Review: Shutter Island

The Thriller and I retried the movie night thing, and this time, it worked. Only we didn’t finish Daybreakers or whatever it was called. Instead, we watched Shutter Island, starring Leo D.

If the final season of LOST taught me anything, it’s that some questions simply don’t have answers. This point will be driven home at the end of the movie. But that’s all I’ll say about that, lest I ruin it for those who have yet to see the film.

Here’s the plot summary from IMDB:

It’s 1954, and up-and-coming U.S. marshal Teddy Daniels is assigned to investigate the disappearance of a patient from Boston’s Shutter Island Ashecliffe Hospital. He’s been pushing for an assignment on the island for personal reasons, but before long he wonders whether he hasn’t been brought there as part of a twisted plot by hospital doctors whose radical treatments range from unethical to illegal to downright sinister. Teddy’s shrewd investigating skills soon provide a promising lead, but the hospital refuses him access to records he suspects would break the case wide open. As a hurricane cuts off communication with the mainland, more dangerous criminals “escape” in the confusion, and the puzzling, improbable clues multiply, Teddy begins to doubt everything – his memory, his partner, even his own sanity.

OK, suffice it to say that the above explains a whole lot of nothin’ — for a reason. Again, can’t go there.

Likes

  • Leo has come a long way. His character was believable; tortured, brooding, hidden. Yet, his honesty and passion came across in such a way that, even though he was not a “happy” character, it was still easy to like him. Best of both worlds.
  • I love any role Ben Kingsley plays. I have always secretly wished to see him as Salieri in Amadeus, even though F. Murray Abraham was great (he actually won the BSA Oscar for that film, if memory serves).
  • The photography was amazing. The ocean, cliffs and caves were visually awesome, and everything “period,” right down to the neckties and bed frames, was spot on.

Dislikes

  • The score was bizarre. A grotesque, dissonant crescendo, reminiscent of old 1950s horror movies, accompanied the simple approach of a ferry boat to the shore. Huh? Loud, violent chords at inactive or inopportune moments. The music just missed the mark for me.
  • Well…the ending. Doesn’t mean it wasn’t effective, or what it should have been, but all the same…
  • One big question remained unanswered at the conclusion. The Thriller picked up on it right away.

Still, we both really enjoyed it. I enjoy Scorsese movies (Casino, Color of Money, Goodfellas, Gangs of New York, The Departed — all good ones, and can’t wait to see his George Harrison docu later this year). It’s worth watching a second time — maybe that nagging question was actually addressed, and both of us missed it.

On the Rat-O-Meter movie scale of five cheeses:

2 thoughts on “Review: Shutter Island

  1. BoomR

    Will have to see if it’s on BluRay :-) I could be up for a good movie this weekend!

    Are you packed & all ready to go yet?? :-)

    Reply
    1. Rat Fink Post author

      I ain’t packed, but I am definitely ready to go! I was ready a month ago…can’t wait to see you!

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.