Breaking Away

Directed by Peter Yates and written by Steven Tesich, Breaking Away is the story of four young men trying to figure out what to do before they go to college as one of them wants to race against a visiting group of Italian pro bicycle riders in a race. The film is a coming-of-age tale where a young man tries to find himself as he gets help from his friends while wanting to do something that matters. Starring Dennis Christopher, Dennis Quaid, Daniel Stern, Jackie Earle Haley, Barbara Barrie, Robyn Douglass, and Paul Dooley. Breaking Away is a lively and touching film from Peter Yates.

Set in the small town of Bloomington, Indiana, the film revolves around four young men spending their summer bumming around unsure of what to do as one of them has adopted an Italian accent as he is excited about a group of Italian pro bicycle riders coming to Indiana for a local race. It’s a film that revolves around this young man trying to become the best bicyclist he can be yet he would also woo a college girl much to the chagrin of college preppies who have a disdain for the working-class boys as they call them cutters. Along the way, the rest of the guys cope with not just the idea of failure but also wonder if they can ever get out of Bloomington. Steven Tesich’s screenplay isn’t just a sports movie but also this compelling coming-of-age film about four guys trying to figure out themselves as a couple of them were athletes, one of them wants to marry his girlfriend, and another thinks he’s got it figured out by pretending to be Italian only to face some harsh realities.

The film’s protagonist Dave Stoller (Dennis Christopher) is in love with the Italian riders as well as culture where he would speak Italian much to the annoyance of his father Ray (Paul Dooley) while his mother Evelyn (Barbara Barrie) tries to be supportive. Dave’s friends in Mike (Dennis Quaid), Cyril (Daniel Stern), and Moocher (Jackie Earle Haley) are also supportive of Stoller’s ambition but also wonder if he will try and become like these college preppies they despise because they have money and think they’re better than everyone. Tesich’s screenplay also has humor in the way Ray reacts to the antics of his son but it also has moments that are quite touching as it play into Ray’s own previous life cutting stones to create buildings as well as some of the things Dave, Mike, Cyril, and Moocher encounter. Even as Dave would encounter reality of his own as it relates to the Italian racers who would force Dave to realize more about who he is.

Peter Yates’ direction is quite simple as it doesn’t really go for any visual tricks yet it does capture a sense of energy and realism of small town life. Shot on location in Bloomington, Indiana as well as the campus of Indiana University in Bloomington. Yates’ direction utilizes that sense of a world that is quite small but also vast where it has this world of the working class who are just living day-by-day as the four guys would swim at this old limestone quarry to pass the time while miles away would be this campus where the rich preppie college kids are. Yates’ usage of wide and medium shots play into the look of the locations as well as some of the biking scenes where it plays into the scale of the roads as well as the challenge that Stoller has to encounter in the race with the Italians. Yates also uses close-ups and some medium shots to play into the life of Stoller with his parents as well as create moments that are quite comical as it is told very naturally. There is also these somber moments between Stoller and his father late in the film as it play into the ways of the world but it also has these very important life lessons. All of which would lead to this climatic race between Stoller and his friends and a bunch of teams from college including the preps. Overall, Yates creates a witty yet exhilarating film about a young man trying to find himself with the aid of his friends and family as well as cycling.

Cinematographer Matthew F. Leonetti does excellent work with the film‘s cinematography to play into the sunny and colorful look of the scenes set in Bloomington as well as the Indiana University campus as well as some low-key lights for some of the scenes set at night. Editor Cynthia Scheider does nice work with the editing as it is mostly straightforward with some stylish cutting for a few montages and in the racing scenes. Art director Patrizia von Brandenstein and set decorator Lee Poll do terrific work with the look of the home that the Stoller family live in as well as the limestone quarry watering hole the guys hang out at.

Costume designer Betsy Cox does wonderful work with the costumes as it is mostly casual from the look of Stoller and his friends to the more stylish look of the college preps. Sound editors Michael Moyse and Dan Sable do superb work with the sound in capturing the raucous sound of the town as well as the locations in Indiana University as well as the sparse sounds of how bikes sound in a race. The film’s music largely features an array of Italian opera music that is adapted by Patrick Williams as it plays into Stoller’s obsession with Italian culture as it’s mainly used for humor as well as a romantic scene where Stoller serenades a young woman.

