Gripping thriller

Rating: 7/10 (21 February 2010)

The 2009 made but 2010 released Scorsese film Shutter Island was a very entertaining thriller in similar genre to his remake of Care Fear. This film is set up as a crime thriller with two marshalls (Leonardo DiCaprio & Mark Ruffalo) sent to an island that housing around 66 of the most dangerous criminally insane psychiatric patients. Their job is to investigate 1 missing female patient with the assistance (or not) of the hospital staff led by Ben Kingsley & Max Von Sydow. Suffice to say, things get much more complex with Leos character suffering from increasing migraines & some PTSD symptoms relating to the loss of his recently deceased wife (beautifully played by Michelle Williams) & his experience as a US soldier closing down a Nazi concentration camp. This is an absorbing complex film that is technically excellent as one would expect from Scorsese. The performances are really good although it is initially difficult to take Leo seriously. He looks like a little boy clothed form the dress up box. The plot twists are interesting & the music creates a foreboding sense of doom form the opening scene. There are some plot holes or areas left unexplained at the films end. It is lengthy at almost 2hrs 20 minutes but it is well paced. I had read many negative reviews prior to the screening & found Shutter Island an enjoyable if not completely satisfying experience.