One of the things that has got me a little more interested in Martin Scorsese's Shutter Island than I was, was hearing from miniature effects maestro Matthew Gratzner (in charge of much of the effects) that Scorsese is eschewing an excess of CGI in favour of extensive miniature work for the movie. There are some things only CGI can do well (such as water), but it's no blanket solution for other FX problems, and it's good to hear there's a mix going on in the film.

In the meantime, here's the second poster to be released from the production (the first is here), and it's about as moody as can be - looking at it I was reminded of Escape From Alcatraz (though the poster for that movie was very different), easily among my top 5 Eastwood films. If Shutter Island sucks, it won't be the fault of the location or the set-up.

The movie is based on Dennis Lehane's 2003 novel, and takes place in 1954. Lehane has described his gothic intentions with the novel to be a bizarre hybrid of the Bronte sisters and the original Invasion Of The Body Snatchers!

U.S. Marshall Teddy Daniels (Leonardo Di Caprio) is sent to a government island research facility to investigate the disappearance of a patient, only to uncover a research program that would have Baron Frankenstein tutting in disapproval. A Jurassic Park-style intervenes (natch) to isolate our heroes from help, as a mass-escape and general bedlam ensues...

Shutter Island is released in the US on the 2nd of October, in the UK on the 9th.

Filmdrunk