The casting by Jane Feinberg and Mike Fenton is great as it include some notable small roles from John Ashton as Mike’s police officer brother, Amy Wright as Moocher’s girlfriend Nancy, P.J. Soles as a sorority girl who would try to get Stoller and Cyril in trouble, and Hart Bochner as a college preppie who hates the cutters as he tries to show off and such. Robyn Douglass is wonderful as Katherine as a college student that Stoller tries to woo as he pretends to be Italian to impress her. Barbara Barrie is superb as Stoller’s mother Evelyn as this woman that is supportive of her son while trying to get her husband to eat healthy. Paul Dooley is fantastic as Stoller’s father Ray as a used-car salesman who is annoyed by his son’s Italian fascination and accent as he is just so fun to watch as well as be this sense of warmth as a man that has done a lot in his life despite his lack of any real success.

Jackie Earle Haley is excellent as Moocher as a guy who wants to commit to his girlfriend while struggling to find work as also hates being given insults relating to his height. Daniel Stern is brilliant as Cyril as a former football player struggling to find himself while being very laid-back about his approach to life where he thinks about going to college. Dennis Quaid is amazing as Mike as another former football player who is convinced that he’s never going to succeed but doesn’t want to give up as it’s a very commanding performance from Quaid. Finally, there’s Dennis Christopher in an incredible performance as Dave Stoller as a young man whose love of cycling and Italian culture has him excited for the arrival of the Italians as he then copes with realities of the world as well as his own identity as a man.

Breaking Away is a phenomenal film from Peter Yates. Featuring a great cast, a heartfelt screenplay by Steven Tesich, and some very entertaining moments. It’s a film that isn’t just this compelling sports film but also a coming-of-age film that manages to do a lot as well as create characters that audiences can root for. In the end, Breaking Away is a spectacular film from Peter Yates.

Peter Yates Films: (Summer Holiday) – (One Way Pendelum) – (Robbery) – Bullitt - (John and Mary) – (Murphy’s War) – (The Hot Rock) – (The Friends of Eddie Coyle) – (For Pete’s Sake) – (Mother, Jugs & Speed) – (The Deep) – (Eyewitness) – (Krull) – (The Dresser) – (Eleni) – (Suspect) – (The House on Carroll Street) – (An Innocent Man) – (Year of the Comet) – (Roommates) – (The Run of the Country) – (Curtain Call) – (Don Quixote (2000 film))

© thevoid99 2016

Watchmen (film)

Originally Written and Posted at Epinions.com on 3/7/09.

One of the most celebrated and popular graphic novels in the history of literature, Watchmen about a group of retired vigilantes investigating the murder of one of their former colleagues only to uncover a troubling conspiracy. Written by Alan Moore with illustrations by Dave Gibbons, the novel took a unique spin into the superhero genre while delving into satire and character study. The novel is so acclaimed in giving the graphic novel medium widespread attention that adaptations for the book to become a film became an impossible task. Developing the film proved to be hell since its attempts began just after the novel was released. 20th Century Fox tried to get it started that took years. In 1991, Warner Brothers got involved with project with Terry Gilliam attached but years of development forced Gilliam to drop out and the film project was shelved.

Another attempt in 2001 started but a few years into it became troubling until Paramount Pictures got involved with Darren Aronofsky attached to the project. Aronofsky left to work on The Fountain as Paul Greengrass got involved but the project eventually folded. With Lawrence Gordon, who owned the rights to the film, deciding to go back to Warner Brothers. Nothing seemed sure until 2006 when production finally found got started with a new director in Zack Snyder, who scored a big hit with his adaptation of Frank Miller's 300. Production finally began with Snyder at the helm despite a lawsuit between Warner Brothers and 20th Century Fox that finally got resolved for the long-awaited release of Watchmen.

