Martin Scorsese delivers a knockout punch without the mafia, without extreme violence, without boxing, and with a great story led by his perennial lead actor Leonardo Di Caprio in this 2010 super psychological thriller movie, "Shutter Island." The story revolves around 2 federal marshals, Teddy Daniels (Leonardo Di Caprio) and his new partner Chuck (Mark Ruffalo) going to this notorious asylum that housed only the criminally insane in 1954. Even the short voyage from Boston Harbor to the island that houses the Ashclyffe Asylum is dark and mysterious. And not one instant of the movie from its very beginning to its end gives us any rest. Teddy and Chuck are there to pursue the disappearance of one of the patients of the hospital, Rachel Solando (Emily Mortimer). Disarmed of their pistols upon their arrival, Teddy and Chuck are in trouble from the very beginning, but it only gets worse. And the lead doctor of the institution is the one and only Dr. Cawley played by Ben Kingsley, who has had many weird roles to his credit. Interviewing some of the patients, Teddy and Chuck encounter weird conversations--one of which tells them to "RUN." But when Teddy starts having severe migraines after being seasick on the way over there and a headache upon arrival, our suspicions of the doctors of this place get as severe as the migraine. Reminiscent of "A Beautiful Mind," this movie, which is fiction (thank God), takes us through one suspense after another as we go to Ward C, where the most criminal of all are housed. And after a hurricane causes the power to fail with all the prisoners (excuse me, patients) accidentally released, we even get dizzy around all the staircases going this way and that, making perpendicular and parallel lines that intersect. And then Teddy is separated from his partner Chuck just as he finds George Noyes, a patient that he knows. I'm sorry, but I am leaving you here so that I don't spoil the rest of the movie. It is well worth your time. Just put the children to bed first because there are some scenes that would terribly frighten them. It will be interesting to see how the Academy Awards of 2010 treat this movie, since it was released in February 2010 and is already out on DVD in June of 2010. Leonardo Di Caprio, who is present in every scene, really deserves his Oscar this time after being bypassed especially for "Blood Diamond," one of my favorite movies of all time.Read full review
A great suspenseful movie that keeps you guess right up till the very end with plenty of twists. One of Leonardo's best roles.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
In 1954, the Federal Marshal Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his new partner Chuck Aule (Mark Ruffalo) from Seattle travel by ferry to the Shutter Island to investigate the disappearance of the patient Rachel Solando (Emily Mortimer), who drowned her three kids, from the mental institution for dangerous criminals Ashcliffe Hospital. Teddy is veteran WWII soldier traumatized by the war experience in the liberation of the Duchan concentration camp and the loss of his beloved wife in a criminal fire. Teddy is unable to access the records of employees and patients and feels that his investigation is obstructed by the management by the Federal facility. Teddy has severe migraines and when there is a storm, Teddy and Chuck find that they are stranded in the island. Teddy interviews the internees, discovers that one is missing and follows a lead to the lighthouse, where he discloses the mystery about the sixty-seventh patient of the Shutter Island. "Shutter Island" is a good but predictable psychological thriller. The production has a high budget and consequently a great cast, costumes, locations and special effects. I LOVE THIS MOVIE!Read full review
I am giving this 5 stars even though I saw the "surprise" ending coming. This is a mystery/suspense, not a horror film, and sometimes it is fun to spot the clues and solve the mystery before the main characters. In this case, the clues were there; the screenwriters did not simply tack on an arbitrary ending. The setting, an island penitentiary for the criminally insane, was appropriately atmospheric and creepy. Some of the aspects, such as lobotomies and experimental drugs, would have been over-the-top if the story were set in the present; because it takes place in the 1950s, the treatment of the mental patients rings true. Leonardo DiCaprio, best known for his boyish roles in TITANIC, THE BEACH, and CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, is convincingly mature as U.S. marshall Teddy Daniels. He even nails a Boston accent, though SURVIVOR fans may think DiCaprio is channeling Boston Rob Mariano! Overall, this film was riveting. Even though I guessed the ending early on, there were still surprises along the way as the action unfolded.Read full review
For those that like endings with a twist, this one has TWO. I can generally make a good guess on what will happen in a movie, but not so much with this one. Wait to the very end for the second twist.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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