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Nanannie, I so want to see this movie. But I'm one who likes conclusive endings, and I get the feeling from what I have heard that this one might be left as ambiguous. Is that the case?
From everything I have heard there is an amazing twist...I'm dying to know what that is....did you have any inclination what it was (the twist) during the movie? Don't tell what it is, just, did you suspect or were you totally surprised?
Hopefully I can get to see it this weekend.
didee,
The movie had me on a whole different path. I thought I figured it out early on and KNEW for sure where it was heading, then it went somewhere else. So, yes, it surprised me. Ambiguous? Well, for awhile I did wonder what was the "truth". It was conclusive as BlueWillow said. I was just reluctant to really believe that conclusive bit. You will see.
Let us know what you thought when you see it.
didee: the ending in the book is conclusive, but I was disappointed.
(I did read the book: I won't spoil the twist.)
The film will probably be here soon. The question is whether or not to drag my typically anti-theater husband out to see it.
Nanannie, I have a feeling my reaction will be similar to yours.
(I just had the spouse watch our rented dvd of A Serious Man and he was disappointed.)
Blue, I do hope you drag him to see it, would like to hear what you thought since you read the book.
I have "Serious Man" coming next week from Netflix. I dont miss any of the C-bros movies and this one zipped in and out of theaters so quickly I didnt have a chance to see it.
If you like the genre, it is excellent. Great acting, atmosphere, and mindbending but easy to follow--not confusing--at least I didn't think so. Ending was clear but listen very carefully to what is said at the end. Enjoy!!!
Sounds like the movie follows the book pretty well in that I really liked the book, but NOT the ending. So many directors totally ruin favorite books by changing things dramatically I was hoping for the first time that this time a director would actually change the book.
Would it be fair to say the first 3/4 of the movie is amazing?
I just can't work up any enthusiasm for this movie.
I love Martin Scorsese. One of the best filmmakers of the past 50 years. No doubt. And I really like Dennis LeHane's books.
But I read Shutter Island, and I hated it. I really liked a lot of LeHane's other novels, and this one started out well. I don't want to spoil it, but there is a twist near the end of the story that completely ruins the entire thing.
Don't get me wrong. I like twists. And when a twist is done well, you look back at everything you've read, slap yourself on the head, and say, "Of course! I should've seen it!" But not Shutter Island. With that book, you want to slap LeHane on the head and say, "WTF? That makes no sense!"
And the twist doesn't make any sense. It is not in any way supported by the previous narrative. In fact, the story up until the twist leads you in an entirely different direction. This is a twist for the sake of the twist.
Again: I loved Lehane's previous novels. I'd go so far as to call them brilliant. But Shutter Island made me want to punch him in the face.
So I have no real desire to see the movie.
Last edited by Mark S.; 02-20-2010 at 02:12 PM..
Reason: typo
The plot twist is cheap, which will ruin the movie for some, but I still liked it. After the twist became apparent, I was waiting for it to twist again, was a little disappointed when it didn't. Some interesting mood/atmosphere stuff going on, a lot of homages to old suspense and noir films. Entertaining. Not a great Scorsese picture (IMO, shares this, and moody atmosphere w/the Cape Fear remake), but one he seems to have had fun making. I was a little let down that it wasn't amazing, but still not a bad way to spend Friday night.
If you remember ANGEL HEART from the late 80s (with Micky Rourke and Lisa Bonet), you'll see that the same plot device(s) is used for Shutter Island.
But I'd give the edge to Angel Heart, it's better done and deeper. This is a one-trick pony. It does look great and builds cool moods and scenes throughout. 6/10 from me.
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