My sister recently bought me Shutter Island on DVD given that, for some unknown reason, I hadn't gone to see it when it came out in the cinema. Needless to say I was excited to see it; I know Martin Scorsese is an amazing director and despite what many people may say, Leonardo DiCaprio is an actor who has the ability to make any character he plays real to the audience watching his films (in other words he's diverse and well, a bloody good actor). So with the teaming up once more of this pair, it goes without saying that my anticipation was high.
I wasn't disappointed. Not only was the acting on DiCaprio's part brilliantly done but the outstanding and once more revolutionary direction on Scorsese's part had me drawn in from the get go, and kept me there. It began cryptic and for all intents and purposes remained cryptic until it's conclusion, and all that meant was I was hooked and HAD to see how it turned out, but more specifically had to know how Leo's character Teddy Daniels turned out.
The story is set in the year 1954, a time of horror in the world, which pales in comparison to the horrors found on Shutter Island, a place which houses an institution for the most violent and deranged criminals known to man. It is the job of US Marshalls Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his partner Chuck (Mark Ruffalo) to investigate the disappearance of one of the islands inmates. It is clear however as the story progresses that there is more to the island and more to the main character Daniels than meets the eye.
The story is captivating and also enticing because of its mystery, but this is equally due to its obvious nature as well. I, like many others who watch this movie, hadn't read the book (of the same title) the story is based on so I had no clue as to what happened in the end. Until half an hour into the movie that is. It's not hard to hazard a guess as to the ending of the movie pretty early into watching it, and it's rather easy to figure out the mystery behind main character Teddy quickly. The point is, that you're supposed to guess, and supposed to guess correctly. Scorsese makes it easy for a reason.
Everything Scorsese does in this movie, every camera shot, every angle, the special effects, the manipulation of colour, every burst of atmospheric music, everything is for a reason; everything is used as an indication to the 'truth' of the story. Even his purposeful use of obvious and pretty crappy green screen in the opening scene is used to put the audience on edge and force them to question the reality of what is happening. (Fortunately for Scorsese, even the unintentional mistakes in the movie are acceptable in that they further add to the unease and wavering sense of reality.) The audience are put in the mind of Daniels, and we experience the story as he experiences it; we attempt to figure it out as he attempts to figure it out. Scorsese just gives us every possible help in hand, so that we can get there before Daniels, and it is this anticipation of what you at the very least subconsciously know, that keeps your eyes glued to the screen throughout.
Don't think however that knowing and guessing the truth is in anyway detrimental to both the story and the enjoyment of it. On the contrary, it makes the movie better and more entertaining, and also makes for a better ending. It may be easy to guess the ending but it's only a broad guess, it is the details which remain the mystery. The revealing of Teddy's truth is a scene which is performed beautifully by DiCaprio and the supporting actress Michelle Williams. As an audience you have been made to feel extremely involved in the story from the very beginning, as though you're living it with the characters and when the climax of Daniel's story occurs, it becomes a highly emotional and also cathartic moment for anyone who has been watching.
Shutter Island is a rollercoaster ride and truly is an enthralling and riveting story, which is portrayed with such perfect precision by Scorsese, that there's no doubting that it is yet another movie to add to his arsenal of pure genius.
