DiCaprio Stars in a Psychological Thriller Directed by Scorsese
Adapted from a novel by Dennis Lehane, Shutter Island (2010) was directed by Martin Scorsese and stars Leonardo DiCaprio. Locations, sets, costuming, cinematography, editing and music are superb. DiCaprio is excellent as the main character, and he is supported by a topnotch cast that includes Ben Kingsley, Max von Sydow, Mark Ruffalo, Michelle Williams, Emily Mortimer, Patricia Clarkson and Jackie Earle Haley.
In Shutter Island, Scorsese created an atmospheric mainstream movie that has elements of gothic horror and film noir. The most memorable thing about it is the nightmarish setting: a maximum-security facility for the criminally insane about 11 miles off the coast of Massachusetts. The time is 1954 when the Cold War permeates Americans' thinking and the horrors of World War II are only a few years in the past.
US Marshal Teddy Daniels (DiCaprio) goes to Shutter Island to investigate the disappearance of a murderer there, but he has his own agenda: to seek out the firebug who killed his wife. The creepy chief psychiatrist (Kingsley) isn't particularly cooperative, and he may be trying to conceal the facility's brain research intended to fight Communism. A hurricane comes in, and Teddy must battle his inner demons and is apprehensive that he may end up as an inmate.
Shutter Island is often entertaining, but it's a minor work in the Scorsese canon. It's emotionally distant and feels too long. Also, it has a big plot twist near the end that some viewers will think of as a cheat, while others will enjoy having been tricked.
Bonus Materials
The DVD version of Shutter Island provides no bonus materials of any kind. The Blu-ray version of Shutter Island contains the making-of documentary "Behind the Shutters" and a feature titled "Into the Lighthouse," which is about psychiatric therapies used during the 1950s. The following applies to both versions:
Release Date: June 8, 2010
Feature Film Runtime: 2 hours 17 minutes
MPAA Rating: R for Disturbing Violent Content, Language and Some Nudity
