Hauntingly Brilliant Film

Rating: 10/10 (15 March 2010)

Being a huge Martin Scorsese fan, my expectations were high going into this film. Having been behind a camera for nearly half a century, Shutter Island doesn't feel like the work of a 67 year old, yet his signature is all over it. An overly intense throwback score (Hitchcock would be proud) plays as we approach an otherwise serene looking island off of Boston Harbor. Not even five minutes in and the dread-inducing mood is established. Shutter Island is suspenseful to the highest degree. Scorsese has crafted a vivid nightmare with a dismal atmosphere that mesmerizes and sticks with you.
Leonardo DiCaprio stars as U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels in, dare I say, his most complicated and fiercely acted role to date. The supporting cast is brilliant to say the least, which includes: Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Max von Sydow, Jackie Earle Haley, Emily Mortimer, and Michelle Williams. Teddy's assignment takes him to the foreboding Shutter Island which is home to the most criminally insane people around. His mission is to find the child-murdering Rachel Solando, an inmate who mysteriously disappeared from her cell. In the midst of a hurricane, Teddy and his partner Chuck scour the island, uncovering dark secrets along the way. Set in 1954, themes of conspiracy, medical experimentation, and paranoia linger behind every corner of the island.
While following Teddy and Chuck around Shutter Island, you may become a little disoriented and mentally drained. Scorsese establishes a direct connection between audience and actor by literally, making us feel what the lead character feels. There are several scenes that will have you asking, "Did I just see that?" Once those credits role, don't be surprised if your nerves are fried, maybe even deep-fried.
Unfortunately I feel like Oscar will overlook Shutter Island despite top-notch directing and a captivating performance from DiCaprio. Kudos to cinematographer Robert Richardson for capturing some of the most hauntingly beautiful imagery I've seen in awhile.
Ignore the cynics who say Shutter Island isn't Scorsese's best work. A departure from the gangster/crime movie we're used to seeing from him doesn't warrant a bad review. The closest Scorsese has come to the suspense/thriller genre is Cape Fear, which is nowhere near as compelling as this one. Though the movie isn't completely unpredictable, the style and creativity at work here will keep you thinking and enthralled.