Shutter Island
Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Ben Kingsley, Mark Ruffalo, Michelle William
Directed By Martin Scorsese
Running Time 2hrs. 15 Mins
Ok, It's Scorsese. It's visually breathtaking. Scorsese is a master of knowing how to perfectly mix sound and visuals to
create an the atmosphere of the story he is telling. He is also a film buff and historian and knows his cinema and this could be called his personal love letter to 1940's noir. He draws heavily on filmmakers like Hitchcock and Jacques Tourneur, who both perfectly captured characters psychological confusion while still crafting a mystery that would have audiences on the edge of their seat. And that's where I feel the movie fails. From the very beginning, we are thrown in to the mind of Teddy (Leo DiCaprio), a detective who along with his partner (Mark Ruffalo), are investigating a disappearance at a Mental Hospital for the CRIMINALLY INSANE! But something isn't quite right with Teddy. When he enters the island, he starts taking pills that the Doctors are giving him to help his migraine and he starts having a hard time telling what's real and what's in his mind. Up to this point, the film is fascinating but this is where the movie comes to a halt. The movie’s central dramatic problem, whats real and what Teddy thinks is real, becomes less interesting as the story continues. And when the answers start to come to light, the movie should accelerate but it slows down. The tension slowly is let go and by the end, It feels like it should of wrapped up 30 minutes before. The film never gets too scary but maintains a creepiness throughout the film. But while the creepiness is there , sustained suspense is not . I guess i should also note that I predicted the films ending within the first 10 minutes.
Leonardo DiCaprio gives a pretty good performance with not the best Boston accent but he does do a decent job with the role. The supporting cast is fantastic with great performances by Ben Kingsley, Patrica Clarkson (who is only in one scene but it's the best in the film), Michelle Willams and Jackie Earle Haley. The music, which is a collection of different composers, is brilliant and Robert Richardson's ( Inglorious Basterds, JFK) cinematography is, once again, incredible!
I really wanted to like this film and while I did loved some aspects of it, the film was a very mixed bag for me. However, I can see where a lot of people will disagree with me and will like this movie. Also, I do want to watch it again. I could be wrong about this film but I do have a feeling i will be left with the same feeling i had the first time. Scorsese is a pro and knows how to make a film but this exercise in B-movie horror just never fully reaches what makes those classic films work.