Shutter Island

Shutter Island (2010)
Paramount Pictures
Directed by Martin Scorcese
Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley

Martin Scorcese is considered one of the greatest Hollywood directors of all time. He has brought us GoodFellas, Gangs of New York, and Casino. In his first feature film since The Departed, Scorcese steps behind the camera to bring us Shutter Island. Based on the book by Dennis Lehane, it tells the story of U.S. Marshals Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Chuck Aule (Mark Ruffalo) being sent to the psychiatric prison on Shutter Island to investigate a missing inmate. While searching for the inmate, he discovers the true secrets of Shutter Island and the experiments being conducted.

This is not one of Scorcese’s best films, but it is still a great mystery thriller. The story keeps you thinking and guessing about the ending. Right from the opening, the audience can tell that something is not right. Throughout the film, there are many small details that hint that there is more to the story than what is being shown. The film is riddled with plot twists. Some are very predictable, and many are not. The ones that the audience does not see coming are the best and thrill them the most. It is rare for a thriller these days to have a intriguing mystery storyline and still provide enough original thrills. This is one of those films that need a second viewing to pick up on those details. On further viewing, you can see all the minor details that Scorcese placed into Shutter Island to make it truly wonderful and powerful.

The settings of Shutter Island also play to the film’s advantage. The asylum is very eerie and dark which gives off a sense of paranoia. The walls seem to close in on Daniels as he searches for answers inside the old Civil War fort. The entire island is creepy, not just the asylum. It is surrounded by sharp cliffs, and contains forests filled with old cemeteries. There is also an old eerie lighthouse that serves as a major turning point at the end. During the span of the film, a major hurricane strikes the island and makes the weather gloomy, adding to the feel of the film. Once Daniels comes to find out the truth, the storm seems to lighten up, signifying that he is coming into the light of the situation. The music also helps to shape the mood. It is dark, gloomy, loud, and gives a sense of terror. It is composed mostly of a steamboat horn. This scares the audience with its loudness and cautions them that Shutter Island is not a place to be.

Leonardo DiCaprio has really grown into a wonderful actor. This is the fourth film he has done with Scorcese. The director is taking him and molding him into a modern Robert DeNiro. DiCaprio does overact at some points as Daniels, but for most of the film, he pulls it off with finesse. His portrayal of Daniels is believable and makes the audience feel for him. Once the truth is unveiled, it is hard not to be emotionally touched by it. Mark Ruffalo and Ben Kingsley also add to the story as supportive characters.

Shutter Island asks us to look beyond the story and become the detective ourselves. If you can fully immense yourself within the story, then it is possible to achieve this. We are asked to decide what is insane, and are we ourselves insane? Can we do what is right to help others in need, or do we just step back and let others fall? Shutter Island puts us in a situation where we must decide if we were in Daniels’ position, would we do the same and fall to madness or deal with the drama? Daniels decided to not deal with the pain and created his persona and blocked the pain. Shutter Island is a great thriller from Scorcese that is smart, thrilling, and suspenseful. It is a great film, but may require multiple viewings to understand why.

Rating: A-

March 2, 2010