Sunday, October 10, 2010

Jennifer's Body and Shutter Island


"Hell is a teenage girl."
The film opens up with the camera slowly approaching a house giving a sense of voyeurism which adds to the eerie atmosphere. After the story unfolds through the eyes of Anita "Needy" Lesnicky, who we first meet in a mental institution. This film reminded me of Heathers is many ways. Needy is a bit like Veronica, in a sense that she is much more average than Jennifer, who is a bit like all three Heathers combined. To an outsider their friendship does not make much sense but they have a bond. Some other comparisons to Heathers is the over the top feeling of the film; it does not take itself too seriously, and neither should the audience. There is also a good amount of social commentary especially when tragedy strikes the small town of Devil's Kettle.
During the first scenes there are two instances of foreshadowing. One is when the camera focuses on a picture of a boy during Needy's voice over and the other is when she is expressing her hatred for the song that plays while she is in solitary confinement. A song you will probably get stuck in your head and come to hate as well.
One of my favorite scenes in the film illustrates a good use of cross-cutting. This is when Chip and Needy are seen about to make love and Jennifer is about to make Collin her next meal. We see the juxtaposition of these two encounters.
I also was amused seeing Adam Brody playing Nikolai since his most memorable performance is as dorky but lovable Seth Cohen on The O.C. Even though he is all dark and Satan-worshiping he still added a great deal of sarcasm to his role. Another great thing was the dialogue. There were some very funny moments
The thing I disliked the most was the completely unnecessary kiss between Needy and Jennifer since it did nothing to move the story forward. This was not in the original script I feel like it should not have been added.
All in all I think you either love it or you hate it, but I think it deserves far more credit than most people have given it.







Atmospherically this film is haunting. Scorsese really captured the feel of an asylum circa 1954. The film is about the investigation of an escaped mental patient who has gone missing. Leading the search is two U.S. Marshalls, Teddy Daniels (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) and his partner Chuck Aule (played by Mark Ruffalo). Upon arriving at Boston's Shutter Island Ashecliffe Hospital they meet Dr. Cawley (played by Ben Kingsley)whose revolutionary take on medical treatment is unprecedented in this era; he humanizes the prisoners.
     Throughout the film DiCaprio is haunted by visions and dreams of his deceased wife (played by Michelle Williams). Williams successfully escapes Dawson's Creek and shows how truly talented she is. DiCaprio and Ruffalo work so well together in this film. Kingsley with his pipe made me think of his portrayal of the caterpillar in Alice in Wonderland however that did not get in the way of his role in this film which was done so well. All the actors executed their lines so well it was as if they were really from the 1950's.
  My only gripe was the sweeping score. Although it help add to the overall creepiness of the film I found it to get in the way at times. Actually this film may have benefited from the approach No Country for Old Men took and omitted the music all together.
     Overall this was a very good film that kept me intrigued throughout and even made me want to read the book. I personally feel one of the best Scorsese films is Raging Bull with the Departed as a close second

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