MARSHAL! (pronounced "Ma-school")"
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...Anythin made by a director of yesteryear is good whereas M Night is a hack... if Avatar was made by McG then we could have a fair review for that movie also
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...it was all just a dream. The end.
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Hey Uberman, I worked on this and the "set" was an actual condemned mental institution in the Boston area. I can guarantee that if you saw the built interior sets in person, you would refrain from the "cheap Hollywood sets" comments. The cave, however, was built up in
Canada and brought to Boston, so if that sucks I'm not taking any blame. -
Should not have a nickname for their tb name, it should be your workin name... but i can believe scenicartist a lil... that is until he starts sayin he is workin on the new Batman and Monster Squad Vs The Goonies movies... and yes, Feldman will return minus the MJ clothes and hair
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Feb 20, 2010 7:10:54 PM CST
The predictable resolution isn't what made the movie mediocre
by sirgarycoleman
It's the way the predictable resolution played out.
The first half was pretty good and I was hoping that if I was going to get the obvious ending that it would at least play out in a bunch of mindfuck-type sequences... but no, it was pretty mediocre and concise...
It's all your names spelled backwards! Oh my!
Scorsese was walking in Kubrick territory but it wasn't sustained throughout the whole film, a real shame because the first half was really good.
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horror/thriller/mystery/psychological horror, all of them whatever. There are HORROR elements to it. There were attempts at jump scares and for it trying to be scary and it failed at all. And I'm not talking about some annoying teenage girls I'm talking about the whole audience laughing at the movie. More laughs then when I saw the Hangover.
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Yeah the name seen was really fucking dumb. When Ben Kingsley pulled out that chart and pointer to fucking go over it??? I was like, ok ok ok this is a dream...no nope its the fucking conclusion. Then the cut to the full memory of what happened? I mean was that really needed? It was just stupid. Also the part where Leo kicks in the fence gate that was clearly unlatched? Why?
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You're all a bunch of spoiled pussies. I saw the trailer and instantly knew the plot of Leo being insane. Martin lost my respect when he backed up that pedophile/rapisr Polanski. Maybe Martin is in to bangin' out 8th graders too!
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So Martin must be hittin' that.
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it's like brain herpes; it isn't going away. like there's no such thing as an ex-con...
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Now he is just an old hack.
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SPOILER ALERT - I saw it a little bit I'll explain but I saw it. I just didn't know what the final puzzle peice was. I have a million questions about the end, more like two...I'm going to check it out again in the morrow...BEST NOIR film in the last decade...or neck and neck with MEMENTO...the BEST was seeing all of the films and novels that INSPIRED the WRITER and DIRECTOR...every character was a vivid as your worst re-occuring NIGHTMARE... IF a pictures worth a thousands words every ACTOR and CHARACTER in this FILM has a thousand QUESTIONS...My favorite was the WARDEN in the JEEP... Any the JACKIE EARLE HALEY sequence is what got me sucked in and lost...I can't wait to read the BOOK and see how the two end and the DVD...I've been on a GANGS OF NEW YORK kick the last week listen to the commentry 4 or 5 times while I've been writing my SCREENPLAY well WESTERN maybe be it can be MARTIN SCORSESE'S first WESTERN...love the illusion stopping and starting the camera does I'm suprised more people don't use it in their films...SHUTTER ISLAND make you realize there are still great films in cinema...
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This movie promotes the homosexual agenda, so I'll be skipping it.
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But I Don't know what the fuck KHjLL is talking about. Most likely a Polanski fan too.
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someone else has a poo fixation
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Really creeped me out... or maybe that was stonedwriter (zing?)?
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its about journey towards it.Who cares if the ending is predictable,can the movie keep you interested through out the whole time? if yes,mission accomplished,if no the movie is crap even if it has the most unpredictable twist ending in the world.
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I think Marty really whiffed this one but since there's no shortage of people taking him to task I'd like to direct some ire at the book's author, Dennis Lehane. This is the third movie I've seen made from one of his books and they all have the same problem - a wildly convoluted plot that starts out well and then hits a wall when the movie basically has to take half an hour to explain it towards the end. Lousy storytelling.
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I love logic puzzle stories. I spent the entire film from the first seconds analysing what was going on to try to figure it out... usually I can figure it out pretty easily... this one surprised me at the reveal. I haven't been this surprised since The Game.
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Feb 21, 2010 1:25:42 PM CST
A Psycho-like ending worked in 1960. Now it's laziness.
by planetran_fan
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The trailer all but gave it away. Avatar was more unpredictable than this recycled "film"
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For a minute while watching this I thought Mark Ruffalo's dismayed nod at his colleagues was really a "OK we've broken him, he won't be a threat to us anymore". But that would mean that they would have had their fingers on the controls from the very beginning, far back enough to ensure that the US govt sent in an agent with a history of mental instability that they could exploit. It could work, but it's not the simplest answer, so I don't buy it. The real mindfuck for me was thinking that Leo's wife was Rene Zellweger THE WHOLE TIME!!11
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Feb 21, 2010 3:38:04 PM CST
How could anyone confuse Michelle Williams with Rene Zelweger?!
by nasty in the pasty
One is gorgeous, and the other looks like an apple that has been baking in the desert sun for a week.
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Anyone notice that the shot of the soldiers entering the prison camp shows the Arbeit Macht Frei sign from Auschwitz, but "Teddy" keeps referring to the camp as Dachau? That had to be deliberate, like the water glass oddity.