Directed by Zack Snyder with a script by David Hayter and Alex Tse along with un-credited contributions from Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman. Watchmen tells the story of a group of former vigilantes living in 1985 at the peak of the Cold War as the tension between the U.S. and Soviet Union reaching its climax with Richard Nixon still the President of the U.S. When an ex-vigilante is murdered, one of his former comrades investigates to uncover a conspiracy in order to get rid of his other vigilantes as well as a nuclear holocaust. The film is an ambitious tale that takes the superhero genre to darker territory and character study not explored in some of today's superhero films. With an all-star cast that includes Jackie Earle Haley, Patrick Wilson, Malin Akerman, Matthew Goode, Billy Crudup, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Stephen McHattie, Matt Frewer, and Carla Gugino. Watchmen is an excellent, sprawling, and ambitious film from Zack Snyder.

It's October 1985 when an ex-vigilante known as Edward Blake aka the Comedian (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) has been murdered leaving behind his old smiley face badge on the street as evidence. One of Blake's former colleagues name Rorschach (Jackie Earle Haley) from the Watchmen vigilante team of the late 1960s-early 1970s group finds the badge. He investigates Blake's murder as he tells his former partner from the group Daniel Dreiberg aka Nite Owl II (Patrick Wilson) about the Comedian's death. Dreiberg is now retired due to the Keene Act of 1977 banning vigilantes from work where he spends his time having weekly meeting with the original Nite Owl in Hollis Mason (Stephen McHattie). After Rorschach's visit, Dreiberg tells another of his former colleagues in Adrian Veidt aka Ozymandias (Matthew Goode). Now a billionaire who has revealed his identity while using his old vigilante name to sell products, Veidt hears of Dreiberg's warning about Rorschach's conspiracy that someone is taking out former vigilantes.

Rorschach visits a couple of former Watchmen in Dr. Manhattan (Billy Crudup) and Laurie Juspeczyk aka Silk Spectre II (Malin Akerman) about the Comedian's death. Manhattan, who is the only Watchmen with superpowers due to a nuclear accident and is considered the best weapon the U.S. ever has is now more concerned with particles and such than humanity. Manhattan's state of mind has now strained his long-term relationship with Laurie as she decides to have dinner with Dreiberg whom she hadn't seen in years as they talk about the Comedian's death and fear of a possible nuclear war between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. During Blake's funeral where Veidt, Dreiberg, and Manhattan recall disturbing memories about the Comedian while Laurie visits her mother Sally Jupiter, the original Silk Spectre (Carla Gugino). Attending the funeral in secrecy is a former nemesis of the Comedian in Edgar Jacobi aka Moloch (Matt Frewer).

Rorschach confronts Moloch about what he knows as he revealed about a strange visit from a distraught, guilt-ridden Blake. Laurie's visit with her mother about Blake's death that featured an old story about Blake raping Sally back in 1949 has Sally saddened about Blake despite what happened. Laurie's relationship with Dr. Manhattan has finally soured as she leaves him to be with Dreiberg as Manhattan prepares for a big TV interview. During the interview, Manhattan talks about nuclear holocaust when a journalist presses Manhattan on about accusations that he gave a few former colleagues including his ex-girlfriend Janey Slater (Laura Mennell) cancer as she makes a surprising appearance. Now a threat, Manhattan exiles himself to Mars as he thinks about the time he used to be a man named Jon Osterman and how he became Dr. Manhattan as he's now detached of humanity as well as Earth.

When Rorschach continues his investigation into Blake's death, he uncovers a big conspiracy which involved an assassination attempt on Adrian Veidt. What happens is a set-up in which he's captured and sent to prison following an interrogation with a psychoanalyst. With Dreiberg and Laurie becoming closer and deciding to renew their vigilante status, they also decide to break Rorschach from prison as they uncover a much larger conspiracy involving the end of the world. With nuclear holocaust closing in and Manhattan unconvinced that he can do anything, it's up to the Watchmen to uncover the truth only to find out something even more horrifying.

Watchmen is truly one of the greatest novels in the history of literature and for years, to make a film version of it seemed impossible. Yet, what Zack Snyder and screenwriters David Hayter and Alex Tse did the impossible and succeeded, for the most part. The story is truly complex and psychological as it unveils harsh realities and truths to the world. Yet, like most adaptations, things had to be cut from the book as well as some alterations. Still, Hayter and Tse does manage to craft a faithful script to the book though minor characters like the magazine stand owner and the kid who hangs out reading The Tales of the Black Freighter are merely cameos. The sub-story of The Tales of the Black Freighter isn't featured in the film but is still being told as an animated feature in a straight-to-DVD release.

