Shutter Island (2010, U.S.)

Much better than the last film I saw that was based on a Dennis Lehane novel. DiCaprio plays Teddy Daniels, a U.S. Marshal who goes to a federal penitentiary for the mentally insane on a tiny island in Boston Harbor. With his partner, his mission is to find an escaped and highly dangerous prisoner. However, the doctors and administrators on the island are less than helpful, hurricane-type weather blows in, and Daniels is plagued by hallucinations/dreams of his deceased wife and experiences during World War II.

This is the kind of slowly building suspense that is all about creepy atmosphere and psychological drama, and it was very well executed. DiCaprio is a stellar actor, of course, and he definitely carried the movie. When it comes time for the big plot twist at the end and the memorable last line, he nails it.

Scorsese made a very interesting choice, and instead of having the film scored, he used a collection of instrumental classics. It worked perfectly. Some of the songs were beautiful, but the best one were creepy and frighteningly suspenseful. They did an especially effective job when Teddy and his partner first drive through the gates of the compound. It made me want to shout, "Turn around, don't go in there!"

You'd have to see this one to believe it. I just can't say much without giving away the ending. Which, I think, is a pretty good recommendation for the film.

Rating: 3.5

Now, Voyager (1942, U.S.)

I rather like Bette Davis, especially because I really don't think she's the most attractive woman in the world and yet she was still cast as the heroine repeatedly. (Also, she probably did the best portrayal of Elizabeth I of all time.) She was quite good in the film as an "old" maid who has a nervous breakdown, goes to a "mental institution" to recover (where she's treated by Louis from Casablanca) before emerging transformed into a beauty and going on a cruise to further her recovery (where she falls in love with Lazslo from Casablanca). This film is centered around the self-discovery and transformation of her character, and she plays it well. If anything, it's understated.

It's a little old-fashioned (obviously) in its portrayal of a woman needing a man to be complete, but then it takes a remarkable forward-thinking approach when she ends up being her own woman. (Although even then, her role becomes very maternal. Still, it's not bad for 1942!)

The music was very typical of Max Steiner, and although the sound editing at times made the music quite a bit too loud for the scene, it still fit pretty well.

A lot of this film reminded me of An Affair to Remember, which is one of my favorite oldies (and one of the first ones I watched, since it was my Grandma's favorite). So if you like that one, you may like this one. However, you should be warned that the ending of Now, Voyager isn't nearly as satisfying as the ending of An Affair to Remember.

Rating: 3.5

Girl, Interrupted (1999, U.S.)

It is a good thing that I didn't see this film back in the day, although I have been wanting to see it for years. (Angelina Jolie is one of my all time favorite actresses—why have I not seen her Oscar-winning performance yet?) The reason I say I shouldn't have seen it is because it was spot on. Winona Ryder's character is institutionalized, and rather than getting better, she gets crazier. Because she's surrounded by other people who are genuinely crazy and/or have become crazy there. Then she takes charge of herself and heals herself.

But enough of that. Acting. Was. Brilliant. Angelina Jolie was brilliant, of course. It's strange to see how much maturity she had as an actress even when she was a bit of a wreck of a person. Perhaps that helped her in roles like this one. In any case, she was perfect. As was Winona Ryder. I've gained more and more respect for her recently. She's more than just a shoplifter and Depp's ex!

I would recommend this to anyone, but especially any female who's found her sanity in question at sometime in her life. This film is beautifully sad. It's about the human experience from a point of view rarely taken. It's about women finding themselves and each other and getting through the tough times. It's about the unfairness of life and the things we do to make it through the day. It's about being alone. It's about friendship. It's about putting the pieces back together. Wonderful film.

Rating: 4.0