It's safe to say Martin Scorsese is one of my favorite directors. Goodfellas is an all-time favorite, one of my first posts on here was about Gangs of New York, and my friends and I quote The Departed on a regular basis. I mean, the guy even directed Vincent Chase in The Great Gatsby (Spike re-runs aren't doing it for me). After sitting in on his newest work, the mysteriously dark Shutter Island, I'd say ole' Marty still has it.
Although this may be Scorsese's first foray into horror (I don't know if I'd even call it that), it's certainly not his only go-round in exploring the psychological state of his characters. In Shutter Island, while Federal Marshall Teddie Daniels explores the disappearance of a criminally insane woman from the isolated asylum on the titled island, he is gridlocked in the purest state of the mind's struggle: whether he's the only sane one or just another crazy. Throw in post-WWII conspiracy theories, an unconventional, not-everything-is-how-it-appears psychologist (Ben Kingsley), and some growingly vivid and terrifying dreams and Daniel's stay on the island becomes much more of complicated than he ever expected.
The atmosphere and camerawork go a long way to hammer home the experience. Rolling shots while Daniels and his partner Chuck Aule (the always reliable Mark Ruffalo) enter the compound make you feel like the iron gates to the creepy netherworld are clanking closed behind you too. Meanwhile the always gray clouds suspended over the compound menace as much as the creepy inmates. One scene, set in the de facto haunted house known as Ward C, keeps even the toughest bro on the edge of his seat for a solid five minutes.
When it comes down to it, though, the acting kills it. Leonardo DiCaprio is quickly quieting critics about his acting chops, capturing the fine line Daniels walks mentally...bouncing from calm explanation to furious outbreak seamlessly. Kingsley keeps Dr. Cawley's hand close, making the audience unsure whether he's wants to help or experiment on his patients. Even the smaller roles make a harrowing impact, especially Michelle Williams siren take on Daniel's dead wife, Ted Levine's violence-relishing Warden, and Max von Sydow's Dr. Naehring, eerily all-smiles.
Although the plot twist is pretty predictable from the first bit of the movie, the unfolding of it is still incredibly enjoyable to watch. Expanding on Dennis Lehane's (Mystic River, Gone Baby Gone) twisting plot line, Scorsese's manages to make every viewer feel the paranoia and instability of the insane as they try to put the pieces together right along with Daniels. It may not be his best work, but anyone who likes a good riddle (speaking to you LOST fans...) and respects Scorsese's talent had better take a trip to Shutter Island.
Grade: B+
No comments:
Post a Comment