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Stormie
Member
03-01-2007
| Tuesday, February 23, 2010 - 12:56 pm
I don't want to say much about the movie, bc it is a must see, but there is a great interview Roger Ebert had with Leonardo DiCaprio right here.
Excerpt: Leonardo DiCaprio: 'I like characters who aren't always what they seem' BY ROGER EBERT / February 15, 2010 "Shutter Island," which opens Friday, is the fourth film Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese have made together, and the most unexpected. It's not a biopic ("The Aviator") or a modern gangster movie ("The Departed") or a historical gangster movie ("Gangs of New York"). It securely occupies that most American of genres, the film noir -- the dark film, the film that takes place in the shadows of human nature. DiCaprio plays Teddy Daniels, a United States marshal. The time is 1954, toward the end of the original film noir era. His assignment: Help find a woman killer who has disappeared from a prison for the criminally insane on a remote and craggy island. It's a Locked Room mystery, because there seems to be no way to leave the island alive. Daniels and his partner Chuck (Mark Ruffalo) arrive seen with those two invaluable props of the film noir hero, fedora hats and cigarettes. They talk like film noir heroes -- tough and aggressive. On Shutter Island they encounter a man, however, who seems to come more from the horror genre than film noir. This is Dr. Cawley (Ben Kingsley), the precise and remote man in charge. Reading the original novel by Dennis Lehane, he reminded Scorsese of the hero, if that is the word, of the silent film "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari." I sent DiCaprio some questions. His replies, as I might have expected, were thoughtful and perceptive. He is and always has been (ever since "This Boy's Life" and "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" in 1963) an intelligent actor, never content to be only a star, although that certainly happened after "Titanic" in 1997. "This Boy's Life" was his first major feature, and it's interesting that he co-starred with Scorsese's muse, Robert De Niro. Q. I hear that Marty showed you some classic film noir before you began shooting. Which actors did you respond to? Was there a particular film that struck you? A. Certainly Dana Andrews and Jimmy Stewart. And you know on my own, Travis Bickle in "Taxi Driver." The films that we saw ranged from "Steel Helmet" to "Laura," to "Out of the Past," to "Vertigo," to a documentary about a mental asylum called "Titicut Follies." All of which are greats points of reference when you're on the set working with Mr. Scorsese. Because like a great painter you're a part of the pre-production process while you're working with the actors and the cinematographer and the set director, who decorated to really give us a deep understanding of the movie he was trying to create through cinema's past. So with Scorsese it's always a unique, enjoyable experience that gets you excited about making movies....article
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Brenda1966
Member
07-03-2002
| Tuesday, February 23, 2010 - 1:39 pm
Thanks for the link. Not sure how I missed this on Ebert's page! I saw the film and am not even sure what to say about it. I do love Leo and will see anything he is in.
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Willsfan
Member
09-04-2000
| Monday, March 01, 2010 - 3:34 pm
Leo is a good actor and the camera work (effects, etc) was excellent but I was a little disappointed in the movie. I expected too much because the reviews I had read gave it so much praise. I should never read reviews before watching a movie then I might enjoy it more.
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Teachmichigan
Member
07-22-2001
| Monday, March 01, 2010 - 5:52 pm
I'm reading the book right now - it certainly grabbed my attention in the first 10 pages. I'll probably wait until the movie is on Netflix - looks like one where I'll want the lights ON! 
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Hermione69
Member
07-23-2002
| Thursday, March 11, 2010 - 5:33 am
I saw this last night and it really freaked me out. It took me awhile to get the images of the movie out of my head and settle down for bed. I should have remembered how dark and depressing Dennis Lehane's stories tend to be. His book Mystic River upset me so much that I wouldn't even see the movie. It was a very well-done movie, but psychologically jarring.
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Scout
Member
01-20-2005
| Sunday, March 14, 2010 - 1:40 pm
I agree Hermione. I had already read the book so it wasn't as much of a surprise. It's definitely not the kind of movie the previews made it look to be, though, is it? I thought is was excellent.
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Happymom
Member
01-20-2003
| Sunday, March 21, 2010 - 11:25 pm
I thought it was SO good! I'm really glad I saw it in the theater. I think it was better than if seen at home.
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Sunshyne4u
Member
06-17-2003
| Wednesday, March 24, 2010 - 12:13 pm
figured out this movie during the Trailer. Did watch the movie because I usually like DiCaprio and Scorse movies. it was well done but a little stereotypical (if that the right word)
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Adven
Member
02-06-2001
| Friday, March 26, 2010 - 2:12 pm
I enjoyed it but there were just too many implausibles. I'm irritating to watch a movie with because I'm constantly explaining to others why I feel something isn't believable or realistic. Consequently, I'm forced to watch most movies alone which is unsatisfying because there's no one to hear my great theories.
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Hermione69
Member
07-23-2002
| Friday, March 26, 2010 - 2:15 pm
Adven, you are a dork. After I was able to shake off the images of the movie, which I really did find very disturbing, I found myself thinking "No psychologist/psychiatrist would EVER do that." Do you think that is true?
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Adven
Member
02-06-2001
| Friday, March 26, 2010 - 2:18 pm
That's what I was referring to. I didn't want to say too much and inadvertently give anything away. I admire my restraint.
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Brenda1966
Member
07-03-2002
| Friday, March 26, 2010 - 5:29 pm
Remember, this was set in the past where "ethics" in medicine, especially psychiatric, were very questionable. Some of the things they did were horrifying! This is tame compared to that. We also have to remember we are seeing a lot from the perspective of someone we really can't trust.
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Grooch
Member
06-16-2006
| Friday, March 26, 2010 - 6:35 pm
Adven, lol! You remind me of ex-husband when watching any movies with planes in them. He's a pilot and a certified A/P mechanic. He would get so frustrated watching one of these movies. He would start yelling that's a 747 body, but the cockpit is a 737, yada, yada, yada.....
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Tvfreak
Member
04-09-2008
| Sunday, April 25, 2010 - 7:06 pm
That questionable perspective makes the story interesting and also somewhat frustrating to watch. Overall, I really enjoyed it though.
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Karen
Member
09-06-2004
| Monday, May 03, 2010 - 9:36 pm
For those who have read the book, does the movie stand up? I loved the book. (I loved Mystic River, too, couldn't for the life of me understand how they could turn it into a movie, and absolutely hated the movie. )
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Ophiliasgrandma
Member
09-04-2001
| Monday, June 28, 2010 - 1:46 pm
I just watched SI and was entertained. The Scorsese/Dicaprio combo never disappoints.
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Skootz
Member
07-23-2003
| Tuesday, July 20, 2010 - 6:25 am
Just watched it on Saturday night - I thought it was good, really kept me involved
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Jezzedout
Member
09-07-2006
| Thursday, July 29, 2010 - 5:11 pm
I finally watched Shutter Island on Amazon last month. I rank Scorcese as one of the best directors of all time and watch pretty much every film he makes, so I was looking forward to Shutter Island. With that said... I was a little disappointed. I thought Scorcese did a fine job, as always, of creating the mood, atmosphere, etc., and the cast brought their A-game, but the mystery that was the heart of the film was just too obvious. As a result, the film just felt a little flat. It wasn't a bad film, it just didn't rise to the level I was expecting or hoping for.
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Boberg
Member
10-04-2002
| Sunday, September 12, 2010 - 2:53 pm
I hesitated a long time before finally watching this movie. I thought it was gonna be a psychotic horror film. I was therefore pleasantly surprised to find it to be a psychological thriller instead. I was totally caught off guard with the ending. Enjoyed the movie, not one of my favorites though.
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