Shutter Island
Review - Matt Mungle
Scorsese has once again
teamed up with Leonardo DiCaprio. This is their fourth film in eight years and
you almost have to wonder whose coattails are being ridden. Scorsese is
unquestionably one of the industries best filmmakers but there is also no
denying the box office draw of DiCaprio. So can this dynamic duo continue their
hot streak of success? You would have to be crazy to bet against them.
Teddy Daniels (Leonardo
DiCaprio) is a Federal Marshall sent to a remote island to help find a female
inmate who has escaped from a hospital for the criminally insane. Once there
Teddy and his partner (Mark Ruffalo) uncover more questions than answers
especially from the head psychiatrist (Ben Kingsley). Nothing is as it seems to
be and Daniels begins to second guess everything and everyone. As each mystery
unravels so does Teddy's nerves and possibly his own sanity.
Shutter Island is a top notch thriller
that sucks you in, spins you around and spits you out on the other side. It is
a psychological masterpiece that Martin Scorsese directs perfectly. Set in the
1950's Scorsese creates a film that would easily fit in that era from his use
of obvious green screens to the Hitchcock-esqu angles and framing. Based on the
novel by Dennis Lehane the story line is as twisty and thrilling as they come.
Like Teddy Daniels you will be second guessing your own theories long after the
credits have rolled.
DiCaprio proves again that
he is one of the top dramatic actors in the field today. He delivers a
Nicholson type performance that is intense, focused and solid. Watching his
character try to piece this puzzle together you are drawn in and dead set on
finding the truth along with him. This film looks great too. There is something
both eerie and disturbing about the surroundings and they use it as an
additional character. You can almost hear the hospital as it breathes in and
out. This definitely adds to the chill.
Shutter Island is
certainly an adult thriller. Rated R for disturbing violent content, language
and some nudity it has visuals and themes that are made for older viewers.
Those who are easily disturbed may want to pass but fans of class A psycho
thrillers will love every frame of this one. I give it 5 out of 5 screws to the
brain bucket. From the story to the directing to the acting I can find nothing
wrong with this one. Just be ready to stay up late afterward. So says Matt
Mungle
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