Guy, interrupted
U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) looks for answers.
(Paramount Pictures)
Shutter Island
Running time: 138 minutes
MPAA rating: R (profanity, disturbing violence, nudity)
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One has flown over the cuckoo's nest in Martin Scorsese's mentally and physically stormy "Shutter Island."
It's 1954, and a patient in an isolated island mental institution for the criminally insane off the coast of Boston has gone missing. The acclaimed Oscar-winning director ("The Departed," "Raging Bull") focuses on frequent leading man Leonardo DiCaprio as Teddy Daniels, the U.S. Marshal assigned to the case.
A side note: Something interesting happened just now. The first time I attempted to type Leonardo DiCaprio, I actually punched the keys to form Leonardo De Niro. I suppose that's because I was thinking of Scorsese's former fave leading man, Robert De Niro.
The De Niro of a decade or two ago -- the De Niro of "Raging Bull," "Cape Fear" and other Scorsese collaborations -- would have grabbed this mysterious leading man role by the throat as he stalked around in this Gothic mystery-thriller.
DiCaprio, while adequate, never out-maneuvers Scorsese's amazingly intricate, chilly detail of an isolated world gone mad. You've heard of actors chewing the scenery. In "Shutter Island" the scenery chews its leading man. Even the button a guard pushes to open gates within the mental institution is likely to send chills down your spine.
DiCaprio, despite his three Oscar nominations for "Blood Diamond," "The Aviator" (directed by Scorsese) and "What's Eating Gilbert Grape', not so much, at least from this aisle seat.
So we look elsewhere for something to rivet our attention and hold it for two hours and 18 minutes. "Shutter Island," based on Dennis Lehane's 2003 best-selling thriller and adapted by Laeta Kalogridis ("Night Watch"), moves from room-to-room, gloom-to-doom as if mired in molasses.
A storm settles over the island (conveniently cutting off telephone communication) and intensifies into a Category 5 hurricane as the mystery and growing danger escalate. Have the inmates taken control of the asylum and locked up the real doctors, orderlies and guards? You might wonder that, as I did for a time.
And here's something else. The idea of serious danger looming among stranded strangers as a hurricane rages outside is nothing new. Serious film buffs and movie-goers with long memories will recognize the similar set-up from "Key Largo," the late John Huston's classic of 1948.
No character appears settled in this unsettled atmosphere. It got on my nerves a little that Mark Ruffalo, playing DiCaprio's new partner, keeps calling his fellow U.S. Marshal "boss." Otherwise, Ruffalo turns in a fine, wily performance. Ben Kingsley and legendary actor Max von Sydow are outstanding -- as good as you would expect them to be, in fact -- as doctors in charge.
And Jackie Earle Haley ("Watchmen," "Little Children") drops by to play one creepy scene as George Noyce, an inmate locked away in dark, dank Ward C. Haley, it seems, is Hollywood's new go-to-guy when the scene calls for macabre on ice.
Another performance stands out, however. Michelle Williams, who deserved the Oscar nomination she got for "Brokeback Mountain" in 2005, is superb in the challenging role of Dolores, Teddy's (DiCaprio) former wife.
Technically outstanding, "Shutter Island" sloshes along and along. Even for something driven by mystery and noir, the storm lingers too long before clearing.
It's 1954, and a patient in an isolated island mental institution for the criminally insane off the coast of Boston has gone missing. The acclaimed Oscar-winning director ("The Departed," "Raging Bull") focuses on frequent leading man Leonardo DiCaprio as Teddy Daniels, the U.S. Marshal assigned to the case.
A side note: Something interesting happened just now. The first time I attempted to type Leonardo DiCaprio, I actually punched the keys to form Leonardo De Niro. I suppose that's because I was thinking of Scorsese's former fave leading man, Robert De Niro.
The De Niro of a decade or two ago -- the De Niro of "Raging Bull," "Cape Fear" and other Scorsese collaborations -- would have grabbed this mysterious leading man role by the throat as he stalked around in this Gothic mystery-thriller.
DiCaprio, while adequate, never out-maneuvers Scorsese's amazingly intricate, chilly detail of an isolated world gone mad. You've heard of actors chewing the scenery. In "Shutter Island" the scenery chews its leading man. Even the button a guard pushes to open gates within the mental institution is likely to send chills down your spine.
DiCaprio, despite his three Oscar nominations for "Blood Diamond," "The Aviator" (directed by Scorsese) and "What's Eating Gilbert Grape', not so much, at least from this aisle seat.
So we look elsewhere for something to rivet our attention and hold it for two hours and 18 minutes. "Shutter Island," based on Dennis Lehane's 2003 best-selling thriller and adapted by Laeta Kalogridis ("Night Watch"), moves from room-to-room, gloom-to-doom as if mired in molasses.
A storm settles over the island (conveniently cutting off telephone communication) and intensifies into a Category 5 hurricane as the mystery and growing danger escalate. Have the inmates taken control of the asylum and locked up the real doctors, orderlies and guards? You might wonder that, as I did for a time.
And here's something else. The idea of serious danger looming among stranded strangers as a hurricane rages outside is nothing new. Serious film buffs and movie-goers with long memories will recognize the similar set-up from "Key Largo," the late John Huston's classic of 1948.
No character appears settled in this unsettled atmosphere. It got on my nerves a little that Mark Ruffalo, playing DiCaprio's new partner, keeps calling his fellow U.S. Marshal "boss." Otherwise, Ruffalo turns in a fine, wily performance. Ben Kingsley and legendary actor Max von Sydow are outstanding -- as good as you would expect them to be, in fact -- as doctors in charge.
And Jackie Earle Haley ("Watchmen," "Little Children") drops by to play one creepy scene as George Noyce, an inmate locked away in dark, dank Ward C. Haley, it seems, is Hollywood's new go-to-guy when the scene calls for macabre on ice.
Another performance stands out, however. Michelle Williams, who deserved the Oscar nomination she got for "Brokeback Mountain" in 2005, is superb in the challenging role of Dolores, Teddy's (DiCaprio) former wife.
Technically outstanding, "Shutter Island" sloshes along and along. Even for something driven by mystery and noir, the storm lingers too long before clearing.
Oh my its a preview about "Shutter Island."!! It is totally awesome! I have watch it already at home. I was really amazed by the twist and turns about the movie.
I keep on guessing what will be the answer but unfortunately I don't have the luck to got the right answer!
Posted by: Armil@broadway theatre tickets | 11/15/2010 at 02:01 AM