Rating of
3.5/4
Predictable but Great
Alex - wrote on 02/21/10
So yes this movie was very predictable. For me it didn't really matter. After I finished watching this movie for the first time, my immediate reaction was that it was simply a good movie. After thinking about it for over a day now I have realized it is a great movie.
Acting: Outstanding. Leonard DiCaprio does an outstanding job in probably one his top 3 or 4 performances (The Aviator maybe being better than this one). He shows once again that he is a top tier actor. Ruffalo, Kingsly, Max Von Sydow and cast also are superb (Kingsley is truly great).
Direction: With Scorsese as my (now) favorite director, I can't say enough. The story was fairly average and rather un new. With the script he was dealt he made the absolute best of it with every shot, every edit...he did all he could with what he had.
Cinematography: Really good though not Scorsese's best. The island really felt like an island, the prison/psych ward really was a psych ward. I felt like I was on Alcatraz and that was a good thing.
Music and sound were top notch (like all Scorsese films) though this one lacked the song numbers that he usually has. Very very strong.
* Spoiler *
So though the story is predictable and very proven, I think this is an outstanding movie for 2010. I also think it will hold up well upon second viewings (much better than Identity, 1408 and others).
* end spoiler *
Though not Scorsese's best (nor in his top 5 or 10) it is the best so far this year and should remain in my top 10 for the rest of the year...and that shows longevity.
