Shutters and Shudders

Rating: 9/10 (20 December 2010)

This film works well in a number of ways: It is gorgeously photographed It is beautifully acted It is intriguingly well-plotted
DiCaprio had a chance to show off here and he displayed talents I didn't know about. Actually the skeleton of the film dates back ninety years with "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari", the famous German silent. The story is handled quite well and will keep the audience gasping or panting but not out-guessing. This is quite a departure from Scorsese's other films and he handles his materials very well. Personally, I wasn't entirely happy with the musical score. There were too many elements that diverted our attention. Mahler was in his sub-Brahms period and that didn't play very well in this context. Too much of a musical hodgepodge is rather like having too many directors at the helm. I hope this doesn't become a trend. Aside from that I thoroughly enjoyed the whole thing.
Curtis Stotlar