The Island

Four bright stars. Why, you ask? I haven't read Benchley's book (yet), but his writing literally breathes from every minute of the film (which makes sense, since he wrote the script). That's the first reason. Reason two - Michael Caine, of course. I know, it's pointless to go on and on about his acting, but still. Cain's character changes remarkably step by step from a dry, boring journalist to a man fighting for his life and his son during the 114 minutes of the film. It should be noted that as a veteran of Korea, he is understandably not afraid to let nothing and no one stand in one's way. And that’s exactly what he does. The ending was absolutely delicious (the eighties were indeed good for such scenes). Positive number three - the film is not afraid of naturalism and whenever it can, it shows us a throat being cut, an axe wound, a strangulation with a string. But none of this looks like cheap nastiness. And the last really big plus - Ennio Morricone's music. It made the schooner ambush one of the best scenes. Bottom line, it really does deserve the four stars. (26/06/2010)