Solid exercise in style by Scorsese

Rating: 8/10 (7 January 2011)

Shutter Island is a solid exercise in style and a largely successful psychological thriller with a few horror elements (and clichés) thrown in for good measure. In terms of genre and style, it is a bit different than what I usually associate with Martin Scorsese, but he still manages to make it very much into his own. While it's not his usual style, it is stylish as usual with a terrific score and cinematography, particularly in the dream sequences.
Many people have been complaining about the twist being easy to foresee, but I think that holds little relevance in Shutter Island. What is still clever about it is how the film puts the viewer right in the middle of the conflict; everything the hospital staff says could be interpreted as another lie and part of the conspiracy, whereas everything Leonardo DiCaprio's character says could be seen as denial of his condition, which seems like the most reasonably explanation by the end, giving it a surprisingly emotional impact.
Leonardo DiCaprio is also worth praising. Lately he seems to have been playing a lot of these heroes with damaged minds, and he does it with bravado here; his fascinating character, along with the good direction and the thrilling plot, makes Shutter Island one of the best films of 2010.