Still, the faithfulness of the story from book to script is excellent in presenting smaller characters like Janey Slater and the story of the original Minutemen vigilante group is told in the opening credits. Though not much is revealed since the original graphic novel is more in detail of how the Minutemen was formed and disbanded. Part of the script's flaws is some lack of detail, back story on some of the characters, and the fact that some audiences might find the story to be too dense. It's not a proto-typical kind of superhero, comic-book action film but far more darker and more adult. It's really about a group of individuals dealing with retirement, their own humanity or lack thereof, and ambitions amidst the troubled state of the world. The writers do take credit in creating something that is entertaining but also faithful to what Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons wanted in the book.

Director Zack Snyder, who had done a brilliant job with his take on Frank Miller's 300 manages to succeed with the look and visual palette of Watchmen. With help from the novel's illustrator Dave Gibbons, Snyder does faithfully use images from the comics for its compositions of the film as if the novel came to life. Snyder's faithfulness is honorable though there's a few moments he doesn't get right. There's a few anachronisms in the film in its appliances and famous people seen throughout that might baffle a few people. Snyder does get the story going in giving people a break from the action for the drama where it doesn't drag nor its two-hour, forty-three minute running time feel very slow.

Snyder's direction is very stylish where he does the slow-fast edits like he did in 300 but not overtly while not lightening things up in terms of the sex and violence. The sex is though playful and sexy in its scenes involving Laurie Juspeczyk and Daniel Dreiberg which includes a comical moment from the book. At the same time, Snyder does make sure that audiences get to see Dr. Manhattan's scrotum since he's naked throughout though it's really all CGI. Then there's violence which is quite graphic as broken bones are heard, lots of blood, and such that goes on. There's things that are quite shocking but it's true to what Alan Moore wanted as well as the nature of its characters, notably the Comedian who is the kind of gung-ho American at its worst and distasteful. The film's ending is altered in a major way though its intentions in relation to the original ending in the novel is still intact. Overall, despite the flaws the film has, Zack Snyder does create a faithful version of the book with its colorful images and dark tone.

Cinematographer Larry Fong does a fantastic job with the film's look in relation to the novel. With the look being close to the graphic novel, Fong's cinematography is not filled with a lot of heavy lights as it relies on dark colors and lots of shading. It's a film that is meant to look bleak yet colorful as it also moves along with the action and apocalyptical tone. Editor William Hoy does great work with the editing as it's stylized with fast cuts for the action along with slow-motion moments that later becomes fast for some of the fight scenes. At the same time, the cutting doesn't move very slow for its long running time as it does a serviceable job for its pacing and feel.

Production designer Alex McDowell along with set decorator Jim Erickson and supervising art director Francois Audouy is superb in its look of New York City, though shot in Vancouver, along with its interior sets and places. Particularly the building of Adrian Veidt that he works along with his Antarctica base and the homes of Dreiberg and his basement filled with gadgets and such. Notably the Owlship he has called Archie that's filled with gadgets and such. Costume designer Michael Wilkinson does a great job with the costumes with the latex look of Silk Spectre II that is sexy along with Nite Owl II's costumes that looks a bit like Batman. The suit of Ozymandias is kind of ridiculous since it has nipples which is meant to look silly while Rorschach and the Comedian are more gritty. Yet, the look of the Minutemen are spectacular in its 1940s design and such.

Makeup artist Emanuela Daus along with her team do an excellent job with the fake hair that Jackie Earle Haley wears as his true identity along with the look of Adrian Veidt and Laurie Juspeczyk. Yet, the look of Richard Nixon (Robert Wisden) does look a bit ridiculous while the make-up on Carla Gugino as her older version of Sally Jupiter is sub-par at best. The visual effects by supervisors Dennis Jones and Peter G. Travers is phenomenal with the look of Dr. Manhattan, the blot-movements of Rorschach's mask, and Dr. Manhattan's home at Mars. The visual effects are the real technical highlight of the film. The sound by sound editor Scott Hecker and designers Rick Hromadka and Jeremy Pierson are excellent in the way broken bones are heard. The atmosphere that goes on in the city and the way the Owlship moves and sounds. Hecker's work in the editing of Rorschach's narration is great along with its mixing to give the film a noir-like feel as the sound is masterfully brilliant.

