SHUTTER ISLAND (2010)

I never realized having the dvd on my drawer until last weekend, so I gave it a go. First I thought it would be a horror movie which I avoid to watch after midnight :P. But I couldn’t sleep so I watched it anyway accompanied by iTunes and a radio station just to make things merrier. Well, just in case this is a horror movie, I can switch my brain to iTunes or the radio immediately hahaha… It turned out I needed to shut all else because the movie is awesome!

The movie is situated in 1950s, in which two US Marshals were sent to the Ashecliffe Hospital on the Shutter Island. The hospital is an asylum for the criminally insane. Leonardo DiCaprio is paired with Mark Ruffalo playing as the Marshals. Their mission was to investigate a patient, Rachel Solando, who escaped and went missing from the hospital. The only clue was a small note found in her room which says “the law of 4, who is number 67?”. Ted Daniels (DiCaprio) found many strange things in the investigation, in which he started to doubt and suspect everyone in the hospital including his own partner, Chuck (Ruffalo). The hospital is hiding a secret and it will not let Ted blows it. As the investigation progresses, Ted is also getting flashbacks from his WWII experience with the Nazis, which makes his mind and actions more intense to uncover the truth.

Martin Scorsese once again presents his mastermind, the kind that will make people hate and love his movies at the same time. A big fan would probably go so-so with this movie because they expect more. But I love the movie because it’s a mind boggling, dark but not violent, and it lets me to interpret the story based on the visuals and the dialogs. I read in one or two forums people go crazy debating the ending hahaha… Cool stuff!

The movie was based on 2003 novel by Dennis Lehane of the same title, and is also known as “Ashecliffe”.

My rating: 5/6

MÄN SOM HATAR KVINNOR (2009)

Mikael Blomkvist (Michael Nyqvist) is hired by Hendrik Vanger, the leader of the powerful Vanger clan, to investigate the killer of his niece that happened forty years ago. Harriet disappeared from a family gathering on the island owned and inhabited by the clan. Although Harriet’s body was never found, her uncle believed the murderer is a member of his dysfunctional family. The girl with the dragon tattoo refers to Lisbeth Salander (Noomi Rapace), a professional researcher-cum-hacker. Lisbeth has personal interest on Blomkvist and from time to time hacks into his computer to check his progress. That brought them to work together and unravel the many mysteries and dark history of the Vangers.

The poster may look a little creepy, but the movie is far from that. I would say it’s a thrilling drama with occasional creepy visuals. The title literally means Men Who Hate Women and known worldwide as The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. The main plot revolves on sexual violence against women, the Swedish anti-Semites generation and psychological disorder themes. Scenes on violence are shown not too detailed but strong enough to make me feel sick. It’s brilliant by the way, because I get the emphasis it wants me to feel without driving me away from the grotesqueness. For a non-Hollywood, this movie is fresh and a crowd-pleaser especially with the gripping performance of Rapace. Although, I also feel that sometimes it’s a bit too much, that everything can be solved just by a single person. Directed by Niels Arden Oplev.

The movie is based on the trilogy books by Stieg Larsson. The other two books have also been made movies: The Girl Who Played with Fire (2009) and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets’ Nest (2010). Larsson died in 2004. The movie’s Hollywood adaptation is planned for a release later this year.

My rating: 5/6

HACHIKO: A DOG’S STORY (2009)

The movie is an adaption of a Japanese tale about a loyal dog, whose faithfulness became a legend in Japan. More about the original story can be read from here.

Parker Wilson (Richard Gere) is a university professor who found Hachi in the station at one evening. At that time Hachi was still a puppy. Unable to find the puppy’s owner while the station master refused to shelter it, Wilson took Hachi home only to grow fond of it. Year after year, Hachi walked with Wilson to the station and it waited until Wilson came back from work in the evening. Hachi waited at the same spot everyday, even years until Wilson passed away. Hachi had actually been adopted by Wilson’s daughter who moved to a different part of the town after she got married, but Hachi always managed to run away and went back to his spot at the station waiting for his only master.

Honestly, although the story is touchy and I dropped tears when Hachi finally meets with Wilson again, the movie itself goes on slow pace and lacks of something that would make it more enjoyable to watch. Don’t ask me what. Gere is charming, as always. He suited to play a kindhearted professor like Wilson. The dogs that play Hachi are also cute and lovely to see. But still, the overall movie is just nice. It is still heartwarming and a good one to watch with the family.

My rating: 3/6

BROOKLYN’S FINEST (2010)

The trailer is much more interesting to watch than the movie itself. I wanted so much to like this, but I simply cannot enjoy the movie! And what’s wrong with the ending, bytheway? Watch it, and you’ll see what I mean. Acting-wise, the four main casts, ie Richard Gere, Don Cheadle, Ethan Hawke and Wesley Snipes, are neck to neck against each other. Their performance weigh strongly, well maybe Snipes got less shoots that’s all. Story-wise, it has potentials alright, otherwise I would switch it off halfway. But as the movie progresses, it becomes pointless and tiresome. The twist at the (almost) ending doesn’t help to lighten up the ruined mood either. Being good doesn’t pay, being bad also the same. Being a hero impresses no one, being the villain gets nothing. Blah, what’s the point?! This is war, this is Brooklyn and everything is bitter!

My rating: 2/6

THE BLIND SIDE (2009)

There’s everything to like from this feel-good movie, knowing that there is still real example of genuinely good family adopting a poor and under-educated teenager and providing him with the unconditional love. Yes, I know, sounds too much cliche. But come on, stop the cynic there, being good doesn’t always involving cliche.

Teenager Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron) is a homeless boy surviving on his own. Leigh Anne Tuohy (Sandra Bullock) invites the boy to her family home, when she saw him walking in the cold wearing thin clothing. The Tuohy family then started to involve Michael on their family activities and soon enough he becomes part of them. Now that Michael is having a new home to live in and proper clothing to wear, the Tuohys move to help finding Michael’s potential both academically and in sports. Not only Michael’s life is changing, but the Tuohys also discover their true happiness.

As a fan of Sandra Bullock, it’s refreshing to watch her playing in a more serious role, less funky expressions, although here and there you can feel her as ‘the’ Sandra Bullock. Even in this movie, she’s still that daring, bubbly and no-nonsense individual. Somehow, I started to think her as the new Julia Roberts. The movie was based on Michael Lewis’s 2006 book, “The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game”.

My rating: 4/6