Shutter Island

Shutter Island (2010)
Directed by Martin Scorsese
Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Ben Kingsley, Mark Ruffalo, Max Von Sydow

The previews sold this as a horror, at least thats what I got, but its actually a psychological drama and not one of Scorsese's best. The riveting performances and visual style make up for its average story.

The film reminded me of 'A Beautiful Mind' in many ways, but Ron Howard's film was based in truth and had more weight. To me 'Shutter Island' was exciting and dramatic but over long and convoluted. The set-up and early clues in the dialogue gave away the plot too early in the story, I just sat waiting for it all to unfold. But its always fun to watch DiCaprio in action. The casting is what holds the film together. Kingsley plays his creepy role on the line with such skill he steals the show.

The film is a mystery about a Federal Marshall and his new partner who arrive at an insane asylum to investigate the mysterious disappearance of a patient. Turns out the Marshall has his own dark-past, his wife and child having being killed in a house fire. The investigation of the missing patient reveals connections to the Marshall's own past, fact and fiction get warped on his wild goose chase for the truth.

The rug-pull comes in the form of DiCaprio being revealed to be a patient at the asylum, he is a federal marshall who went crazy and shot his wife after she drowned their three kids. The role playing of detective is revealed to be the asylum's experiment, to let him run role play out his fantasy in the hope of making a breakthrough, to have him realize his own truth. The breakthrough is finally made after two hours, but the light is soon extinguished in a closing scene that I thought was rather un-necessary.

Still this is a compelling movie and there are exciting set pieces and good acting. DiCaprio is brilliant as usual and Ruffalo stands his ground. This not your run of the mill Scorsese movie, its experimental for him. Still worth the money and time to see anything this grand master does.

A must see DVD.