Director: Martin Scorsese
Cast: Leonardo Dicaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley
Screenplay: Laeta Kalogridis
Running time: 138 min
Rating: MA
*****/*****
YOU WON'T WANT TO CLOSE THE SHUTTERS ON THIS ONE!
The dream team of Scorsese and Dicaprio deliver their most thrilling and original effort yet in the form of the physcological mindfield that is Shutter Island.
US Marshal Teddy Daniels is called to a remote island to investigate the disappearance of a murderess from an institute for the criminally insane. Upon arrival Daniels soon begins to realise that nothing is as it seems, nobody can be trusted and danger lurks around every corner.
Like Shutter Island the location, Shutter Island as a film is a rich tapestry of intrigue in which the viewer never feels safe in it's presence. Also like the island itself you never quite know what to expect from the film or even how to define it. As the story unfolds the genre you think you are watching is constantly evolving. Is it gritty film noir, closed circled crime fiction, cop drama or sensationalised pulp? Nobody knows genre better than Martin Scorsese and this very gift enables him to mess with the viewers expectations as he presents us with convention and then turns it upside down.
When it comes to suspense Shutter Island by far surpasses all other cinematic offerings of the past decade. From the opening scene to the rolling of the credits the viewer is bombarded with a plethora of plot twists, red herrings and interconnected sub plots as the narrative grows deeper and more intense. To discuss said narrative would merely spoil the experience for the viewer as the total unpredictability of the films plot is one of it's finest assets.
Dicaprio once again turns in an awards worthy turn as the films damaged protagonist Teddy Daniels. Few actors can emote so much in such a subtle manner without chewing the scenery. The pain expressed in Dicaprio's eyes will haunt you for long after the lights come up. Daniels narrative is complex but Dicaprio handles the progression of his character like the pro that he is. It is hoped that Dicaprio doesn't follow in his directors footsteps in being relegated to always being the bridesmaid for the coveted Oscar. Fingers crossed that Shutter Island remains in voters minds for the 2011 awards ceremony as Dicaprio's performance is one of the best of this or any year. Mark Ruffalo lends excellent support as Daniels partner Chuck Aule. It's definitely Ruffalo's best performance to date and one hopes that he will be offered more roles of substance after this outing. Rounding out the supporting class is the suitably intriguing Ben Kingsly as the resident head physcologist, a scene stealing Ted Levine as a suspicious warden and Michelle Williams as Daniels deceased wife. Brief cameos by Jackie Earle Haley as a patient and Patricia Clarkson as a mystery woman are masterclass acting at it's finest and enrich the quality of the picture.
Cinematographer Robert Richardson does a superb job of making Shutter Island the foreboding and maze of fear that it appears to be. All other departments also seem to come up trumps with the epic musical score of the picture in need of a notable mention.
Shutter Island is one of the most original, unsettling and thought provoking film experiences you are ever likely to get. The intricacy of the plot plays out like clockwork, showcasing film making at it's finest. One of the must sees of the year and definately worthy of being considered a modern classic, here's hoping the Dicaprio/Scorsese partnerships continues for years to come. FIVE OUT OF FIVE STARS
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