If Stanley Kubrick was still alive, this is what he would have made. Shutter Island reminded me of Kubrick’s The Shinning with the creepy feel to this brilliantly written story. It’s also similar with eerie flashbacks and classical music woven throughout. Martin Scorsese plays with the viewers mind the entire film and keeps you on the edge of your seat without a single dull scene. In my mind, that is a rare thing to find in most films.
It’s no surprise that Scorsese chose Leonardo DiCaprio for the lead role in Shutter Island, as he did so with his last film The Departed and also with The Aviator and Gangs of New York. Saying DiCaprio was excellent would be an understatement. Ben Kingsley also shines too with a mysterious and relaxed character that is hard to imagine anyone else pulling it off the way he did.
The story starts out with U.S. Marshall Teddy Daniels (DiCaprio) heading up an investigation of a missing patient at Shutter Island hospital, which is a hospital that treats the criminally insane. With his new partner by his side (Mark Ruffalo), the two investigate and start interviewing the staff and patients. The investigation takes a sharp turn when the hospital refuses to release access to certain records. Teddy soon begins to question everything; the responses he receives, his partner and even himself.
I would be upset at the Academy if this picture didn’t produce at least one Oscar. I feel like DiCaprio has a run for Best Lead Actor. Scorsese could go for Best Director as well, that is if the Academy doesn’t snub him as some people have stated (before getting one for The Departed).
Shutter Island will have a lot re-watchability. It will only get better the more you watch it as you will notice little things the second time around. Somethings you probably couldn’t fully appreciate the first time through. There isn’t a lot of films I finish for the first time and immediately want to watch it again, however, Shutter Island was one of those films.
It was one of those films that after watching it you want to stand up and clap for it. Not for the way it ends or that it sends any inspiring message but rather the appreciation that you were able to witness an excellent piece of work. Highly recommended.
