This would have been perfect for October...

Shutter Island is a fast-paced and intelligent thriller with solid directing from the legendary Martin Scorsese and an all-star cast that manages to improve upon Dennis Lehane‘s entertaining novel and will keep audiences talking long after the credits. Set in 1954, the story follows U.S. marshal Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his new partner Chuck Aule (Mark Ruffalo) as they investigate the disappearance of a female “patient” named Rachel Solando from the mysterious prison for the criminally insane on “Shutter Island.” However, the delusional and violent Solando isn’t the only danger the two U.S. marshals face as they begin to unravel the island’s dark secrets while a powerful storm approaches, rendering escape or help impossible.

Join me after the break for the full review.

Dr. Cawley (Ben Kingsley) attempts to assist the two lawmen, but it becomes apparent that there is more to Asheclife Hospital than meets the eye as the patients and aids seem to be scared to open up. With Solando having mysteriously vanished and a search coming up empty handed, the marshals attempt to dig deeper into the rumors of vicious experiments and questionable methodology, but as they continue their investigation they soon find there may be no turning back.

With a 138 runtime, Shutter Island throws a number of curveballs but hits a grandslam in the final act that will leave viewers hungry for a second viewing. High marks must be given to the cinematography that captures the absolute creepiness of the island while establishing the moody atmosphere throughout the story. One minor gripe deals with the irritatingly unnecessary use of CGI to fill in the background shots that breaks the carefully crafted ’50s setting.

Having read Lehane’s excellent novel, it is apparent that screenwriter Laeta Kalogridis enjoyed the source material, replicating key scenes and lines while adding in a believable backstory for Daniels and making judicious cuts here and there with a few pitfalls. She is well-served to follow the careful path that Lehane crafts, as he has a history of critically successful adaptations, including Mystic River and the outstanding Gone Baby Gone, while she has a less than sterling reputation, after writing Alexander and screenplay credits for Night Watch and Pathfinder. Perhaps this will be the lucky break that establishes Kalogridis, as she is writing the screenplay for James Cameron’s upcoming Battle Angel.

Rated R for “disturbing violent content, language and some nudity,” the film never goes to the point of grotesque or unnecessary while managing to throw a few scares and remain intelligent and affecting. The acting, however, is where the film really shines. While key turns are filled by DiCaprio, Ruffalo, and Kingsley, important roles are populated by familiar faces like Elias Koteas, Michelle Williams, Ted Levine, Jackie Earle Hayley, Patricia Clarkson, and John Carroll Lynch, which combines to be a pleasure to watch on screen.

Let the twists and turns envelope you and avoid the spoiler-ridden reviews that are likely to come out in the next few days in advance of the Feb. 19th release. This is a smart and thought provoking film filled with a masterful cast and crew that combines to give us an one the best February releases in quite some time. Paramount did Shutter Island quite an injustice by moving the film from its original October release to mid-February, but don’t let that deter you from seeing this great film.

Who thoughts this was coming!? Catching everybody by surprise yesterday was the announcement that Cruz is in talks to join the fourth Pirates flick, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. Remember that Keira Knightley had no interest in returning for her role as Elizabeth Swann, mainly due to how long she spent working on the films. That means whoever Cruz is playing, she will likely be the sole female star of the film.

She will have to hold her own against Depp, but has done it before in their previous film Blow. Very curious to see how this ends up. Film is slated for a May 20, 2011 release.

Releases June 4th, 2010. Nicholas Stoller (Forgetting Sarah Marshall) is writing and directing.

More of this...

Tom Cruise is set to return to Mission Impossible: 4, and will team with J.J. Abrams (director of MI:3) to help produce the film, according to Deadline. Meanwhile, scribes Josh Applebaum and Andre Nemec (frequent writers on Abrams’ Alias TV series) are hard at work on fleshing out the screenplay while Cruise and Abrams are searching for a director.

Thanks to Collider, we also have a planned release date as well, according to the recent press release: Memorial Day 2011.

...and less of that.

While I have enjoyed the last two MI films, the second was rather silly. I still think the first was the best, and can only hope they return to that kind of writing and tone. For all the hate Cruise gets, I still am a fan of his work so I will definitely keep yall updated on where the film goes.

Christopher Nolan, more god than man in many fans’ eyes, is reportedly working on the planned rehash of Superman by WB, while his brother (Jonathan Nolan) and frequent collaborator (David S. Goyer) are carefully crafting ideas for the next Batman film, according to Deadline. Now, let’s get two things straight: Nolan hasn’t signed on to direct either of the films, and he hasn’t signed on for anything involving the possible sequel to The Dark Knight.

