I would not have seen this movie because it is just not one of those that grabbed my attention because it is not a full drama. I was mistaken.
This post was inspired by Crystal Tyler who left a comment asking if I had heard about the twists in this movie and if I had seen it.
Well, I have now and it blew me away. I liked the movie. I would watch it again if I had two hours or more to spear. The film could have been shorter but maybe it needed that time to tell the story. My head is spinning just recollecting all the twists in this movie. I hope I will do a good job because this is a movie you can’t sleep in, no bathroom breaks either. If you do, you would have missed out on a piece of the puzzle.
Shutter Island
Directed by: Martin Scorsese
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kinsley, Michelle Williams, Emily Mortimer, Patricia Clarkson, Jackie Earle Haley, Max Von Sydow.
It’s 1954 and U.S Marshal Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his new partner Chuck Aule (Mark Ruffalo) are being sent to investigate the escape of Rachel Solando played by two women (Emily Mortimer and Patricia Clarkson). Do not be confused everything is explained. Rachel, a young woman is convicted of killing her three young children and has escaped from her cell, she is considered dangerous. Shutter Island is a federal maximum security hospital/prison for criminally insane patients.
The movie begins with Teddy Daniels and Chuck Aule in a conversation. Truth be told, this is their first meeting which is revealed closer to the end of the movie. So their role is to solve this big mystery of the missing patient at Shutter Island. There is no way off the island, only a ferry seems to have access to it. Upon their arrival they are briefed and reminded of all the rules that govern Shutter Island.
The cops are introduced to Dr. Cawley (Ben Kingsley) who thinks everyone is a potential patient at Shutter Island. He is good in the film, very serious and seems to be in all the right places at all times.
There is no way to escape Shutter Island which leads Teddy Daniels to think Rachel is still on the island. Teddy Daniels is being haunted by his own hallucinations of his wife Dolores (Michelle Williams) who haunts him constantly. He is still in love with his wife, who appears to be helping him solve the case as well – giving him directions.
After the hour mark in the film the pieces all fall into place with an ending no one could imagine. Leonardo DiCaprio in the movie is at his best. His co-star Mark Ruffalo sometimes is shaky but he holds up to the calibre of DiCaprio. The different juxtapositions in the film are not to confuse the viewers but help in some way. Some roles are doubled with conviction. It leaves the viewer in a position where you become a lost person in a maze and just wants everything to be solved. At the end of the movie you wonder if it was all necessary but it makes the movie what it is – a good watch. If you love movies and I mean love movies then you will want to see this film over and over again. I don’t think the first watch will explain all the twists the movie had but it certainly was entertaining. The movie is also a period film –great set design. You cannot ignore the choice of music for the film. As you hear it you think it was deliberately chosen. It is not sweet and calm but to create a particular effect.
I could not end though without sharing that an encounter Teddy Daniels had with a patient at one of the wards places everything in perspective. It took a storm, cutting electricity for that to happen. Just to say, the conversation revealed who Teddy Daniels was and who he was searching for – himself. The movie is so good that it makes the viewer become Teddy Daniels and allows you to feel the pain he struggles with caught between hallucinations and his own reality. It is revealed to Teddy Daniels the truth that everyone at the facility knows about him and his problem.
If you want to read how the movie really went, continue. I know you would want to read it.
Essentially Teddy Daniels lived a happy life. He came home one evening to see his three children all lying dead in the lake behind their house. In grieving, he shot his wife, killing her. Apparently at this point he went bizarre and had to be placed at Shutter Island – which takes us to the beginning of the movie. Understanding who he is, they tricked him into thinking he is going to Shutter Island to solve a mystery – the missing patient but instead he was there for his own treatment.
In all of this, he figures out he is not there to solve the mystery of the missing girl (they found her) but he becomes the 67th patient at Shutter Island.
There are even more twists in the movie. His pal Chuck Aule is revealed to be his doctor and he has been treating him for 24 months.
When the truth is finally revealed to Teddy Daniels at the end, he is flabbergasted because it is turning out to be true. Therefore everything we saw in the beginning is now false.
Thanks Corve. This is one I was planning on seeing, but my wife is hesitant. She doesn’t like supernatural horror, so I have to ask, was there any kind of supernatural element to the film, or was it just scary? Did they skirt the edges of the believable, or was it all plausible?
There is no reason she should be hesitant. The movie is not horrifying. There is a part where it can get scary. I was not scared and I have a weak heart. I am easily frightened. There is nothing supernatural about it – no miracles, no other divine power, or anything outside of the natural world.
It was not scary at all. With all the twists and hidden secrets those are scary – nothing to make you cover your eyes.
Its a good watch. Its rated R because of the editing that was done to tell the story. They wanted to produce a movie that would be rated PG 13 so they wanted a wide audience.
I wouldn’t worry. Get the tickets.
Martin Scorsese rarely disappoints. I never even considered watching this movie until now. I will be renting & watching this over the weekend!
BTW- Love the new template Corve. I’ve apparently been off the net way too long cause you’ve totally pimped your site out since I’ve been gone! Its a good look! 🙂
I am loving the new look too. Grateful you like it – adding to the experience here. You should watch it and let me know what you think. You have been gone for some time now but welcome back.
