Shutter Island : Movie Review

Before we dive into the actual movie review let’s get sidetracked for one awesome minute for some trailer talk. Want to? Let’s do!

Iron Man 2. There was a new trailer (for me, at least) attached to this film that made me so excited for the upcoming movie. I know, I know, sequels rarely live up to the first, but I think my unbridled love for
Robert Downey Jr as Tony Stark and director Jon Favreau just keep me jazzed. It
looks like so much fun, with shots of War Machine in action. They showed a clip
of the silly, fluffy romantic tension between Tony and Pepper, his secretary,
that I love so much in the first movie. And the new villains! There was even a
shot of Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury from the Avenger initiative, which was
only a scene at the end of the credits on the last film. I am shamelessly,
nerdishly excited for this.

On we go to the regularly scheduled review.

Shutter Island follows a US Marshall, Teddy Daniels, and his new partner as they arrive on an island to investigate an escaped inmate at a psychological treatment facility for the criminally insane. Soon, however, his
own reasons for coming to the island begin to unfold themselves, and the story
expands from a missing person to a conspiracy that threatens to not only take
down the hospital, but Teddy himself.

Martin Scorsese called back to the more pulp-ish films of his directorial past in his newest film. In fact, Shutter Island reminded me repeatedly of Cape Fear,
Scorsese’s Oscar nominated 1991 remake of a 1962 film with the same name. The
dense music, the very particular front and back lighting, the meticulous use of
sound effects and volumes, the cutting between linear and more obscure scenes:
it felt very much like a trip to the past.

And that’s not a bad thing. I like this Scorsese, though this kind of filming is never completely absent from any of his other films. Here it is just fully on display, proud and engaging. It’s definitely not
something everyone will enjoy, and some of it got a bit grating. The sweeping
musical scores that punctuated every serious happening, for instance,
eventually felt a bit trite and over done.

The thing I liked most about this movie was how it manipulated the audience. The plot wasn’t the main player here, which was a shame. The story was, ultimately, a bit predictable and it never reached
heart-pumping psychological thriller level. It was interesting, yes, but not
that nail-biting, nerve fraying kind that keeps the audience on the edge of
their seats. And yet it proved it didn’t need to do that, and for the audience
to notice it, to be able to do whatever it wanted with them. When the movie
wants to make the watcher jump, they’ll jump. It’s masterfully done in that
way, utilizing lighting and sound effect, close shots and tight cutting to
drive it. Really, it is the director’s film more than anything else.

Like I said, the plot is lacking. It’s simple, and there are a few plot holes that left me feeling ruffled and unanswered, but it is still interesting and can keep viewers guessing and engaged for its entire run time.
The acting is strong, with Leonardo DiCaprio leading the charge. He pouts and
looks confused, sometimes with flickers of very serious expressions that don’t
seem quite right on his still adorable little baby face. Even with the scar
(which was never explained, unless I missed it, which is probably what
happened) and the scruffy facial hair. Mark Ruffalo has this easy charm to him,
and he plays his sidekick role very well. Ben Kingsley was perfectly cast as
one of the islands head psychiatrists, and Michelle Williams is aptly haunting
in her part. Plus, there’s a great pop up of Elias Koteas, whose name might not
be memorable to anyone save those of us who are fans of the Teenage Mutant
Ninja Turtles movies. At least the first and third.

This movie is not for everyone. But what movie is? Saying that is like saying ‘this pizza is good if you like cheese’. Not that the film is cheesy. Bad analogy. What I mean is, taste is always subjective. This movie
just pushes that subjectivity a bit more than most, and splits that divide
between ‘like it’ and ‘don’t like it’. It is about liking the director. If you
like Scorsese, then this is a film you’ll appreciate. If you think his style
doesn’t mesh with you, you’re probably going to want to stay away. The acting
is strong, the story capable, but in the end it definitely boils down to the
big man behind the chair.

I would give it a B-, for being interesting, albeit a bit predictable, and very well directed, even if other elements fall a bit short.