Climbing Higher Pictures

We’re not really sure what it is, but every time Martin Scorcese decides to make a movie, everyone even slightly related to the film industry creates a fully formed opinion before ever seeing the film. The pre-conceived notions are proven incorrect time and again, and yet we still like to think we know what’s going to happen next. With Shutter Island, the general consensus has been more about confusion, discrepancies in tone and apparent plot even within the film’s own marketing department. Have they been working around the clock to advertise a movie which simply defies 2 minute synopsis, or is there something far more intriguing at play? Find out below:

Shutter Island Review

By Ryan Hamelin

Movie Grade: A

You enter a Martin Scorcese film with a certain set of expectations about character, story, pacing, and style which have managed to remain consistent across his entire body of work. So when I tell you that Shutter Island is not your usual Scorcese movie, there will undoubtedly be a sense of confusion at the concept. My problem is that any review of this film will, unavoidably, devolve into a series of contradictory phrases, as I could just as easily make an argument that this is the most Scorcese a film of his has ever been. The more you think about it, the more you appreciate it, and the casual moviegoer will almost certainly have to see it multiple times to pick up on all the tiny nuances at play, nuances that, to the untrained eye, may seem like errors in judgment or technical mistakes. Only once the film has run its course do you truly understand the deft handiwork of a master craftsman, and question quite strongly Paramount’s decision to push the release back out of Oscar consideration.

I can’t decide what’s more tiring. Having Scorcese reuse a single leading man for multiple pictures, or being forced to repetitively write about how great they are in the starring role. Leonardo DiCaprio is terrific here, and any qualms I once had about his acting ability (or, prior to Blood Diamond and The Departed, lack thereof) have been sufficiently put to rest. The surprise for most of the potential audience will be Mark Ruffalo, who’s added quite handsomely to his repertoire in recent years including the criminally under-witnessed The Brothers Bloom and who continues the trend of wonderful supporting roles here. Add to that Ben Kingsley and Max von Sydow as the dark administrators of the mental institution on Shutter Island, and you’ve fully stocked the chessboard. There are several more cameos which help to further elevate the film, but I won’t spoil them here. Some things are better to experience with fresh eyes.

A couple of different people have asked me what the genre of the film is. The trailers seem to lean towards horror, or at the very least, a scary chilling atmosphere. Surprisingly, the trailers manage to not show all that much of the meat of the film. In reality, the best genre classification I can think of is psychological thriller, a chase for answers that never lets the audience get ahead of the characters. The kind of skill required to maintain the tension one morsel of information at a time is where Scorcese really shines here, and like I said before, the big picture isn’t something that will jump out at you early on either. If you find yourself annoyed or even disliking the movie in the early going, as I will admit to myself (I believe my thoughts were something along the lines of “Scorcese’s finally made a terrible movie, it had to happen sometime”) just trust that the longer you hold out, the more devious and worthwhile the whole exercise becomes. By the halfway mark, if you’re not glued to your chair, I don’t really know what kind of movie would do it for you.

Is Shutter Island another Scorcese masterpiece? I’d need a second viewing before I’d let it claim that particular prize. Is it an incredibly impressive entry in the filmography of one of the industry’s greatest directors? Absolutely. Try to leave your expectations at the door, because with the exception of those who have read the original novel, I can guarantee that this will not be the movie you think you’re going to see. Just enjoy the ride, and embrace the power of classic moviemaking all over again. Mr. Scorcese, I salute you.