staying sane

Rating: Null/10 (15 March 2010)

NOTE - THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS - The funny thing about this film is that those critical of it would be correct IF they were right in their interpretation. This is not some simplistic horror movie with a boring predictable ending that reveals De Caprio was crazy all along. That would be boring. Instead I think the correct interpretation is that he was who he claimed to be and those things that he accuses them of doing on the island they are in fact doing. He has a damaged past with the war and his wife and his sanity is on edge and they take advantage of that to manipulate him and then give him the opportunity to walk away by agreeing with them that he had a sort of nervous breakdown. Instead he chooses to die rather then live in their lie. This is the only interpretation in which the movie has power. Otherwise what is the point of his last remark - would you rather live a monster or die a good man- if he was actually insane. He is a sane and good man in an insane and evil world.