“Shutter Island” (Thriller/Mystery: 2 hours, 18 minutes); Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Michelle Williams and Max von Sydow; Director: Martin Scorsese; Rated: R (Violence, profanity, disturbing imagery and nudity)
Movie Review: In 1954, U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels (DiCaprio) and his new partner, Chuck Aule (Ruffalo), are investigating the disappearance of one of the patients of Boston’s Shutter Island Ashecliffe Hospital, a mental penitentiary. As Daniels and Aule investigate, they begin to find unresolved clues, and Dr. Crawley (Kingsley) and Dr. Naehring (von Sydow), two of the facility’s chief doctors, appear elusive and perform questionably unethical treatments on their patients. Even more, a major storm approaches, cutting off communications to the mainland. Daniels races to find the clues he needs before leaving the island.
Based on Dennis Lehane’s novel, this psycho thriller keeps you on the edge of your seat. “Shutter Island’s” attempt is to play with its viewers’ minds, constantly confusing reality with the unreal world of mental hallucinations. To do so, this thriller uses disturbing imagery and multiple moments of peril mixed with frightening aspects.
A certain difficulty exists when trying to avoid the captivating entrapment of psychological maneuvers presented. As DiCaprio’s character becomes more involved with this case of a missing woman, the story becomes more interesting because we learn more about this person through his flashbacks and actions. Therefore, this plot becomes a great psychological study of this film’s leading player, a perfect DiCaprio who is usually over dramatic.
DiCaprio is sharp in this role, to the point one could easily become emotionally attached to his character. One could easily feel sorry for the guy, even if you cannot explain why. This remains throughout because it appears all of the characters have questionable and peculiar motives, making audiences question the agendas of the entire cast, save DiCaprio’s Daniels.
Ruffalo appears too naïve as an investigating law-enforcement official, making you wonder if he is legit. Academy Award-winning actor Kingsley is a solid actor. His ability to beguile audiences is perfect for this part. In addition, Max von Sydow can be naturally creepy, adding a mysterious edge to this film.
The cast works well because legendary director Scorsese knows how to make his characters tangible. Here, he imitates movies of the 1950s and 1960s, including loud, off-putting musical scores and Hitchcockian elements used in “North by Northwest,” “The Man Who Knew Too Much,” “Rear Window” and a plot ending reminiscent of “Psycho.” The only element missing is the black-and-white cinematography of yesteryear.
Hitchcockian films are known for having psychobabble near the end that appears weirdly conveyed, and such films play with characters’ identities. Often Hitchcock films’ great feats were making you incorrectly underestimate a character’s personality, therefore the character’s motives. Like Alfred Hitchcock, Scorsese is an adept director, knowing methods to energize audiences.
Scorsese’s only flaw is his attempt to do the flashbacks with pizzazz. DiCaprio’s character flashbacks are very artistic, sometimes competing with the overall story, making its observers ponder if this is a solvable mystery or a visual montage to stimulate the mind with keen yet disturbing imagery.
Still, “Shutter Island” is a mind-play screenplay. It attempts to disrupt audiences’ minds via sleight-of-hand and gory imagery. Scorsese scores plenty with this psycho-thriller, his fourth feature film with DiCaprio following “The Departed” (2006), “Gangs of New York” (2002) and “The Aviator” (2004). Scorsese-DiCaprio remains a winning formula.
Grade: B (Worthy of a visit)
Movies
Visit ‘Shutter Island’
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“The Switch” (Comedy: 1 hour, 28 minutes); Starring: Jason Bateman, Jennifer Aniston, Thomas Robinson and Patrick Wilson; Directors: Josh Gordon and Will Speck; Rated: PG-13 (Thematic elements including sexual material, profanity, nudity, brief violence, and drug-alcohol usage)
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“The Other Guys” (Comedy/Action: 1 hour, 47 minutes); Starring: Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Michael Keaton, Samuel L. Jackson, and Dwayne Johnson; Director: Adam McKay; Rated: PG-13 (Violence, profanity, sexual innuendo and mature themes)
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Like ‘Salt’ in a wound
“Salt” (Action/Thriller: 1 hour, 30 minutes); Starring: Angelina Jolie, Liev Schreiber and Chiwetel Ejiofor; Director: Phillip Noyce; Rated: PG-13 (Intense sequences of violence and action including brief torture and profanity)
Movie Review: The Cold War officially ceased about 20 years ago. Too bad, “Salt” would have been a hit at its height. -
Movie reviews: "Knight and Day," "Grown Ups"
“Knight and Day” (Action: 1 hour, 50 minutes); Starring: Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz, Peter Sarsgaard, Paul Dano and Viola Davis; Director: James Mangold; Rated: PG-13 (Violence and profanity)
“Grown Ups” (Comedy: 1 hour, 42 minutes); Starring: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, David Spade and Rob Schneider; Director: Dennis Dugan; Rated: PG-13 (Thematic elements, sexual innuendo and strong language)
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“Toy Story 3” (Animation/Adventure/Family: 1 hour, 43 minutes); Starring Voices: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Ned Beatty and Don Rickles; Director: Lee Unkrich; Rated: G (Violence and some suggestive humor)
Movie Review: Woody (voice of Hanks), Buzz Lightyear (voiced by Allen), and the rest have not been played with in sometime. Their owner, Andy (John Morris), is now a young man, heading to college. Andy’s mother donates his toys to Sunnyside Daycare Center. Woody, Buzz and the gang of toys just want some human to play with them, so the toys are thrilled to be at a daycare center where they will bring joy to several children. -
The 1980s are back
“The Karate Kid” (Drama/Martial Arts: 2 hours, 20 minutes); Starring: Jaden Smith, Jackie Chan and Taraji P. Henson; Director: Harald Zwart; Rated: PG (Violence, including bullying, and strong language)
Movie Review: Dre Parker (Smith) and his mother, Sherry (Henson), move to Beijing, China. Dre does not like China, but his mother’s job is an improvement for their lives. As Dre adapts to a new culture, he is bullied by martial arts students at his school. Enter Mr. Hun (Chan), the maintenance supervisor at Dre’s apartment complex. Dre becomes Mr. Hun’s padewan, training Dre kung-fu. -
What a pity, new ‘Sex and the City’
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“The Back-up Plan” (Romantic Comedy: 1 hour, 38 minutes); Starring: Jennifer Lopez, Alex O’Loughlin and Anthony Anderson; Director: Alan Poul; Rated: PG-13 (Profanity, mature themes, and sexual innuendo and some crude mature themes)
Movie Review: While this may be Jennifer Lopez at her best, the plot for this romantic comedy is one mess. Lopez stars as Zoe, a lady thinking she will never find “Mr. Right” with whom to have children and live happily ever after. As fate should prescribe, Zoe meets Stan (Australian actor O’Loughlin), a cheese farmer. -
Visit ‘Shutter Island’
“Shutter Island” (Thriller/Mystery: 2 hours, 18 minutes); Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Michelle Williams and Max von Sydow; Director: Martin Scorsese; Rated: R (Violence, profanity, disturbing imagery and nudity)
- A movie as endearing, and as flimsy, as a ‘Valentine’s Day’ card
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