The music score by Tyler Bates is very good in melodic-driven piece of keyboards and guitars for its drama and action. Yet, its soundtrack is mostly dominated by several music pieces that features Bob Dylan's The Times They Are A-Changin' in the opening credits plus stuff from Jimi Hendrix, Nena, Tears for Fears, Janis Joplin, Simon & Garfunkel, KC & the Sunshine Band, and a comical use of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah in one of the film's funny moments. Played in the closing credits is another Dylan song Desolation Row that's performed in a punk-style by My Chemical Romance yet the greatest piece of music played on film is from Phillip Glass in the Jon Osterman-Dr. Manhattan sequence from Glass' score of 1983 Godfrey Reggio cult film Koyanniqatsi.

The casting by Kristy Carlson is excellent with appearances from people playing celebrities and political figures like David Bowie, Mick Jagger, photographer Annie Lebovitz, Lee Iacocca, Fidel Castro, and as Henry Kissinger, Frank Novak. Other memorable appearances as famous people are Ron Fassler as Ted Koppel and Robert Wisden as Richard Nixon who is good though why didn't anyone ask Dan Hedaya to play the role since he was the best Richard Nixon in the 1999 comedy Dick. Small appearances from Zack Snyder's son Eli as the young Rorschach while appearing as the original minute men are Apollonia Vanova as Silhouette, Daryll Scheelar as Captain Metropolis, Dan Payne as Dollar Bill, Niall Matter as Mothman, Glenn Ennis as Hooded Justice, and Clint Carelton as the young Hollis Mason/Nite Owl.

Other small roles like Ron LaBelle as Osterman's former colleague Wally Weaver and Nhi Do as a Vietnamese girl who fights the Comedian are memorable while it's Laura Mennell who is good as Janey Slater. Stephen McHattie, who previously appeared in 300 is very good as Hollis Mason, the original Nite Owl who retires only to have conversations with Daniel Dreiberg. Matt Frewer is excellent as Moloch, a retired villain who reveals to Rorschach of what he knows about the Comedian's state of mind. Carla Gugino is excellent as Sally Jupiter, the original Silk Spectre who is now retired as she talks about Edward Blake while dealing with Laurie's anger towards her.

Malin Akerman is pretty good as Laurie Juspeczyk aka Silk Spectre II. Though Akerman has the look and body of Silk Spectre, her acting isn't entirely great though serviceable for her character. Akerman does embody the angst and sweetness of Laurie as she's dealing with her mother and Dr. Manhattan while finding solace and comfort in Daniel Dreiberg. Patrick Wilson is also good as Daniel Dreiberg aka Nite Owl II as he plays this somewhat bland, mild-mannered guy who is afraid of being the Nite Owl yet can't escape from it. Wilson does bring a nice-guy complexity while also proving he can be tough as he has wonderful chemistry with Akerman. Jeffrey Dean Morgan is great as Edward Blake aka the Comedian, an immoral, violent, and unpredictable man who'll kill anything for the government only to have his violent past caught up to him. Morgan sells the character with great bravado and charisma while bringing depth to the character as he deals with guilt and regret.

Matthew Goode is excellent as Adrian Veidt aka Ozymandias, a former vigilante turned billionaire who is more concerned about his own image while finding ways to save the world with the help of Dr. Manhattan. Goode's performance is definitely the least charismatic and most restrained of the cast as he stands out for being the one in control. Billy Crudup is amazing as Dr. Manhattan, an ordinary man turned into a superhuman of sorts only to become detached in his state as he is mostly devoid of emotion. Crudup rarely has scenes where he's emotional as his character is definitely very interesting as someone who lost interest in humanity while focused on dealing with logic.

