There are some movies that make you laugh, some that make you cry, and some that make you question everything. Psychological thriller Shutter Island falls into the latter category. Leonardo DiCaprio stars as US Marshal Teddy Daniels, who is tasked with going with fellow agent Chuck Aule (Mark Ruffalo) to Shutter Island, a remote location that holds a psychiatric hospital for the criminally insane. Together, they search for clues to find the whereabouts of a dangerous patient who has escaped from her room and is nowhere to be found. In a film that is both story and character-driven, Daniels faces many obstacles, perhaps none more challenging than to overcome his own past.
DiCaprio does a fantastic job portraying a 1950s Bostonian investigator. His mannerisms, his accent, the way in which he carries himself connects well with the style of the era. DiCaprio also has a near-perfect performance as a man who is tortured by his past – one plagued by memories of World War II, liberating a Nazi concentration camp, and losing his wife in a fire. He has to maintain this persona while the time period switches between present-day, flashbacks, and dream sequences. My only criticism is that in one scene, I feel that he fails to act to his emotional potential as shocking revelations come forth. The acting is good, but his demeanor seems too calm to appropriately reflect the magnitude of the situation.
Director Martin Scorsese showcases many of his trademarks within this film. For instance, he uses a striking balance of music and silence. Film composer Robbie Robertson, a longtime colleague of Scorsese’s, creates a sound that perfectly parallels the unsettling and intense nature of the film. The switch between full orchestral pieces, single high-pitched piano notes, and silence is unlike anything else I’ve heard in a film. In one scene, Daniels enters into the most dangerous section of the hospital, walks down a long hallway, and the only sound is the rhythmic dropping of water. Rather than resorting to a classic suspenseful musical piece, Scorsese and Robertson choose this intermittent silence that works perfectly with the scene.
Director Martin Scorsese showcases many of his trademarks within this film. For instance, he uses a striking balance of music and silence. Film composer Robbie Robertson, a longtime colleague of Scorsese’s, creates a sound that perfectly parallels the unsettling and intense nature of the film. The switch between full orchestral pieces, single high-pitched piano notes, and silence is unlike anything else I’ve heard in a film. In one scene, Daniels enters into the most dangerous section of the hospital, walks down a long hallway, and the only sound is the rhythmic dropping of water. Rather than resorting to a classic suspenseful musical piece, Scorsese and Robertson choose this intermittent silence that works perfectly with the scene.
Robert Richardson, another longtime Scorsese acquaintance, does an incredible job as the director of photography. In one of the dream sequences, Daniels is with his wife, who is played by Michelle Williams. They are in the middle of the room, holding each other, while the camera circles around them and then gives a high-angle camera shot. The room is on fire, and ash begins falling all around them, but through the perspective of the camera angles, they appear so enthralled in each other’s presence that they don’t seem to notice. The only criticism I have is that there are several scenes that have obviously been shot with a green screen, which is slightly disappointing, especially when comparing it to the genius of the aforementioned scene.
While the film does not have a traditional moral or message, it does leave the audience with a series of challenging questions, perhaps the most significant being: is it possible to overcome one's past?
Check back here next week for more reviews!
Film Grade: A-
Until Next Time,
Kathryn (The Redhead Behind the Reviews)
2/7/18
Resources:
https://awardwinningfilmmakers.wordpress.com/2018/01/30/francis-ford-coppola-martin-scorsese-assignment/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shutter_Island_(film)
http://www.filmofilia.com/shutter-island-martin-scorsese-interview-13438/
https://stillsfrmfilms.wordpress.com/2013/01/15/shutter-island/
Check back here next week for more reviews!
Film Grade: A-
Until Next Time,
Kathryn (The Redhead Behind the Reviews)
2/7/18
Resources:
https://awardwinningfilmmakers.wordpress.com/2018/01/30/francis-ford-coppola-martin-scorsese-assignment/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shutter_Island_(film)
http://www.filmofilia.com/shutter-island-martin-scorsese-interview-13438/
https://stillsfrmfilms.wordpress.com/2013/01/15/shutter-island/