First Hit: Regardless of the semi-surprise ending, getting to the end was painfully difficult because film goers have to wade through overly crafted scenes while the story line and music drone on.
The previews of this film made me cringe because it seemed like the film would be overwrought with style over substance.
However, it was a mess in both ways it was over stylized and the content had no substance. I’m not sure why Martin Scorsese did this film, except to say the thumbnail version of this film could have been very interesting.
There are too many scenes and each scene seems to be overly developed. The poorly constructed script leads the actors to drone on about stuff they already said earlier. There were also times when the characters seemed to learn something important only learn it again later as if it was new information.
The film was almost like a run-on sentence.
Anyway, the plot is simple: Detectives come to this island to investigate the disappearance of an inmate. The investigators Teddy Daniels (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) and Chuck Aule (played by Mark Ruffalo) have problems investigating because of the lack of support by the staff but resolve to find an answer to the disappearing woman.
In the end, their real roles are revealed and the audience is supposed to be surprised. This isn't what happens. What the film does is take the actors far and wide of their target.
I suppose this was to give the film depth and meaning but what it presents is more and more confusion. It almost states: Confuse the audience enough and they will be happy to have the ending we give them.
DiCaprio is good enough in his role and he does do his best, but the script and over handed directing squelches the performance. Ruffalo is better because he has less to do (less is more). Ben Kingsley as Dr. Cawley is strong and convincing, mostly because he has fewer scenes. Scorsese is a fine director but this film felt heavy handed and lacked a trust that his audience would be able to get where he was going. Laeta Kalogridis’ script is overwrought with needless dialogue and repetitions of ideas.
Overall: About one-third of the way into the film I realized I couldn’t wait for it to be over. I started looking around the theater at the other audience members and I didn’t see anyone connecting to the screen and the story like I did when I saw my previous film; North Face.