However, these are steps in the right direction, and Nolan’s involvement in the next Superman film can only benefit it, directing or not. The sources for Deadline state that Nolan isn’t likely to direct the next Supes flick, but his edgy, gritty little mitts are likely to show up all over the film in its production qualities. Remember that Nolan likes to base things more in reality and get away from the campier take that many comic-book adaptations take.

I can see a healthy balance of the past Superman flicks and the more gruff comics version in terms of tone for the next film. The movie will also have nothing to do with the Bryan Singer adaptation of a few years back, so stay tuned.

Time to nut up, or shut up

Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese have been quite the hit lately, coming on board for the upcoming Deadpool film and the G.I. Joe sequel, but they haven’t forgotten their first love—Zombieland. Just released on DVD and Blu-ray last week, the hilarious zombie romp is powered by a spot-on performance by Woody Harrelson as Tallahassee, and has a great cast around him as well.

The sequel is already in the works, and with all of the principal cast, director, and writers on board, and this time the film will be in 3-D. They spoke with MTV recently to discuss their plans, including adding a love interest for Tallahassee, and you better get ready for some flying fluids. More after the jump.

“We entirely want to write with 3-D in mind,” Wernick told MTV. Reese added, “We want you to be looking down at your popcorn to make sure there isn’t blood on it. There will be a lot of fluids flying!”

Meanwhile, the theme of young Little Rock (Abigail Breslin) growing up in the world of Zombieland will be back, so we can look forward to more fun in that sense. The first film did okay at the box office ($75.6 million domestic), but shattered the record for a zombie flick. Why it didn’t do better still puzzles me. I mean, the film had zombies being shot, kicked, and pummeled in almost every manner by a great cast, all in a funny, R-rated package.

I Can Haz Ozkar?

The Oscar nominations are out, and so let’s get right down to it. Disctrict 9 got nominated for Best Picture! What a momentous occasion for such a low-budget science fiction film. Unfortunately, Sharlto Copley didn’t get a nom for his role in the film, but we can’t have it all. If some of you are confused how Disctrict 9 got into the exclusive five picture list, well, that is a thing of the past. This year, the Academy Awards expanded their Best Picture nomination field to 10 films. Personally, it’s one year too late, when Wall-E, The Dark Knight, and The Wrestler failed to get any Oscar Best Pic love, but it should give some very good films some publicity this year.

Some might be pretty upset to see The Blind Side nominated for Best Pic, and I won’t argue the point much. It’s not that the film was bad. It just wasn’t one of the top 10 films I saw this year, and I saw alot. I still have yet to see An Education nor Precious, but I do plan on getting around to them soon. Meanwhile, let the predictions begin as to whether Quientin Tarantino’s hilarious and fun romp through alternate history, Inglourious Basterds, can pull off a huge upset. The three biggest juggernauts from the past awards are clearly Avatar, The Hurt Locker, and Up In The Air. With Avatar and Locker grabbing nine individual nominations each, the Academy clearly enjoyed the pics.

Meanwhile, despite the fact that Up is the only animated picture nominated for Best Pic (and the second animated film to claim that distinction, alongside Beauty and the Beast), I am predicting that Fantastic Mr. Fox will beat it out in the animated film category. Also, no, I have never heard of The Secret of Kells either.

Stay tuned for individual movie reviews later today about every film I have seen on the list.

For some links to some of the shorts you can see for free, and the full list of the nominees, join me after the break.

Animated short nominees GRANNY O’GRIMM’S SLEEPING BEAUTY (http://bit.ly/bsKguB) and FRENCH ROAST (http://bit.ly/d1Z8nF) are online.

Live action short nominee MIRACLE FISH: http://bit.ly/9hCKwK.

BEST PICTURE

- Avatar

- The Blind Side

- District 9

- An Education

- The Hurt Locker

- Inglourious Basterds

- Precious

- A Serious Man

- Up

- Up in the Air

BEST DIRECTOR

- James Cameron, Avatar

- Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker

- Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds

- Lee Daniels, Precious

- Jason Reitman, Up in the Air

BEST ACTOR

- Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart

- George Clooney, Up in the Air

- Colin Firth, A Single Man

- Morgan Freeman, Invictus

- Jeremy Renner, The Hurt Locker

BEST ACTRESS

- Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side

- Helen Mirren, The Last Station

- Carey Mulligan, An Education

- Gabourey Sidibe, Precious

- Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

- Matt Damon, Invictus

- Woody Harrelson, The Messenger

- Christopher Plummer, The Last Station

- Stanley Tucci, The Lovely Bones

- Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

- Penelope Cruz, Nine

- Vera Farmiga, Up in the Air

- Maggie Gyllenhaal, Crazy Heart

- Anna Kendrick, Up in the Air

- Mo’Nique, Precious

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

- The Hurt Locker

- Inglourious Basterds

- The Messenger

- A Serious Man

- Up

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

- District 9

- An Education

- In the Loop

- Precious

- Up in the Air

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

- Coraline

- Fantastic Mr. Fox

- The Princess and the Frog

- The Secret of Kells

- Up

BEST FOREIGN-LANGUAGE FEATURE

- Ajami

- El Secreto de Sus Ojos

- The Milk of Sorrow

- Un Prophete

- The White Ribbon

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

- Burma VJ

- The Cove

- Food, Inc.

