Category Archives: Five Stars

Shutter Island (Theaters)

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Psychological thrillers are a lot like telling a joke. While the content and the set up are all very important, what makes it or breaks it is the delivery of the punchline. We’ve all heard even the best jokes screwed up by a poorly delivered punchline. The same rings true for thrillers. There is always some big reveal towards the end of the movie that most viewers either did or did not see coming. How it is revealed and what is revealed is crucial. I can’t even count how many promising thrillers were ruined by poor execution in this department. Which brings us to Shutter Island.

Shutter Island is the story of two federal marshalls who are sent to an asylum for the criminally insane to investigate the dissappearance of one of the patients. From the movie’s opening it is clear that not everything is as it seems. As the marshalls dig deeper and deeper into the disappearance they discover some shocking information about the island and themselves. That is about as detailed as it gets without getting into spoiler territory. Believe me when I say that this is a movie you will want to see and figure out for yourself.

I know many viewers will guess what the big twist might be at first, however it will be damn near impossible to figure out everything that the movie has hidden until the very powerful ending. As an avid moviegoer who usually figures out these types of things early on in the film, by the time the movie ended I was still genuinely surprised at its resolution. Director Martin Scorcese has had enough experience making quality movies that he definitely knows how to set up and deliver a punch line and this film is living proof of that.

Of course, Scorcese could not have pulled it off without his incredible cast. Leonardo DiCaprio is incredible as U.S. Marshall Teddy Daniels. Within the past five years or so, Dicaprio has become one of my favorite actors not only due to his incredible talent, but also his uncanny ability for picking solid scripts. His portrayal in this film is probably his best work yet, which says a lot when you consider some of his past performances. Mark Ruffalo also gives a great portrayal as Dicaprio’s partner Chuck Aule. Ruffalo is an excellent straight man to Dicaprio’s brooding, intense, paranoid character.

Another major standout is Ben Kingsley, who portrays Dr. Cawley, the doctor in charge of running the asylum. While it is no shocker that Kingsley is an excellent actor, it is nice to see him in a quality film that is deserving of his talents. Jackie Earl Haley, perhaps best known for his role as Rorschach in Watchmen or his upcoming role as the new Freddy Kreuger, also has a brief but amazingly intense scene with Dicaprio. With Scorcese’s direction and the brilliant performances by the cast, this film was easliy one of the most immersive movies I’ve seen in a long time. I felt genuinely disturbed by what was unfolding on the screen.

Shutter Island is an excellent movie. Too many films resort to cheap narration or overexposure to reveal the final plot points.With Shutter Island, each scene is well crafted and the way the plot is unveiled makes you feel like you are discovering what is going on a long with the characters, which just enhances the overall experience. I would highly recommend this movie to everyone. There is a good chance that this will wind up scooping up quite a few oscars at the year’s end and that is no joke.

The Hurt Locker (DVD)

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The Hurt Locker flew relatively under the radar in most cities when it was released this summer. Those lucky enough to catch a showing have been going on and on about how great the film is, while those of us who did not get a chance to see it were eagerly waiting until we would get our chance. That chance had finally come for me as I was finally able to watch the movie I had read and heard so much about. To say that this film was worth the wait is a huge understatement.

The Hurt Locker follows Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Company Bravo as they are finishing up their tour in Iraq. For reasons I won’t reveal, the two man crew is assigned a new squad leader, Staff Seargant James. James is a bit of a hothead and leaves his new squad wondering whether he is just plain reckless or whether he really is as good at his job as he believes. This pretty much sums up the plot of the film without giving anything away. This is definitely a movie everyone should see for themselves to form their own opinions on.

Right off the bat, the movie grips you and doesn’t let go. From the amazing opening scene, the movie establishes a level of tension and steadily ratchets up the intensity up until the end of the film. There is something masterful about Director Kathryn Bigelow’s use of camera angles that really helps to maintain the anxiety that is built up in each scene. Each scene leaves you wondering what the next will bring and how they can possibly make it more nerve racking than the last. What is even more refreshing about her directing style is that this is one of the first Middle Eastern war movies that I have seen that does not get overly preachy. In fact, the story is straight forward and doesn’t really promote a bias for one side or the other. It simply tells the story, which is powerful enough without being complicated by unnecessary political overtones.

The acting in this film is top notch. While the film centers on the three members of Bravo Company, each member is captivating and portrayed to perfection. Brian Geraghty is great as Specialist Owen Eldridge, the junior membr of the squad. Eldridge more than holds his own and is the perfect exapmle of how the proper combat training can transform even the most unassuming guy into a killing machine. Anthony Mackie turns in an exceptional performance also as Sgt. Sanborn. Sanborn has been around the military just long enough to understand how everything works. He is the level headed, by the book, straight man of the squad, which is in direct contrast to James’ reckless impulsiveness. Finally we have Jeremy Renner as Staff Sgt. James. renner really steals the show with his portrayal. From the first scene he is in, he immediately sets the tone for how the rest of his interactions with the squad are going to go down. James is wild and brilliant at the same time. As a result of these traits, he often assumes unnecessary risks simply to get his adreanaline flowing, placing him and his squad in harm’s way much to their objections.

The bottom line is that this film is excellent and it immediately ranks up with the top 5 war movies I have ever seen. Once the movie starts, it never lets up on the tension until the last act, in which it finally takes a welcome breather before concluding the story. This movie is firing on all cylinders and is definitely worth checking out.

The Secret Life of Bees (DVD)

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Sue Monk Kidd’s The Secret Life of Bees tells an incredibly brave and daring story of a 14-year-old Lily who flees from her home to find solace and sanctuary in the home of another family miles and miles away. The story – set to motion picture by Director Gina Prince-Bythewood - features a stunning cast and a very warm setting.

 

Set in 1964, Lily (played by Dakota Fanning) longs to know more about her dead mother and relies solely on only a few of her mother’s possessions since her father refuses to indulge her curiosity. Among these belongings was a picture of a Black Madonna with an inscription that said, “Tiburon SC.” This picture led Lily on a journey that would soon teach her a multitude of lessons about her life and the times she lived in.

 

This movie touches the heart in many ways. I was glued to the screen the entire time and wished that I had first read the book. The meaning behind the story is very easy to understand but is also quite entertaining to watch in film. With a cast, featuring Queen Latifah, Alicia Keys, Jennifer Hudson, and Dakota Fanning, you can’t go wrong.