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Leo is really a 13-year old girl and Ben Kingsley is Roman Polanski, and the whole movie is a fantasy she conceived to deal with assrape trauma.
Am I right, or at least in the ballpark? -
Spoiler Spoiler Spoiler.
I wonder why so many people choose to take the doctors word for it.
In leos discussion with Rachel in the cave she gives a pretty accurate description of what we know was actually going on in government run mind control experiments in the 50s In project Bluebird/ Artichoke, MK ULTRA and in project....
CHATTER
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Just wondering if anyone knows the music used during the 1st flashback (I think) Teddy has of his wife, where she "dissapears"? I didn't realise that there was no original music used in the film. Pretty cool
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I remember back in the 80s and 90s i found her to be one of the top most beautiful actress working in movies. Her silky and classical educated voice sure added to her sexiness. She's still a beautiful woman, a one hell of a MILF.
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Anyone who claims to have figured out the Obvious Ending half way through the Movie wasn't paying attention.
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...anyone round here remember that one? When I read the incredibly irritating and mannered Shutter Island a few years back (and I like Lehane's stuff, usually), I remembered this film - one of Stacy Keach's better performances, based on (maybe even directed by) a book by the Exorcist fella, William Peter Blatty, called Twinkle Twinkle Killer Kane. Check it out: similar plot structure. I'll see the movie - hey, it's Marty and Thelma and their divine paintbox - but his best days are behind him, and I wish he'd stop with Leo as his muse, already. Departed and Gangs and Aviator were underwhelming. Anyhoo, bless him for all that earlier magic.
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Feb 22, 2010 10:37:54 AM CST
If I didn't enjoy CAPE FEAR, will I enjoy SHUTTER ISLAND?
by royston lodge
I ask because my dislike for CAPE FEAR is really what's keeping me from getting too excited about SHUTTER ISLAND. I know that plenty of people love CAPE FEAR, so I just wanna know if love of one is required to love the other.
Also, I cannot see Max Von Sydow in a lab coat without thinking about STRANGE BREW.
I know I'll keep expecting the two marshalls to don black or white hockey armour and heading out onto the rink with a bunch of brainwashed mental patients. -
Feb 22, 2010 10:46:56 AM CST
Yes, in spite of being predictable, the ending IS open...
by danielkurland
I viewed it a lot like the end of Oldboy, where you don't know if he has actually forgotten, or is just choosing this, because it'd be easier than living with the grief.
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... and stop fucking around.
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Yeah she probably is my favorite actress right now, yet Scorsese gets the worst performence I've ever seen out of her.
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All these talkbackers saying how Shutter Island isn't as obvious as the previews appear. Boo! to AICN for getting my hopes up that this would be creepy and interesting.
Unfortunately, this movie is exactly what a viewer expects after watching the preview. A few minor details qualify as surprises, but the main points are super obvious. Also, the movie is boring. It's not terrible, but it is obvious and also dull. Hard to stay awake. Like Book of Eli boring. -
DiCaprio pretending not to remember because he doesn't want to live with the pain is one of the details that can be considered a surprise. Big whoop! Shocking!
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He could do a sketch that parodies STRANGE BREW and SHUTTER ISLAND by combining them!
It's gold, Jerry! -
While the typical immature spammers ruin much of it. This film was excellent. Sort of Marty's love letter or homage to films like The Shock Corridor, Vertigo, Hour of the Wolf, and I even got some whiffs of Minority Report. My experience was ruined by the ignorant crowd, shouting the classic, "AW HELL NAW," "WHAT!?" Along with innapropriate laughter, cell phones, and conversations. It's sort of a shame that I can no longer go to bigger theatres here (philly) to see these films. Gotta stick with the Ritz and catch these on DVD i guess? Ignorant fucking trash.
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Feb 22, 2010 6:12:15 PM CST
Ah Hell Naw! That little boy man was crazy all the time!?!?
by the reluctant austinite
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...translated by Babel Fish?
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It was predictable but the way they did it was interesting. I kept expecting Ruffalo's character to be a Hallucination as well.The fact that he was one of the doctors surprised me. And when he realizes DiCaprio is faking and says "Teddy?" instead of Andrew, I thought that was a nice touch.
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I think there are three equally plausible ways to look at the ending. One is that he is insane, relapses, and is sent to the lighthouse. The other is that he is insane, gets cured, and fakes a relapse to 'die a good man' And the third is that he wasn't insane. I like the last one. I think people who dislike the film are upset by the generic twist. The thing is, I knew the twist going in, and openly found ways to refute it after Patricia Clarkson gave her speech in the cave. Her explanation can be followed to a logical conclusion at the end. When Mark Ruffalo shakes his head at the end, he is referring to the fact that the brainwash didn't work, and Leo is aware of the nazi-esque experiments, thus they have to kill him. What I like about the film is any of these endings can be followed to their own conclusions - there is plenty of evidence to support any one of them. I think Scorsese took pains to make sure that any of these lines of thought could be followed. I must say, I think I need to see it again.
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also the first thing that happens at the beginning is leo loses his cigarettes: mark ruffalo plies him with drugs before he even gets there...
I was just wondering if anyone else shares this opinion. Wherever else I go, people seem really opposed to the film having multiple interpretations. 'The book said it, so it must be true' is no kind of argument. Perhaps Lehane's worst book, (as I've heard it called) interested Scorsese because he could throw in these different takes. Any giant holes in the 'not insane' theory i might be missing? I'm interested to see what others thought about this. -
... it's easier to make a good movie out of a bad book then a good movie out of a good book.
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Have you seen it yet?
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it was rubbish!
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