Legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese returns to the silver screen with a bang, this time with a psychological mind bender in the form of SHUTTER ISLAND. By employing his signature craftsmanship with some excellent acting, Scorsese has done it again.
Set in 1954, Federal Marshalls Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his partner Chuck Aule (Mark Ruffalo) are investigating the disappearance of a mental patient from a hospital for the criminally insane, located on a remote island. What starts out as a clever little mystery, turns into a twisty and bendy tale that keeps everyone guessing right until the end.
ISLAND’s main narrative begins with the solving of the case, but then veers over to focus on Teddy’s story. Teddy is a damaged man, with a history of drinking as he deals with his painful memories of WWII and the death of his wife (Michelle Williams). At first, the second storyline seems intrusive and unnecessary, but as things unfold it blends into the overall tale perfectly. It is clever writing, but what really drives the story is Scorsese’s exquisite cinematography blended with perfect acting. The camera never fails to move us right into the next scene. There is excellent pacing here, and even the slower “talkie” parts never fail to keep things interesting. The overall plot has been seen before, but not in this style. Things are given an exclamation point with perfect shot framing, movement, lighting, and acting.
Have we mentioned the acting? DiCaprio goes deeper than he ever has here, hitting several below-the-belt layers of a damaged man. His verbal sparring with the hospital’s doctors (Ben Kingsley and Max von Sydow) is a joy to see, filled with tension and wits. It’s clear why Scorsese keeps casting DiCaprio in his films: He knows exactly what to do with him in lighting and performance, and once again gives us a different Leo.
Kingsley and von Sydow are excellent as always, and the minor roles are perfect as well. Patricia Clarkson and Jackie Earle Haley have bit parts that they morph into beautifully. So well it takes a few seconds to even recognize them. Mark Ruffalo also does well, as does Michelle Williams. Each actor in ISLAND is developed well and given just enough to do.
Topped off with a foreboding and haunting score, ISLAND constantly has a feeling of dread and doom hanging over it. Every scene presents a different turn that will keep audiences guessing and unwilling to take a bathroom break. The finale is a jaw dropper, and makes one want to view the film again right away with the gift of hindsight. The desire for multiple viewings makes this a Scorsese classic.
BOTTOM LINE: See it.
Gotta check it out -- you should do an overview of Oliver Stone's crap films that way we can talk JFK. Or maybe you could review PI for something different.
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