The film's best performance is Jackie Earle Haley as Rorschach, the masked vigilante who refuses to quit his job as he investigates the Comedian's death. Haley, though mostly masked in the film is the most interesting as he has this raspy voice in his character while being the film's narrator throughout the film. Haley's face when he's unmasked is truly devoid of emotion mostly as he's just stoned-face and plays it cool. Haley is really the heart of the film as he brings more than enough into why Rorschach is the most beloved character of Watchmen, novel or film.

While it's not the famed novel by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, the film version of Watchmen is still an excellent film from Zack Snyder. With an excellent cast led by Jackie Earle Haley, the film is very faithful to the famed graphic novel while providing new territory for the superhero film genre. Fans of the book will be happy that it's faithful while will understandably be upset of what got cut from the transition from book to film. Audiences of superhero films will be entertained though its complex story might be too much for some as well as its two-hour, forty-three minute time length. This is definitely not a film for kids, especially for its adult themes, graphic violence, and sexual content. In the end, though it's not a perfect film, Watchmen is still an entertaining, provocative, and ambitious film from Zack Snyder and company.

Zack Snyder Films: (Dawn of the Dead (2004)) - 300 - (Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole) - Sucker Punch - Man of Steel - Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice - Justice League - Zack Snyder's Justice League - (Army of the Dead) - Rebel Moon

(C) thevoid99 2011

Shutter Island

After finally nabbing an Oscar for Best Director for his 2006 remake of the Hong Kong film Infernal Affairs entitled The Departed. Martin Scorsese was now part of a group of great directors who won the Oscar after trying to get the award several times. Scorsese took a break from feature films to direct a concert film for the Rolling Stones entitled Shine a Light in 2008 while producing various other projects including a restoration of the 1949 Powell-Pressburger classic The Red Shoes. In 2010, Scorsese returned to the big screen for a psychological thriller entitled Shutter Island.

Based on Dennis Lehane’s novel, Shutter Island tells the story of two U.S. marshals investigating a mental hospital where a patient has vanished. Upon the investigation, one of the marshals is haunted by the images of his dead wife as he believes her killer is in the island. Directed by Martin Scorsese with a script by Laeta Kalogridis along with additional work by Steven Knight. The film marks Scorsese’s fourth collaboration with actor Leonardo DiCaprio as they create a thriller that is both visually fascinating and intriguing in its story. Also starring Mark Ruffalo, Michelle Williams, Ben Kingsley, Patricia Clarkson, Emily Mortimer, Elias Koteas, Jackie Earle Haley, Ted Levine, John Carroll Lynch, and Max von Sydow. Shutter Island is an intriguing yet haunting film from Martin Scorsese and company.

It’s 1954 as two U.S. marshals named Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his new partner Chuck Aule (Mark Ruffalo) are going to Shutter Island to investigate the disappearance of a patient at a mental hospital known as Ashecliffe. Accompanied by deputy warden McPherson (John Carroll Lynch), the duo meets Dr. John Cawley (Ben Kingsley) who explains about the patient named Rachel Solando (Emily Mortimer) who had disappeared. Solando was brought in after drowning her three kids as Daniels and Aule try to interview staff members along with some patients. When Daniels want to know more by going to Cawley’s colleague Dr. Jeremiah Naehring (Max von Sydow) for more information. Daniels is rebuffed as he is troubled by headaches that feature flashbacks of his period in war along with the images of his dead wife Dolores (Michelle Williams).

With Daniels and Aule continuing their investigation during a stormy day at the island, Daniels reveals his motive to why he’s really at the island believing that a man named Andrew Laeddis (Elias Koteas) is at the island. Daniels believes that Laeddis was responsible for his wife’s death through arson as Daniels is also convinced of some experiments going on. With the two continuing their investigation, Rachel Solando has been found and is safe though the interrogation with Solando proves to be strange. With Daniels more troubled by his migraines and appearances of his wife along with Laeddis, Daniels goes on the search for more about Ashecliffe. In the aftermath of a bad storm where patients are out of the hospital, Daniels goes into the fortress where the most dangerous prisoners are held.

