10s Movie Review - Shutter Island

Director: Martin Scorsese
Genre: Drama/ Thriller
Runtime: 138 minutes
Year: 2010
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Emily Mortimer, Michelle Williams, Max von Sydow, Jackie Earle Haley, Elias Koteas, Patricia Clarkson

Description: A U.S Marshal (Leonardo DiCaprio) investigates the disappearance of a murderess who escaped from a hospital for the criminally insane

Review: Every Martin Scorsese project interests me somehow. “Shutter Island” is different from his other films. It’s based on a novel by Dennis Lehane.

Federal agent Teddy Daniels has to track down an escaped psychiatric patient, together with his partner Chuck Aule. The task sounds simple, but an asylum for the criminally insane isn’t the most pleasant place to investigate. With that, it’s also the most guarded asylum, set on an island. It’s almost impossible to stay unfound.

Martin Scorsese is playing Clue with his audience. A fort, morbid prisoners, no way out and hint after hint to lead us to the suspect. It’s a thriller and it gives you a creepy feeling. The patient are really messed up. The atmosphere is unpleasant, which is good for the movie experience.

Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Ruffalo form a steady base as agents. Especially DiCaprio seems to grow in every role he plays for Scorsese. Ben Kingsley and Max von Sydow are probably the stars, although they have smaller roles.

“Shutter Island” is a fantastic thriller, with great twists. It’s actually one of my favorite Scorsese film.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 148: Three Days of the Condor

Director: Sydney Pollack

Genre: Thriller

Runtime: 117 minutes

Year: 1975

Starring: Robert Redford, Faye Dunaway, Cliff Robertson, Max von Sydow, John Houseman, Addison Powell, Walter McGinn, Tina Chen, Michael Kane, Don McHenry, Michael B. Miller, Helen Stenborg, Jess Osuna, Dino Narizzano, Patrick Gorman, Hansford Rowe

Description: A bookish CIA researcher (Robert Redford) finds all his co-workers dead, and must outwit those responsible until he figures out who he can really trust.

Review: “Three Days of the Condor”, by director Sydney Pollack, is an excellent thriller. Good acting, strong story and with the setting of ‘70s New York you have two hours of excitement.

Joey ‘Condor’ Turner (Robert Redford) is confronted with brutal violence, he panics and runs. A cat and mouse game is being played between an anonymous hitman and CIA researcher Turner.

Strong is the feel of paranoia that Pollack managed to create. By using long shots and no sound he manages to make Turner suspect a woman and child to be enemies. Turner has to run for his life after a hit on his team. He starts doubting everyone, including himself. Who can he trust? The only that he trusts is Kathy Hale (Faye Dunaway).

Robert Redford does a good job as the intelligent, yet a bit naive Turner. His performance is very believable. Also Max von Sydow as hitman Joubert. Without moving a single muscle he takes out people, he is relentless. The relationship between Joubert and Turner is interesting.

“Three Days of the Condor” is a good, solid thriller that captivates you the entire runtime.

Rating: 4/ 5