- The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers

- Which Way Home

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT

- China’s Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan Province

- The Last Campaign of Governor Booth Gardner

- The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant

- Music by Prudence

- Rabbit a la Berlin

BEST LIVE-ACTION SHORT

- The Door

- Instead of Abracadabra

- Kavi

- Miracle Fish

- The New Tenants

BEST ANIMATED SHORT

- French Roast

- Granny O’Grimm’s Sleeping Beauty

- The Lady and the Reaper (La Dama y la Muerte)

- Logorama

- A Matter of Loaf and Death

BEST SCORE

- Avatar

- Fantastic Mr. Fox

- The Hurt Locker

- Sherlock Holmes

- Up

BEST SONG

- “Almost There” from The Princess and the Frog

- “Down in New Orleand” from The Princess and the Frog

- “Loin de Paname” from Paris 36

- “Take It All” from Nine

-  “The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)” from Crazy Heart

BEST SOUND EDITING

- Avatar

- The Hurt Locker

- Inglourious Basterds

- Star Trek

- Up

BEST SOUND MIXING

- Avatar

- The Hurt Locker

- Inglourious Basterds

- Star Trek

- Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

BEST ART DIRECTION

- Avatar

- The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

- Nine

- Sherlock Holmes

- The Young Victoria

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

- Avatar

- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

- The Hurt Locker

- Inglourious Basterds

- The White Ribbon

BEST MAKE-UP

- Il Divo

- Star Trek

- The Young Victoria

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

- Bright Star

- Coco before Chanel

- The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

- Nine

- The Young Victoria

BEST FILM EDITING

- Avatar

- District 9

- The Hurt Locker

- Inglourious Basterds

- Precious

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

- Avatar

- District 9

- Star Trek

Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker) picked up her award from the Director’s Guild of America today, and this spells success come Oscars. Only six times in the past 61 selections has the winner of the DGA for Feature Film not won the Academy Award for Best Director as well. That is a 90% success rate. Additionally, contrary to what famous film critic Roger Ebert tweeted and The Playlist cited (don’t worry, I let both of them know), the DGA has failed to predict the winner of the Best Picture a mere 13 of 61 selections. That is better than 78%!

Also of note is that she is the first woman to ever win the award. If she wins either of the Best Picture or Best Director awards comes Oscar time, she will also make firsts there as well. Ebert actually had this to say about the win:

“Hard to recall a more popular DGA winner than Kathryn Bigelow. James Cameron was really happy, and not just pretending.”

Either way, it is a great victory for a film that I can’t help but root for, even with some unflattering opinions of it floating around. It sits at the top of my favorite films of the past year. For the record, Up In The Air, UP, and Fantastic Mr. Fox round out my top four, in that order.

But can she do the String Dance?

MovieLine recently queried Oscar-winning actress Tilda Swinton about the suggestion by Conan O’Brien that if someone were to play him in an HBO series about the tribulations of his depature from The Tonight Show, it should be Swinton.

Her response at Sundance while promoting her film I Am Love?

“I’ve heard about Conan!” Swinton said excitedly when I broached the subject. “I’m so thrilled.”

“I would just be only too happy,” she beamed. “Yes, yes, yes, absolutely.”

For the full article by MovieLine and why she thinks he should play her for a while, click here. For the full episode including O’Brien’s suggestion, hit the break.

Jump to the 4:00 minute mark to see the remark and Andy’s suggestion…of Val Kilmer.

Video Recaps | Full Episodes | Webisodes

http://www.tonightshowwithconanobrien.com/video/episodes/#vid=1196131

Big thanks to Geeks of Doom for tweeting about this.

Paranromal Activity recently hit DVD and Blu-ray, and while I haven’t gotten around to purchasing the film, I did give it a glowing review. Anyways, in the release, they list a TON of names that demanded the film in their “Demand It” campaign on Eventful. For those that haven’t kept up, the site was set up to enable people interested in the film to “demand” the film in their location, and that would influence the subsequent rollout of the film across the U.S. That campaign was a monumental success, as they easily broke their requested one-million “demands” with the promise of having a nationwide release.

Now the incredibly large list of names has hit the net, and as you can see above, I found my own name. WOOT! If you demanded the film, hit this link here to browse through the three pages of names. They are in alphabetical order, as you might notice, but by first names. Just a little thanks to the fans who made the film a success. Bravo Paramount.