Daniels suddenly meets a man named George Noyce (Jackie Earle Haley) whom Daniels had tried to help. Realizing that Noyce had given him clues about the mysterious lighthouse, Daniels along with Aule try to find a path to the lighthouse where the two got separated. Aule disappears while Daniels meets a mysterious woman (Patricia Clarkson) at a cave who reveals more about the secrets of the island. With Daniels being picked up by the hospital’s warden (Ted Levine), Daniels confronts Dr. Cawley about what is going on as he decides to go to the lighthouse where he finds a shocking discovery.

The film is about a man trying to uncover mysteries about his wife’s death as well as the island where they’re keeping her killer who is possibly being part of a strange experiment. Yet, that’s the film’s plot in a nutshell but in the mind of Martin Scorsese. It’s anything but simple as it’s a film that is really a puzzle of sorts of what is really going on in the island and the people in the island. No character is who they say they are with a few exceptions. It’s all because there is something at the island that no one wants to explain right until the third act where there’s a twist involved.

Screenwriter Laeta Kalogridis creates a wonderful script that builds on the suspense of the story along with the back-and-forth movements of the story where Teddy Daniels is having flashbacks or strange dreams. The flashbacks and dreams play up to the film’s surreal style as it would unveil clues to what’s going on. The characters are also very interesting as Daniels’ partner Chuck acts as a foil of sorts but also a conscience who wants to be at Daniels’ side with everything that is happening. Dr. Cawley might seem like an antagonist since he’s always evading questions along with Dr. Naehring. All of the minor characters Daniels would interact along with the visions of Dolores would eventually lead to the twist.

The twist would definitely change all perspectives of what everyone just saw the first time around. When it is seen again for the second time, more clues are unveiled along with pieces of dialogue and how they’re presented. Overall, it’s a wonderful screenplay by Laeta Kalogridis.

Then, there’s the direction of Martin Scorsese which is truly powerful and engaging in its imagery. Taking an old-school approach to the directing, Scorsese goes for eerie zoom shots along with dolly tracks to create a mood for the film. Even as he creates wide shots for an idea of the island and its dark feel where something doesn’t seem right. Scorsese also goes for an intimate setting for some of the film’s interrogation and conversation pieces where he goes for simplicity in the presentation.

For some of the film’s broader scenes at the island, Scorsese uses some visual effects which are rich in its look. For the most part, they all look great except for one scene where Daniels is talking with the warden on the jeep as the background looks very fake. For many of the film’s fantasy sequences, Scorsese creates a look that is artificial and dream-like while playing up to the surrealism of the film. When it comes time for the twist, Scorsese makes sure that the dialogue that people heard early along with objects including the bandage in Teddy’s head early in the film mean something. Plus, Scorsese also allows a chance to put in a few references in objects such as the red shoes worn by the little girl (Ruby Jerins) as a reference to the Michael Powell/Emeric Pressburger film The Red Shoes. Despite a few flaws, it is a wonderfully stunning yet eerie film from Martin Scorsese.

Cinematographer Robert Richardson does a fantastic job with the film’s eerie yet colorful cinematography. Richardson’s work definitely plays to the film’s chilling mood with lots of dark colors to match the rainy scenes in the exteriors. Even in the prison where the lights are very stylish and moody to build up to the film’s suspense. Richardson’s photography is truly one of the film’s technical highlights for the way it brings atmosphere to the film.

Longtime Scorsese collaborator Thelma Schoonmaker does an excellent job with the film’s editing. Schoonmaker creates dazzling cuts to play with the film’s rhythm and build on its suspense. Even as she utilizes a few jump-cuts for rhythm while playing to the conversation scenes in cutting from one actor to another. Even in the transitions as Schoonmaker’s cutting is truly some of her best work in her career as an editor.

Production designer Dante Ferretti, along with set decorator Francesca Lo Schiavo and supervising art director Robert Guerra, does a fabulous job with the look of Ashecliffe hospital from its old-school wall filled with bricks including the decayed lighthouse. The look of the prison inside the hospital is eerie as it looks old and almost in ruins to help play up the film’s eerie tone. Costume designer Sandy Powell does a phenomenal job with the costumes from the clothes that Daniels and Aule wear early in the film to the suits that Dr. Cawley wears. Even in the colorful dresses that Dolores wears that plays true to the style of the 1950s.

