When this Martin Scorsese film was being initially promoted for a fall 2009 release I was really looking forward to its October premiere date. Not only did it look fantastic with the 50’s style noir-like setting, it also boasted an accomplished cast with Leonardo Di Caprio, Ben Kingsley and Mark Ruffalo. When Paramount made the decision to hold off for a February 2010 release I was bummed. But, alas, the holidays have come and gone and even the unusually snowier-than-normal Nashville winter seems to have passed and here we are….Shutter Island finally opening on 2/19/10.

The movie opens somewhat abruptly with Di Caprio and Ruffalo’s characters at sea and steaming ahead towards the prison isle. Seems a prisoner has gone missing rather inexplicably and these two agents are in route to investigate. From there the movie is full of ups and downs. Scorsese fans will recognize several of the filmmaker’s trademark conceits and some of these work well within the film’s context while others are a bit of a misfire.

There’s a lot of tangent back story and detailed narrative being crammed into the proceedings and while I certainly appreciate thoroughness in character study and development it seems that this begins to bog down the pace of the film in its mid-section. Fortunately, however, the movie kicks it back into gear when rounding for home and all of those details that felt weighty and perhaps unnecessary earlier become clearer and serve the storyline better than expected.

Shutter Island isn’t quite the masterpiece I had hoped for but it’s still a very entertaining and well-acted film and made for a fun  night at the theater.

Cary Ryan 

www.cdryan67.wordpress.com

 Fantastic Mr. Fox directed by Wes Anderson was just that” Fantastic”

I really enjoyed this movie.  Anderson stayed true to the story book by Roald Dahl while taking it to the next level.

The stop-motion animation was incredible. The labor intensive process of frame by frame manipulation really paid off. The puppets and 3d models of the spaces were laced with intricate details. This really shows in the realism of the characters.

The voice talent that was cast was right on in every part. The voices of the characters really helped define their roles and give you a sneak peak into their hearts. You really start to grasp who the character is and what they struggle with.

The story itself is very simple. It is about a fox that made a promise to his wife , after realizing he was going to be a father,that he would forsake his life of theivery and take an honest job. He  takes a job for a local newspaper as a columnist. However, after 12 “Fox”years of keeping his word he gives in to his true nature as a ” wild animal”. He consults with his lawyer( Murray) and moves his family from their safe hole to a beech tree. Working with Kylie the opossum (Wally Wolodarsky) his old partner in crime, he sets out for one more BIG job.

Mr. Fox( Clooney) falls into a battle of wits between  the combined forces of Boggis, Bunce and Bean, who are known to be  ”three of the meanest, nastiest, ugliest farmers” in Mr. Fox’s part of the world.  This part of the movie allows for intense laughter, smiles and tears as the characters true hearts  and struggles unfold before your eyes.

My favorite part of the movie was not the professional, creative animation but rather the underlining messages that filled this tale, and the way Anderson portrayed them.

• The struggle between husband and wife and our promises we make to each other and the pain that is caused when we break those promises.
• The constant yearning to be enough and to be special. The desire to be the BEST at something.
• The acceptance from a role model or parent that we might spend our whole life trying to find.
• And my favorite… Learning to accept who you are by nature and embracing it for the beauty it is!

Great movie.  I agree with Entertainment weekly and give it an A. It truly touches on all your emotions. You leave feeling refreshed, having laughed, while still reflecting in a casual way some of the key moments in life.

Thumbs up in my opinion.

September 19, 2009