By DNA Smith
PICKS OF THE WEEK
“Shutter Island” (R) — Set in the 1950s, Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Federal Marshal Teddy Daniels. He and his partner (Mark Ruffalo) are investigating the mysterious escape of an inmate from an asylum for the criminally insane, a facility that’s more escape-proof than Alcatraz. Daniels is a man filled with inner torment: He watched while his wife died tragically in a fire, and during the war he was present at the liberation of the Dachau concentration camp. The memories plague him in the form of hellish hallucinations, hampering his ability to investigate the escape — which appears to be a conspiracy involving the psychologists on staff — and the possibility that the inmate may have been the victim of foul play. As the investigation and the hallucinations intensify, Daniels (and the audience) discovers there’s more than meets the eye about Shutter Island.
The great thing about Martin Scorsese is that you go to his films expecting to see a masterpiece of cinema and more often than not, that’s what you get. But even if the film isn’t a masterpiece like “Taxi Driver,” “Raging Bull” or “Goodfellas,” you know that Scorsese’s second-tier movies (“Kundun,” “The Aviator”) are still 10 times better than most filmmakers’ best works. This is the case with “Shutter Island.” It’s not up to the standards of his greatest films, but it’s a pretty good psychological thriller.
“The A-Team: The Complete Series” (Unrated) — To cash in on the release of this summer’s “A-Team” motion picture, the complete series is being released on DVD. For about a hundred and forty bucks you can get the whole shebang — all five seasons on 25 discs — packaged in the shape of the A-Team’s black van (with Mr. T at the wheel). I guess if you’re a diehard fan of the show who likes kitschy packaging, you won’t mind ponying up $140; but considering that only the first two seasons were any good, I seriously pity the fool who falls for this crass, gimmicky cashgrab.
“Caddyshack” (R) — This movie’s been out on DVD for about 10 years, but I believe this is the first time it’s gotten a high-def Blu Ray release. I don’t know about you, but if I’m gonna watch a lowbrow comedy about golf featuring a stuffed gopher puppet, it better be at 1080p resolution.
TV SERIES
“Curb Your Enthusiasm” The Complete Seventh Season
“Nip/Tuck” The Sixth and Final Season
“Family Matters” The Complete First Season
“Ice Road Truckers” The Complete Season 3
“Girls Next Door” Seasons 1&2; Seasons 3&4
“Before & After Stonewall” 25th Anniversary Edition
“Ghostwriter” Season One
“Tales of the Gold Monkey” Complete Series
“iCarly: iSaved Your Life”
“Hot Wheels Battle Force 5” Season 1, Vol. 2
© 2010 King Features Synd., Inc.