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Shutter Island (2010)
Director: Martin Scorsese
Cast overview: Leonardo DiCaprio, Emily Mortimer
Running time: 138 minutes
This is a fairly powerful and psychological film, and that is noticeable from the very first scene on the boat. The sense of foreboding that emanates throughout the whole film is present there, and we are instantly thrown into the story of a murderess patient who has disappeared from the mental institution on Shutter Island, with US marshal Teddy Daniels there to investigate. Dennis Lehane's 2003 novel of the same name served as the backbone of the film, although I haven't read the book so am unsure as to how much it differs from Kalogridis' screenplay.
The film itself starts fantastically - as well as any film I've seen - and it's completely gripping for the first thirty minutes. Then the plot becomes increasingly convoluted and downright confusing, and the flashback scenes only add to the mental tumult. By the end, I wasn't sure whether DiCaprio's character truly was crazy, or was dreaming, or what. The suspense and intrigue introduced early on had been gradually sapped away through the far weaker second hour. Despite this, I continued on and I wouldn't really say I felt "bored" at any time - simply confused about the sloppy writing that I think aimed to give the sense of a psychological thriller but feels unsure itself about which direction it wants to go in.
I can't fault the acting, really, and DiCaprio seems to have matured a lot from the days of Titanic, proving himself as adept enough here, while being nothing special, and Mark Ruffalo is a solid and understated actor, I feel. Kingsley and Von Sydow are two more proven and familiar faces that provide the well-acted roles of two villains.
I did enjoy this, which is why I'm a bit conflicted as to what mark to give it, but the writing to me just felt haphazard at times, and the marvellous start's energy and pace soon dissipated into a more convoluted tale with too many twists to understand fully what was going on. This obviously drags it down somewhat for me. If the plot had made more sense, this would have been an eight or a nine.
Quotes
Teddy Daniels: So, what's our next move?
Chuck Aule: You tell me.
Teddy Daniels: I gotta get off this rock, Chuck. Get back to the mainland. Whatever the hell's going on here, it's bad.
[pause]
Teddy Daniels: [sotto voce] Don't worry, partner, they're not gonna catch us.
Chuck Aule: That's right, we're too smart for 'em.
Teddy Daniels: Yeah, we are, aren't we?
[pause]
Teddy Daniels: You know, this place makes me wonder.
Chuck Aule: Yeah, what's that, boss?
Teddy Daniels: Which would be worse - to live as a monster? Or to die as a good man?
[last lines]
Teddy Daniels: You know, this place makes me wonder.
Chuck Aule: Yeah, what's that, boss?
Teddy Daniels: Which would be worse - to live as a monster, or to die as a good man?
[gets up and walks off]
Chuck Aule: Teddy?
Teddy Daniels: I'm sorry, Honey. I love this thing because you gave it to me. But the truth is... it is one ****in' ugly tie.
Trivia
The traumatic killing of Nazi guards of Dachau concentration camp is a historical event, taking place on 29 April 1945 when the camp was liberated by the US Army.
Before settling on Mark Ruffalo for the role of Chuck Aule, Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese also considered Robert Downey Jr. and Josh Brolin.
As of 2013, this is the last Martin Scorsese film to be shot entirely on actual film.
Trailer
Director: Martin Scorsese
Cast overview: Leonardo DiCaprio, Emily Mortimer
Running time: 138 minutes
This is a fairly powerful and psychological film, and that is noticeable from the very first scene on the boat. The sense of foreboding that emanates throughout the whole film is present there, and we are instantly thrown into the story of a murderess patient who has disappeared from the mental institution on Shutter Island, with US marshal Teddy Daniels there to investigate. Dennis Lehane's 2003 novel of the same name served as the backbone of the film, although I haven't read the book so am unsure as to how much it differs from Kalogridis' screenplay.
The film itself starts fantastically - as well as any film I've seen - and it's completely gripping for the first thirty minutes. Then the plot becomes increasingly convoluted and downright confusing, and the flashback scenes only add to the mental tumult. By the end, I wasn't sure whether DiCaprio's character truly was crazy, or was dreaming, or what. The suspense and intrigue introduced early on had been gradually sapped away through the far weaker second hour. Despite this, I continued on and I wouldn't really say I felt "bored" at any time - simply confused about the sloppy writing that I think aimed to give the sense of a psychological thriller but feels unsure itself about which direction it wants to go in.
I can't fault the acting, really, and DiCaprio seems to have matured a lot from the days of Titanic, proving himself as adept enough here, while being nothing special, and Mark Ruffalo is a solid and understated actor, I feel. Kingsley and Von Sydow are two more proven and familiar faces that provide the well-acted roles of two villains.
I did enjoy this, which is why I'm a bit conflicted as to what mark to give it, but the writing to me just felt haphazard at times, and the marvellous start's energy and pace soon dissipated into a more convoluted tale with too many twists to understand fully what was going on. This obviously drags it down somewhat for me. If the plot had made more sense, this would have been an eight or a nine.
Quotes
Teddy Daniels: So, what's our next move?
Chuck Aule: You tell me.
Teddy Daniels: I gotta get off this rock, Chuck. Get back to the mainland. Whatever the hell's going on here, it's bad.
[pause]
Teddy Daniels: [sotto voce] Don't worry, partner, they're not gonna catch us.
Chuck Aule: That's right, we're too smart for 'em.
Teddy Daniels: Yeah, we are, aren't we?
[pause]
Teddy Daniels: You know, this place makes me wonder.
Chuck Aule: Yeah, what's that, boss?
Teddy Daniels: Which would be worse - to live as a monster? Or to die as a good man?
[last lines]
Teddy Daniels: You know, this place makes me wonder.
Chuck Aule: Yeah, what's that, boss?
Teddy Daniels: Which would be worse - to live as a monster, or to die as a good man?
[gets up and walks off]
Chuck Aule: Teddy?
Teddy Daniels: I'm sorry, Honey. I love this thing because you gave it to me. But the truth is... it is one ****in' ugly tie.
Trivia
The traumatic killing of Nazi guards of Dachau concentration camp is a historical event, taking place on 29 April 1945 when the camp was liberated by the US Army.
Before settling on Mark Ruffalo for the role of Chuck Aule, Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese also considered Robert Downey Jr. and Josh Brolin.
As of 2013, this is the last Martin Scorsese film to be shot entirely on actual film.
Trailer