
Martin Scorsese's spectacularly-entertaining "Shutter Island"
by Sam Juliano
Snow and cold weather continues to grip the northeast, as Oscar fans map out their plans for their annual Oscar parties. Winter Olympic Game followers have no doubt enjoyed the unexpectedly fantastic performance by the USA contingent, which presently leads the field in medals. Congratulations to Joel Bocko on the launching of his new site and for the splendid series that began posting at WitD this past day. Action at Dave Hicks’s site continues with tireless enthusiasm for the greatest film noirs, while Jeffrey Goodman is up to the mid 40’s in his consideration of the greatest films of all time. Of course at Wonders in the Dark, Allan’s silent films marathon countdown has reached #36 with Vertov’s Man With A Movie Camera. Dee Dee and Tony have collaborated to navigate the Oscar prediction posts, and the work there is outstanding.
On the movie front it’s been a memorable week in theatres, the best of 2009 in fact, led by triumphant returns by film masters Martin Scorsese and Roman Polanski, and an exquisitely beautiful and spiritual French film, Lourdes, reviewed here at the site on Friday. I saw four films, one with the entire family, one with Lucille and Bobby McCartney, and two by my lonesome:
Lourdes **** 1/2 (Film Forum) Wednesday evening
Phyllis and Harold ** 1/2 (Cinema Village) Friday evening
Shutter Island **** 1/2 (Edgewater multiplex) Friday afternoon
Ghost Writer **** (Saturday night) Union Square Cinemas
As a partial description of the film LOURDES, I’ve opted to post part of my own review: As a work of religious custom and orthodoxy, and as a showcase of the somber, almost intimidating meditative beauty of Christian rituals, Lourdes is unquestionably an arresting film, right from the opening scene where visitors are gathered in a holding area, while Franz Schubert’s ravishing “Ave Maria” is sung on the soundtrack with an entrancing spirituality, through it’s adherence to tradition and reverence, beautifully lit by cinematographer Martin Gschlacht, in a number of stationary shots. But Gschlacht wisely lets the magnificence of the settings stand on their own. The painterly compositions are often underscored by some of J.S. Bach’s most spiritually captivating organ works……the question remains of course, as to what the director, Jessica Hausner is implying here, but she wisely remains non-committal.
The major issue with the passably made documentary PHYLLIS AND HAROLD is that it’s really like watching the home movies of someone who hardly know. The two “subjects” are not very likable people to begin with, and the film’s director Cindy Kline (who is married to Andre Gregory of MY DINNER WITH ANDRE fame) seems detached from her parents, making for a very awkward emotional connection to anyone. These aren’t people I would like to spend any time with. In any case in a crowd of almost all seniors on Friday night, when the director appeared aat the Cinema Village to engage in a Q & A, I was sold a senior citizen ticket at the box office without asking for it, so it’s official now! Ha!
Martin Scorsese’s long-awaited SHUTTER ISLAND, turns out to be a spectacularly-entertaining film, that will still have at least a few bloggers crashing the party, telling us about it’s ‘narrative inconsistences’ as if we were first-graders. Those of us having a roller-ride of a time don’t give one iota about such insignificant issues, as we’re being whisked around at atmospherically-enthralling island, visiting a lighthouse, cave, cemetery burial vault, a prison cafeteria and a doctor’s study among such other deliciously intoxicating places. I never read Dennis Lehane’s novel, so I was thrown for a loop by the terrific ending, and as always was mightily impressed with Ralph Richardson’s weathered lensing and Scorsese’s excellent use of a Dachau flashback structure. Red herrings abound of course, and Leonardo Di Caprio gives his most mature performance to date, and a bevy of supporting players, especially Patricia Clarkson are superb. I already have plans to see this a second time on Tuesday night with sire regular Dennis Polifroni.
Then there’s good old Roman Polanski, who also does not shirk the call of duty with GHOST WRITER, turning in a taut, witty an dparanoid thriller, which recalls David Mamet’s ability to impart vital information in the silences between words. It’s a place Polanski has never visited before, but he’s adept at holding you enthralled with this political film with Hitchcockian pacing and subtle performances, anchored by Ewan McGregor in the title role. It’s a vivid and complex piece about among other things, missed chances.
So how was your week? You know the menu! Let’s hear it. (more…)
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