Shutter Island (Movie Review)

A film set in 1954, Shutter Island revolves around US Marshal Teddy Daniels travelling to a remote island called Shutter Island to investigate the disappearance of a murderess from a hospital for the criminally insane.  There, Daniels discovers Shutter Island is much more treacherous and much more dangerous than expected.  What he thinks is a simple investigation over the disappearance of Rachel Solando turns into something much, much bigger.

Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio do a magnificent job together once again in Shutter Island.  Starting from the beginning of the film, you become familiar with the main character Teddy Daniels and learn about his troubled past throughout the course of the film.  DiCaprio grasps the character’s troubled past and translates it perfectly onto the screen while still maintaining his hold on the US Marshal aspect of his character.  He makes his co-star, Mark Ruffalo, seem like an amateur with the work he does onscreen.

Ruffalo is US Marshal Chuck Aule, the partner to DiCaprio’s Teddy Daniels.  Chuck Aule looks at Daniels in an admirable sort of way.  He’s apparently heard stories about Daniels back in Seattle (not Portland) from everyone there and is happy he can work alongside ‘the great Teddy Daniels’.  Aule, throughout the film, helps Daniels in many different ways.  Some expected and some unexpected.  Ruffalo does a good job portraying Teddy Daniel’s partner.  Not exactly on-par with DiCaprio’s performance, but Ruffalo does a good job nonetheless.  I guess writing a letter to Martin Scorsese will land you your dream role.  A role that may get you more roles in the future.  Kudos, Mark.

Apart from the two main actors, the rest of the cast do a good job.  Kingsley, Haley, Mortimer, Williams, and Lynch are the stand-outs from the rest of the cast.  Kingsley’s Dr. Cawley is mysterious, Williams’ Dolores is haunting, Haley’s Noyce is, like many of Haley’s past movie characters, just plain creepy, Mortimer’s Rachel Solando is illusive, and Lynch’s McPherson is tough-as-nails.  As you can tell, the characters are all dark and mysterious in one way or another and that’s exactly the type of feel the film has.  Overall, the cast blends well together to keep the film moving along perfectly.

Martin Scorsese does a great job directing the film.  Many of the shots in the film are beautifully captured.  Close-ups of DiCaprio’s character’s eyes are meant to show you the emotion and struggles he’s going through.  Reflecting the death of his wife and the madness he is struggling to keep inside while investigating.  Shots of a door breaking wide open suddenly with the camera zooming in suddenly pays tribute to classic film noirs.  Beautifully done.  Also, the kind of music Scorsese utilizes to go alongside the film is plain brilliant.  The music captures the film almost perfectly, evoking feelings of mystery, darkness, despair, sadness, madness, and every other negative feeling imaginable.

Overall, the film is something you should not miss out on.  What you think is a simple investigation over the disappearance of a murderess is so much more than that.  And the ending to the film has one of the nicest twists in the past decade.  Do yourself a favor and see this film immediately.