Other | | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y


SHUTTER ISLAND R, disturbing violent content, language and some nudity 2:18



Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio are releasing their fourth collaboration, after "Gangs of New York", "The Aviator" and "The Departed". With that resume, it's no doubt that they know how to make a great film. So trying to figure out why "Shutter Island" isn't one of them is a true mystery --- more of a mystery than the one Scorsese delivers here.

As is the case with all of Scorsese's films, "Shutter Island" is impeccable in almost every way. The acting is superb, along with the cinematography, set designs and editing. It's the screenplay by Laeta Kalogridis, based on the novel by Dennis LeHane ("Mystic River", "Gone Baby, Gone"), that gets in the way.

Teddy Daniels (DiCaprio) and Chuck Aule (Mark Ruffalo) are two U.S. marshals sent to a remote island off the coast of Massachusetts in 1954. Their primary objective is to investigate the disappearance of a female patient in the mental institution housed on the island. But Teddy has heard rumors and suspects that the two doctors, Dr. Cawley (Ben Kingsley) and Dr. Naehring (Max von Sydow) who run this facility for the criminally insane, are performing illegal mind-altering operations on the unsuspecting patients.

It all begins to unravel for Teddy when he experiences excruciating headaches which cause him to have nightmares about his dead wife, Dolores (Michelle Williams).

"Shutter Island" is sufficiently creepy enough, enhanced by the remoteness of the island and the raw nature of the hurricane-like weather. Even the old fortress which contains the most dangerous "patients" is as close to perfect as possible. Even though I enjoyed this film much more than David, I'm still not sold on the plot's twists and turns --- they're a little farfetched for me. Add to that, the cruel and disturbing subject matter involving Dolores, and this movie is no longer entertaining.

The one thing that cannot be disputed is the acting in this film. DiCaprio is a hugely accomplished actor, especially under the tutelage of Scorsese, but here he outdoes himself. It's a chilling performance, and had it been a different time of year, we could be talking Oscar, but it's not. The entire cast is mesmerizing, especially Kingsley, whom we never know if we can trust. Patricia Clarkson has a small but pivotal role as Rachel Solando, the escaped patient, and as always she doesn't disappoint. She is simply terrific in every role she takes on.

I was really hoping for so much more. "Shutter Island" starts with a great deal of promise, but doesn't deliver. I'm sure Scorsese and DiCaprio will team again. I'll just have to wait until next time.


As Jeanne has already mentioned, Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio have combined for huge box office successes in the past like "The Aviator" and "The Departed", and with less critical acclaim with, for example, "Gangs of New York". Of course, the expectations are high when this duo decides to make a film. For me, there is no better actor alive today than DiCaprio, but unfortunately, "Shutter Island" is not part of either man's best work. That is not to say that DiCaprio is not in fine form, because he always is, yet he is let down by the script.

This is a gorgeously filmed movie, especially the opening shots of the island supporting a mental hospital for the criminally insane, set against a brooding sky and choppy waters off the Massachusetts coast. As federal marshal Teddy Daniels, DiCaprio appears to be a good cop doing his job, investigating the strange disappearance of one of the island's inmates, a woman considered dangerous by the psychiatrists who have treated her. And Teddy has an ally in Chuck Aule (Mark Ruffalo), whom he meets on the ferry over to the island.

The head shrink is Dr. Cawley (Ben Kingsley), methodical and unruffled, a character who may have ulterior motives. He is aided by Dr. Naehring (Max von Sydow), appearing even more insidious than Cawley, who may or may not be affiliated with the Nazi death camps of WWII. We suspect this based on Teddy's flashbacks and bad dreams related to his time as a G.I. rescuing the Jews from the concentration camp, Dachau.

So the scenario is all set up for something bad to happen to our hero. There are suggestions that he may never leave the island alive. During an interview with one of the female patients, she scribbles a note on his pad, "RUN". Once he and Chuck decide they should make haste and exit the premises, Chuck disappears from atop a rocky cliff.

Meanwhile, Teddy scampers around the island like an experienced rock climber and stumbles into an escapee (is it the missing woman?) played by Patricia Clarkson, who moves around from one cave to another, changing venues daily to avoid detection. Her scene with Teddy is almost humorous. All I could think of was where does she get her food, and how does she maintain her hygiene.

I really wanted to like this film. It just lacks the suspense it should have provided, given the circumstances in which the protagonist finds himself. Also, there are far too many long, drawn-out fantasy sequences with Teddy imagining his dead wife (Michelle Williams) speaking to him.

I will say that there is a surprise ending I didn't see coming, followed by Teddy's final words which proved to be eerie, thanks to Jeanne pointing out their probable intent. But, as sacrilegious as it may be to say, this Scorsese-DiCaprio offering is not a must-see.

Can't always read Kaplan vs Kaplan online?
We're in Print Too! Read Kaplan vs Kaplan Movie Reviews in the following publications:
Chicago Suburban Woman Newspaper, Suburban Woman North Shore and What's Happening: Serving the North Shore.