Have a good weekend – stay out of the snow too.
I think I figured out how the movie ends watching the trailers. I don’t want to say, as I could be wrong, but then again, I’m not sure I want to see it. Excellent review, though, Corve.
Ok. I wasn’t excited by it but it is a good watch.
This is SUCH a great book. Dennis Lehane is a talented author when it comes to 1) phenomenal and unpredictable plot twists, and 2) having no shortage of characters in his stories. Going to see this tonight – Can’t wait!
Hey Dave –
This is my first comment here on your blog.
I love your new avatar picture it has a Macolm X look to it. Very cool!
I will have to wait to get this one from the video rental store since their are is no place for bathroom breaks. Good tip!
I did think this was gonna be a long drawn movie too much time spent on movies these days however if apt it can be entertaining, after reading your synopsis I think I will give it a bash, cheers man..
Thanks William.
History from Scotland,
http://williamm50.blogspot.com/
Corve I put another comment on yesterdays post, (yours) please read it 🙂
Will check it – thought I saw it though
Great review once again and I’m glad you liked it Corve!!!
It was good. Let me know when you have watched it.
Corve
I sure will, I can’t wait to see it! I’m a bit financially strapped right now and can’t afford to see it in a movie theater so that’s why I’ve only been reading about it…but now that I have your official review that it is good, I will definitely see it when it comes out on dvd!!!
Be a wise consumer – that’s who you are. Sure this can wait.
I really enjoy and appreciate the details you give on your reviews. It helps me figure out much easier…if I think I would like the movie. This one sounds great! 🙂
I’m happy I can help you make the choices you need to. Keep reading and see which ones you will like.
I’ve hearing how good this movie is. I plan to see it soon. Great review.
Cool
Sounds great!
Great watch.
Just read the book on vacation. Predictable but I still enjoyed it. I’ll have to c heck it out.
Thanks for the review. I can’t wait until I can download this one! I love the Scorsese Dicaprio combo. The Departed is definitely in my top 10 movies of all time.
Hey – your comments are working! I’ve tried commenting in the past and ended up frustrated. We almost went to this movie last weekend, but frankly the preview scared me to death!
It made some people upset so I hurried to change it. Happy you got through.
I can’t handle scary movies! The previews look creepy to me.
Good review. Sounds like an enjoyable psychodrama, in which case I’d better rent the DVD as I’ll need to watch it at least twice to understand what’s going on!
After the first you would want to catch it again to get all the details. You are correct though it is a psychodrama.
I think the beauty of the entire movie is you don’t know how to feel and you don’t know which to believe. You are very much in the mind of Leo’s character. Paranoid and stuck between two different things that both could very much be true. I called it very early on. The fact that it didn’t show him anywhere else but the Ferry and the Island. He has experienced Trauma. The Doctor said he does experimental procedures. Patients seemed coached. Just met his partner. And there wasn’t much to the movie unless he was crazy. Frankly, practically from the beginning I just felt that’s the only way it could have been.
I think that it’s an interesting movie.I will watch it when i will have the chance 😉
10X for share it with us,Corve.I wasn’t know about it 🙂
Take care and have fun 😉 🙂
That’s what I am hear for.
This sounds excellent!
Its great too.
Award for u on my blog http://darknlight.wordpress.com/2010/03/01/best-blog-award/
Alright, will check it out in a few minutes if my laptop turns on.
Nice review, Crove.
I read the book last year and saw the movie on Saturday. It was a great book and movie. My friends and I argued about the interpretation of the ending up to this morning. I thought the end was clear-cut but some didn’t see it that way. Some say it was a a Shyamalan’s Sixth Sense type ending and I agree except it wasn’t presented in such a dramatic and definite fashion. No doubt a great movie and also a well written book.
I’m happy you watched the movie. I agree with you conclusions on the movie. Great stuff!
I like this better, I can find the comments link a lot easier.
Ok. That’s fine with me.
I want to see Shutter Island, so I can’t read this whole post because I’m scared you’re going to give something away. I LOVE mysteries and suspense, so I will comeback to this post after I see the movie.
Please do friend
I have go to see this movie. I know it will be freakin awesome. Thanks for the review.
No problem. Hope you do get to see it.
Hi Corve,
I’m waiting for your post about your experience with the Hawaii tsunami.
I have linkbacked you to platopress.com and subscribed to your site as gratitude for your precious comment. More power to you buddy!
poch
the movie didn’t grab me when i saw the advertisement, but based on your review it looks like it may be good after all.
Check this out!
Great review!
I really want to see it again, just to catch some of the conversations I feel like I missed.
Loved the scenery and shooting in the movie too. It was awesome!
I agree 100 percent.
It was pretty good. 7/10 movie, would recommend for others… mostly a mind game. You can watch it at simplydivx [.] com
Scorsese still knows how to make a quality movie, even if this was not his best (Goodfellas and The Departed are my favorites). Many say the ending was predictable, but I thought it was a fitting end to a solid story. Leo is slowly becoming one of my top actors, and Inception opening up this Friday will only move him higher on that list.