An instant Classic!

Rating: 9/10 (22 February 2010)

First of all I'm a huge Martin Scorsese fan. In my opinion he is in the top 3 best directors working today with David Fincher and Steven Spielberg. So when I found out he would be directing the film adaptation of Dennis Lehane's excellent novel SHUTTER ISLAND, I was thrilled. 1. Because he would be tackling a story and genre that he rarely gets around to, but one that he admires and respects and 2. Because the novel was a throwback to those great mystery/thriller films that Hitchcock made. Needless to say, Scorsese delivered. The film has many twist and turns and keeps you riveted all 138 minutes of the film and the soundtrack is amazing. The cinematography by Robert Richardson is also, quite possibly, the most atmospheric I've ever seen. I truly felt I was watching a film that was made in the 1950s and I really felt I was on that horrible island with Teddy and Chuck. And of course the performances. I've always thought DiCaprio was a great actor, but he nails the character of Teddy Daniels right out of the park. He truly gets better and better with each performance he gives and I believe this is his finest performance he has given yet. Michelle Williams was also great in her flashbacks as Teddy's wife Dolores with how much she is able to convey with few lines of dialogue and her facial expressions. There are just too many great things to say about this film. Don't ask anyone about the plot if you are unaware of it, just go. The less you know, the better the ride will be. Just sit back and enjoy being in the hands of a master.