Movie Review: Shutter Island

In 1954, US Marshals Teddy Daniels(Leonardo DiCaprio) and Chuck Aule(Mark Ruffalo) are assigned a case to investigate the disappearance of a lady. The lady was an inmate of Ashecliff Hospital located on Shutter Island in Boston. Ashecliff Hospital houses the most dangerous criminals who could not be treated anywhere else. Teddy and Chuck have been assigned as partners recently.

On reaching the island, Teddy finds the hospital equivalent to a fortress. The only way in or out is using the ferry controlled by the armed guards. Most of the inmates are restrained in chains. Teddy and Chuck meets Dr John Cawley(Ben Kingsley). Cawley is the head psychiatrist and provides a background on Rachel Solando, the missing lady. Rachel had drowned her three children before she was admitted in Ashecliff. In Ashecliff, she is under the care of Dr Sheehan. Unfortunately, Dr Sheehan had left for a vacation just before the lady vanished.

Teddy and Chuck investigates the disappearance along with the hospital guards. They meet resistance from the hospital authorities, mainly Dr Jeremiah Naehring(Max von Sydow), when they ask to examine hospital records. The hospital guards are also unfriendly. Teddy also develops migraine attacks and also have visions of his past. Are the hospital staff trying to cover up something? Has Teddy got anything to hide? All these are answered in the movie.

Martin Scorsese directs this psychological drama based on the eponymous novel by Dennis Lehane. At the onset of the movie, he successfully establishes the conflict of the lead actor with successful flashbacks to his past. By doing this, he also makes the audience question the motives of all the players thereby starting a guessing game in the minds of the audience. The background score is eerie which suits the tone of the movie. Although the movie do not depict violence a lot, it is still disturbing as the director forces us to imagine the violence that would have transpired earlier!

Leonardo DiCapro puts in a convincing performance as the deeply disturbed Teddy Daniels out to find the truth behind the disappearance of the hospital inmate. Ben Kingsley, Mark Ruffalo and Max von Sydow supports him very well.

A combination of good director along with seasoned performers makes this a worthwhile watch. This is highly recommended.

Language: English

Genre: Drama

Rating: ***

Tags: Movies,Leonardo DiCaprio,Mark Ruffalo,Ben Kingsley,Max von Sydow,Martin Scorsese,Dennis Lehane,Drama