Movie Review: Shutter Island (2010)
“Is it better to live like a monster, or die a good man?”
Directed by Martin Scorsese, Shutter Island is a psychological thriller based on Dennis Lehane novel of the same name. Despite its relatively commonplace premise of reality vs. illusion inside a mental institution, this is a beautifully crafted film with multiple layers of depth that don’t become apparent until the final twist which we all know is coming. The fun is in trying to figure out what the final twist is and witnessing how the characters get there.
The story is set in 1954 in Boston. US Marshal Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his new partner Chuck Aute (Mark Ruffalo) arrive on Shutter Island, home to a psychiatric penitentiary, to investigate the disappearance of Rachel Solando (Emily Mortimer), a dangerous woman who drowned her three children. Oddly, when the two federal agents start asking questions, they often get unhelpful and evasive answers. Teddy believes there is something deeply wrong taking place on the island and sets out to find out. However, he soon starts to question his own sanity…
Scorsese depiction of Shutter Island is Gothic and gloomy and cinematographer Robert Richardson excelled in creating a moody and atmospheric feeling that went a long way toward immersing the viewer. Teddy’s flashback and hallucinations in particular are stunning visuals. Scorsese masterful direction impregnates the movie with an Hitchcockian and mysteriously chilling sublayer but he never uses cheap thrills or loud sounds that have become staples of the horror genre. Numerous clues are left behind that point to the fact that what we are seeing has a double meaning but these don’t become clear until the ending. Why did Chuck, a federal agent, seem unfamiliar with his own firearm? Why are the guards so on edge when in the presence of Teddy? Those are some of the little nagging questions you will try to elucidate as the movie unfolds.
The movie’s main highlight is the incredibly deep cast. Leonardo DiCaprio gives a mesmerizing performance in a tormented and complex role. He is convincing from beginning to end and his emphasis on facial and bodily expressions helps the viewer empathize with his character’s intense inner emotions. DiCaprio continues to mature from the boyish heartthrob he once was to one of the most complete lead thespian in Hollywood. Mark Ruffalo continues his string of excellent turns as a character actor and walks a fine line between patronizing and probing Teddy. One of the deepest and most terrific supporting cast you will see in a movie includes the likes of Michelle Williams, Patricia Clarkson, Emily Mortimer, Elias Koteas, Jackie Earle Haley and Ben Kingsley. The beauty of Scorsese films is that he finds a way to highlight often thankless and small supporting roles into memorable appearances and everyone here shines in his/her respective scene.
An atmospheric, unsettling and Hitchcock-like thriller, Shutter Island is a well-acted, well-crafted, and intellectually engaging near-masterpiece.
B+
(8/10)
Notes: Rated R for disturbing violent content, language and some nudity. 138 minutes.
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15 Comments
Few things please me more than a good review of a Scorsese film. I can’t wait to see this. Damn I worship Marty. I hope I love it as much.
This was a great movie. Somewhere there’s an Oscar with DiCaprio’s name on it for this one. The best movie this year, so far at least.
Great review Castor! Very well-written!
@ Andrew: Let us know what you think!
@ Will: Yea, this movie put an end to the winter! Had this movie come out late last year, no doubt that DiCaprio would have earned a nomination for best actor. Unfortunately, this movie came out too early in the year and he probably will be forgotten by awards season
@ DB: Thank you sir!
I thought I would wait to see this one on DVD but after reading your review I’m quite intrigued…so maybe I will watch it at the cinema…we shall see.
I still haven’t decided whether I want to watch this in theatres yet. I think the advertising has ruined this movie for me, or at least the excitement for it. “The most shocking ending to a movie of all time!!” I’m pretty sure I had the ending figured out after the first trailer was released, and comments like that in commercials kinda bother me. But it is Scorsese, and it has Leo, so I’ll probably end up watching it.
The original trailer for this was great. The revised one after it’s release would probably kill a lot of the mood, but it’s too good of a film to honestly make it unworthy of a theatre viewing. I can’t wait to see it a second time.
Glad you dug it Castor.
No way the Academy forgets about this performance. Maybe if Inception is better, but Leo will be on a ballot for sure.
Hell yea Fitz whoever you are!
I still find it odd that they moved this movie to Feburary from their initial October release. The company said that they thought a Feburary release would bring in more money, as well as not having to committ the money to an Oscar campaign. But with Alice coming out, the movie is gonna drop around 50-60% this week, and it’s gonna be lucky to cross $115 million. For a movie that took $80 million to make, plus what seems like a full year of marketing, and Paramount is gonna be seeing red for this one on their reports.
That, and it always worries me when movies get moved to Jan/Feb/March for “money reasons” after it was initially thought of as an awards contender. If they would’ve kept the October release, it would’ve went against Zombieland the first weekend, and then Couple Retreat the second weekend. Zombieland did well, but I can’t help but think that Shutter Island would’ve made more money with the October release, ALONG with Leo getting an Oscar nom, in which case the DVD would’ve came out recently, giving it another push in sales.
But I digress. I know that’s probably over analyzing everything, but when I question a move that much, that makes me hesitant.
You have some valid points! I think you’re totally right!
Really surprised at how good Di Caprio was in his role in Shutter Island. I think he gave this character more depth than any character he has played before. This film was a lot darker and more sensitive than I had imagined it would be. Visually impactful too. Looking forward to Di Caprio as Hoover and more from Scorsese!
Yes, it’s nice to see DiCaprio turning into a solid actor after all these years as the heartthrob. Thanks for dropping by Rose!
I figured this film mostly out about 45 minutes into it, and I my biggest problem with the film was that it’s not a Martin Scorsese film. I do like his “non-personal” films a lot, “Cape Fear”, “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore”, and “The Color of Money” – just to name a few. He puts her personal brand on each of his films, except “Shutter Island”. It felt to me that this was a project he made just to fulfill his contract Paramount or Universal whichever studio dumped Cruise and picked up Scorsese. I think DiCaprio is a good actor, but he’s extremely over over exposed, and his halfbeard – kinda beard is getting annoying. DiCaprio felt forced in this, much like he was forced in “Gangs of New York”.
I am the biggest Scorsese fan on the face of the planet and the fact he made this film (which I think is a 6/10) and his next film in 3D breaks my heart.
Frank: I’m so with you on this one. I’m also getting annoyed of the halfbeard but I think its his way to try to look older in films taking place in the past.
http://www.joelburman.com/2010/07/shutter-island/
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