Ecuador Movie Economy / Shutter Island & The Wolfman (2010)

I didn’t step into a theater during my time in Ecuador, however I saw a number of pretty current movies thanks to the intense street vendor movie economy. The pic to the left is a very small example of the type of stores seen all throughout Ecuador. The larger stores in Quito can be as big as an old school Blockbuster filled with local favorites like Wesley Snipes and JCVD. There is a hefty current movie selection which mostly features movies still -or- recently in U.S. theaters.

There is no cloak and dagger method to the selling of these items although they’re obviously pirates. The typical price is $0.75 to $1.50. When you browse the selection and find a movie that you want, you take it to the counter and the clerk will play the unlabeled DVD-R for a few seconds so you can evaluate the quality and decide if you want to make a purchase. Quality is sporadic and I don’t particularly enjoy watching pirated films, but it kept me somewhat current and I will either rent or attend a theater showing to see these movies the honorable way.

Shutter Island (2010)
Directed by Martin Scorsese
Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Ben Kingsley, Chuck Aule
Based on a novel by Dennis Lehane

At the end of 2009 this was the movie that I was anticipating most for the 2010 movie year. I loved the book by Lehane and mostly enjoy the work that Scorsese and DiCaprio have done together. The end product of Shutter Island is both exactly what I was expecting and yet somehow a little disappointing.

DiCaprio misfired with this role under Scorsese’s direction which comes as a surprise because of the duo’s obvious familiarity with each other. DiCaprio’s Teddy Daniels gave away too much while trying to embody the mentality of the character. Although DiCaprio struggled with his accent, he did a convincing job as a man of the law, used to having his way, getting stone-walled at every turn, while at the same time losing his grip.

Scorsese was successful in making a Thriller/Horror/Mystery that felt a bit like a Kubric or even sometimes a Polanski film. I was intrigued at the beginning with the obvious noir flavor that the movie had with the soundtrack along with the dialogue delivery and the stage-like quality of the outside shots. That style was abandoned before even a third of the movie was complete as it gave way to more of a typical psychological and eventually horror production.

Shutter Island was satisfying, but I would have been interested in what it would have been like in playing the more tense modern elements of a psychological thriller juxtaposed with the noir style from the beginning of the film.

drunken_hopfrog says: 4/5

The Wolfman (2010)
Directed by Joe Johnston
Starring Benicio Del Toro and Anthony Hopkins

I expected The Wolfman to be an average remake of what is considered a classic film and that is exactly what it was. During production, there were myriad stories flying around about re-shoots and story changes and musical score scandals, but frankly I don’t think The Wolfman would have been better or worse without those distractions.

In short The Wolfman lacks a compelling script and the usual burning intensity of Benicio Del Toro is extinguished and replaced by a wooden caricature trying to find some inspiration out of a messy character arc. The romantic angle is a non-starter and Anthony Hopkins for one of the only times in his brilliant career falls into the trap of being Sir-Anthony-Fucking-Hopkins instead of doing any semblance of acting. I call this the De Niro-Pacino Syndrome (except the namesakes act like De Niro or Pacino respectively instead of like Hopkins. If you get what I mean.).

Visually The Wolfman is stunning with a bleak pallette and a rich gothic set; unfortunately that plus was the highlight of the movie and not the final ingredient of a well rounded film.

drunken_hopfrog says: 2.5/5

Similar Posts:

• [Montage ] Shutter Island (2010)
• Cinematic Blues – 6/15/2010
• Cinematic Blues – July 27, 2010
• [Taste of Asia] Drunken Master (1978)
• [Trailer] Thor (2011)
• “Witchfinder General” (1968)
• 5 Movies That Are Better Than the Books Vol. 1

Popularity: 1% [?]