Visual effects supervisor Rob Legato does a very good job with the visual effects from the lush look of the island in exteriors during the rainy season to the look of the flashback sequences where the effects play up to the Daniels‘ own troubled mind. Sound editors Philip Stockton and Eugene Gearty do some brilliant work in the sound from the feel of the storm along with the stark yet near-silent tone of the prison that Daniels investigate.

Music supervisor Robbie Robertson creates an amazing soundtrack that is filled with an array of eerie classical pieces that plays to the film’s suspense. Featuring classical pieces from Gustav Mahler, John Cage, Krzysztof Penderecki, Ingram Marshall, and Gyorgy Ligeti. The soundtrack also includes pieces from 1950s music like Kay Starr, Dinah Washington, Max Richter along with an ambient track from Brian Eno. The soundtrack is an excellent collection that plays well with what the film needed for its tone.

The casting by Ellen Lewis is superb as every actor in the film really hits the right notes. Notable small roles include Robin Bartlett as a patient Daniels and Aule interrogate, Ruby Jerrins as a mysterious little girl in Teddy’s dreams, Elias Koteas as the crazed Andrew Laeddis, and Ted Levine as sly warden who talks to Teddy about the island. Other small but memorable roles include Emily Mortimer as the troubled Rachel Solando, John Carroll Lynch as deputy warden McPherson, Jackie Earle Haley as the crazed George Noyce, and Max von Sydow as the calm but mysterious Dr. Naehring. Patricia Clarkson is excellent in a small role as mysterious woman in a cave who warns Daniels about Shutter Island and its lighthouse.

Michelle Williams is radiant as Dolores, Teddy’s deceased wife who appears in Teddy’s dreams and other visions as she guides him to unlock the mysteries of the island. Williams brings a sense of grace but also darkness of a character that isn’t even alive as she and DiCaprio have wonderful chemistry. Ben Kingsley is superb as Dr. Crawley, a mysterious doctor who reluctantly helps Teddy with the investigation while holding something back about what is going on. Mark Ruffalo is phenomenal as Chuck Aule, Teddy’s partner who helps in the investigation as Ruffalo plays the sidekick as well as conscience of sorts for Teddy. Even as help brings in some clues to the mysteries while being the guy to calm everyone down.

Leonardo DiCaprio is in top form as Teddy Daniels. DiCaprio brings a eerie quality to his performance as a troubled man trying to investigate a disappearance while hoping to expose the hospital for its experiments. There is a grittiness to DiCaprio’s performance as he’s someone worn down and disturbed by his own nightmares along with images of his wife appearing. While it may not top some of his previous collaborations with Martin Scorsese, DiCaprio does create a compelling yet engaging performance as Teddy Daniels.

Shutter Island is an excellent yet entrancing film from Martin Scorsese. While it may not top his recent films like The Aviator or The Departed along with other classic Scorsese films. It is still a remarkable achievement from a master like Scorsese who can still pull off some amazing tricks. Even as fans will be able to enjoy in what he can do with a suspense thriller that is presented with a lot of style. Featuring a great cast led by Leonardo DiCaprio, it’s a film that is like a great puzzle that when seeing it for the second time. It becomes more intriguing as Shutter Island is another wonderful achievement from Martin Scorsese.

Martin Scorsese Films: (Who’s That Knocking on My Door?) - Boxcar Bertha - (Mean Streets) - Italianamerican - Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore - Taxi Driver - New York, New York - American Boy: A Profile of Steven Prince - (The Last Waltz) - Raging Bull - The King of Comedy - After Hours - (The Color of Money) - The Last Temptation of Christ - New York Stories-Life Lessons - Goodfellas - Cape Fear - The Age of Innocence - (Casino) - (Kundun) - Bringing Out the Dead - Gangs of New York - (The Aviator) - No Direction Home - The Departed - Shine a Light - George Harrison: Living in the Material World - Hugo - The Wolf of Wall Street - (The Fifty Year Argument) - Silence (2016 film) - (The Irishman) - Killers of the Flower Moon - (An Afternoon with SCTV)

© thevoid99 2011