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Shutter Island, a review by Jon

Shutter Island
4 out of 5





While not a horror as such, this has enough elements to warrant inclusion in the tail end of the genre, the end that becomes pure thriller. And what an excellent contribution to the genre this is.

Shutter Island and InceptionInception is very much a modern filmmaking style, especially prevalent since The Matrix, making the viewer gasp at spectacular set-pieces while leaving intriguing questions unanswered, Shutter IslandMystic River, Gone Baby Gone) without losing the pace. Martin Scorcese compliments the story perfectly and this is probably his most playful film since Cape FearCat People, BedlamGhost Ship, as the ferry carrying the Marshalls emerges from the mist. Scorcese with Director of Photography Robert Richardson (Inglourious Basterds) has created a film that defines sumptuous, despite the muted palette.

It seems the aim in modern filmmaking to make the audience question what they see. People are still talking about Inception, trying to interpret how the story unfolds, trying to work out Nolan the Magician. Shutter IslandInception

(From Jon's Horror-thon 2010 on November 2nd, 2010)

Road House, a review by Antares

Road House (1948) 3.5/5 - Ahhhh, Ida Lupino... if I could have just one woman from the Golden Age of Hollywood, it would be her. No one could play the bad girl types like she did. She had that waifish look, a melodic, warbling voice and the smoking sensuality that made good guys go bad. In Road House, she plays a chanteuse at a lounge owned by Richard Widmark. Widmark's character is completely smitten with her, but when she falls for his good looking friend and manager of the lounge (Cornel Wilde), his jealousy overcomes him and he frames him for embezzlement. He has the judge parole him into his custody, just so he can drive a wedge between the two lovers as he makes his life a living Hell. But this only bonds the two closer, and when the trio go on a trip together, Wilde and Lupino make a break for it, with Widmark in psychotic pursuit.

Not a great film, but it delivers the goods. Once again, Richard Widmark plays the lecherous type to perfection. As I've written before, Mitchum was the God of noir, but Widmark is the Beelzebub.

(From Antares' Short Summations on November 3rd, 2011)

My PILOT Marathon, a review by Rich

Roseanne - Season One

Life and Stuff
Roseanne and Dan clash over how to divide the household responsibilities. Roseanne deals with her daughter, Darlene, barking in class.



In 1988, it exploded on to TV full of unprecedented honesty, attitude and flat-out hilarity. In this ground-breaking first season, meet the working-class Conners of Landford, Illinois.

A show that you can pick up at any point or watch wherever in any season, it was great to revisit the first ever episode, and note the humour, the good vibe of the show, and all the characters that did not change a great deal right through the 9 season run. Seeing the kids at such a young age was a good reminder of how long this successful show ran for.
This 1st episode did not feel like a pilot, the elements that made this show a success were evident from the first joke Roseanne made.
Good show, who's humour works well in UK as well as the States.
 

(From My PILOT Marathon on September 16th, 2009)