Shutter Island

Crazy fact #1: I've never seen Shutter Island. 

Crazy fact #2: It's been 10 years since its release and I'd never had the ending spoiled for me. 

I know, both are shocking, and I'm particularly lucky about Fact #2. Which is probably why I had a strange desire to do a Retro Review on this particular film. I don't actively seek out spoilers, but I found it exciting that there was a Martin Scorsese/Leonardo DiCaprio flick with a cool premise, an awesome twist, and I hadn't seen it yet. 

Obviously this is - generally speaking - one of my "newer" Retro Reviews so it comes without a lot of conversation about how well its aged and what not. Plus I get the added bonus of checking off another Scorsese film from a director's resume of whom I've seen oddly very few films. 

And for the record, this film is better than The Irishman,  which seemed to divide non-critic audiences last year, and far more focused too. 

The first thing I noticed about Shutter Island was that it felt different from Scorsese's other films, but also similar. That's a complicated way of saying that the horror/psychological thriller genre feels different than what Scorsese typically goes after, but his level of craftsmanship is still obvious. Shutter Island is a very well made film in a lot of different regards and other than feeling slightly repetitive in the middle, it's paced and edited tightly. At a little over 2 hours, it's not exactly short, but in comparison to the meandering 3.5 hour Irishman, it's evident that not much time is lost on scenes that don't add to the film in some way. 

Because of the genre, I was interested to see if Scorsese could nail the tone and it's incredible how easily he does. From the opening scenes with wide shots of the creepy island and a storm above it, to the final moments in a lighthouse or on the grounds, Shutter Island gets its psychological elements right. In a lot of ways it actually reminded me of A Cure for Wellness (but is a far better movie) in an obscure connecting-one-movie-to-another sort of way. The time period mixed with the strong actors - more on that later - and the general setting of a secure mental institute on a island in the middle of the ocean all meld together for a highly effective setting that becomes a character in and of itself. And, looking back on it, I feel the contained setting of the movie, aside from some flashbacks, actually helps it to be more focused. There's a palpable sense of mystery and dread throughout that balances this film's horror and strong storytelling elements. 

"A stahms a commin!"

"Are you's saying I ain't smaht, Gramps?"

And the plot is probably the thing I'd praise the most. At the end of it all, I suppose you could feel "cheated", but I for one was along for the ride and thought the twist was incredible. It practically begs for a second viewing so you can try and tell spot the secrets throughout. In particular, I thought the big reveal at the end was enormously successful in tying a bunch of otherwise confusing scenes together, particularly Teddy's (DiCaprio) flashbacks. And in the final, devastating, incredibly dark flashback (this is an R-rated Scorsese pic after all), you begin to understand the "how" of a lot of what's going on with a clarity the film hadn't provided before. To say the entire film plays its cards close to its chest would be an understatement, but that's half the fun! Here and there you start to wonder what's the truth and what's really going on, as an audience member truly feeling the elephant in the room and wanting to solve it. 

With Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Michelle Williams, and others on the screen, the film earns a lot of acting credibility too. I don't feel like I hear this film referenced for DiCaprio's performance a lot, but - per usual - he's top notch. Watching his character spiral downward as the mystery intensifies, the character had to be challenging. Someone half mad, half normal and constantly stuck between both doesn't seem easy to achieve. Ruffalo has easier duty, but does it successfully all the same as Teddy's partner, Chuck. Kingsley brings a certain level of calm to the film as Dr. Cawley and walks a fine line between feeling like a villain or an ally. Everyone else is good with more limited screen time, but those three main performances are ones that sell the movie that much more, and in DiCaprio's example, he had the challenge of playing his own cards close to his chest, much like the screenplay outlines, which can't have been easy. 

Almost as awkward of a hugger as Voldemort

My time with Shutter Island was a memorable one and it's exactly films like this that I've missed before - where I'm lucky enough to have not known the ending - that make Retro Reviews so rewarding. There's a lot to enjoy with this one and the immense amount of talent on board is impressive to say the least. The twist at the end is one of the best I've seen in a good long while and makes an already memorable film that much more ingrained in your memory. 

CONS

• Felt like it got somewhat repetitive in the middle as it lost some steam
• Based on above bullet, probably could have used a 10-15 minute trimming

PROS

• Excellent direction by Scorsese in a type of film that's likely out of his comfort zone. He brings his usual level of talent, but also nails the mystery/thriller tone perfectly
• Awesome story and mystery that had me feeling like I was watching an episode of LOST or something. Continuously unravels and you begin to suspect small ideas throughout
• An equally strong ending with a twist that's done effectively and explained fully
• Good cinematography, original score, editing, etc.
• Leonardo DiCaprio gives a incredible and likely complicated central performance with lots of support from Mark Ruffalo and Ben Kingsley
• Thrilling, complex, and fun to watch unfold

Retro Rath's Review Score | 9/10