Must see: "Shutter Island"

So looks like "Shutter Island" is a must see after all. The reviews are rather mixed and conflicting: just compare the piece by the NYTimes and a rather flattering one by Roger Ebert here.

Myself I've always found Scorsese and DiCaprio collaborations worthwile if not more. In fact, I wasn't so crazy about "The Departed," but both "The Aviator" and "Gangs of New York" proved to be quality entertainment. I also often found myself defending DiCaprio whenever someone suggested that he "couldn't act." I was never a big fan of his, but I know for a fact that he's a good actor and his film career is not defined by starring in "Titanic."

While $40 million collected by "Shutter Island" in first opening weekend doesn't guarantee it's a great movie, I have a gut feeling (based on all I've read and heard) it will be worth my time. And when it comes to films, my gut feeling is usually right.

Polanski gets his share at Berlin film fest

That's something that could be predicted - the troubled Roman Polanski, now kept in house arrest in Switzerland gets the Best Director Silver Bear for "The Ghost Writer." Perhaps the film is really deserving, but still looks strictly political - they just had to comfort the poor guy. It reminds me of Peter Jackson winning it all at Oscars only after he completed his trilogy - cause it was too much work to ignore. Or when Scorsese received his Oscar share for "Departed" - he had made much more Oscar-deserving films in the past, but now they gave it to him just because they couldn't put it off any longer, not because of the film... Read more about Berlin festival here.

Also check out the "Ghost Writer" trailer