By Adann-Kennn Alexxandar
“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)
