Mark Ruffalo and Leonardo DiCaprio in Shutter Island.By Hap ErsteinIf you accept the premise that all moviemaking is viewer manipulation and you are willing to put yourself in the hands of a master manipulator like Martin Scorsese, then there is plenty to enjoy watching the loopy, melodramatic Shutter Island.On the other hand, if you insist on clarity and loose ends neatly … [Read more...]
Film reviews: ‘Last Chance Harvey’ and ‘Revolutionary Road’: When stars make the difference
Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet in Revolutionary Road.By Hap ErsteinMovie stars are what drives the commercial box office and sometimes it is hard to fathom why anyone would care about the characters without the enticement of getting to watch favorite actors.A case in point is this week’s new release, Last Chance Harvey, a predictable romantic comedy elevated substantially … [Read more...]