Director: Martin Scorsese
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo and Sir Ben Kingsley
‘A Magnificent Masterpiece’
Few actors in Hollywood that achieved success years ago are as iconic as Leonardo DiCaprio. Ever since his rise to recognition in the 1990’s, DiCaprio has proven to be one of the greatest actors in the film industry. With his charming personality, larger-than-life presence on screen and likeable nature, DiCaprio has achieved a titanic size fan following. DiCaprio’s greatest strength as an actor has always been his versatility. Through his abilities to portray a wide range of characters, DiCaprio has created a lasting legacy today. His extraordinary commitment towards every role has resulted in movies considered timeless pieces of entertainment.
I’m a huge fan of DiCaprio and admire all the movies he has made throughout his illustrious career. However, “Shutter Island” stands out as his most underrated work. Released in 2010, Martin Scorsese’s film is a tense psychological thriller that found the famous actor playing a man whose mental health is in danger. Scorsese’s movie offers a realistic depiction of mental illness. Boasting powerful production-design, engaging storytelling and strong performances, it’s one of the greatest psychological thrillers ever made. At the centre of it all is a phenomenal performance from Leonardo DiCaprio, who portrays a mentally ill detective losing his grip on reality. Ultimately, the movie delivers a powerful message that will engage everyone impacted by trauma at an early age. A mesmerizing masterpiece about mental health, it captures an actor whose timeless films are worth celebrating.
Based on the famous novel, “Shutter Island” tells the story of a U.S. Marshall investigating a murder mystery. Leonardo DiCaprio embodies Teddy Daniels, a tormented U.S. Marshall that’s haunted by traumatic memories of his past. Teddy’s life forever changes when he’s tasked with investigating the murder of a woman in a mental institution location on a creepy island. Assisted by his companion Chuck Aule (Mark Ruffalo), Teddy embarks on a dangerous journey to investigate murder. As he discovers shocking secrets about the island, Teddy faces uncertainty. Enduring a dilemma, Teddy wonders if he can resolve a murder causing trauma.
Martin Scorsese has often been fascinated with themes of mental health. Whether it’s the stories of troubled taxi drivers, boxers with raging bull temper or greedy gangsters, Scorsese’s timeless films often focus on lives of conflicted characters facing mental issues. With “Shutter Island”, however, Scorsese crafts his first murder mystery. It’s the filmmaker’s first attempt to adapt a murder mystery book on the big-screen, but he succeeds. Through stunning cinematography, Scorsese captures the journey of a mentally ill patient seeking to discover identity. Scorsese effectively uses point-of-view shots to immerse viewers into the disoriented mind of a mentally ill man. For instance, point-of-view shots elevate the bloody war scene. During this frightening scene, Teddy recalls memory of seeing deaths as a solider. Using stunning visuals, Scorsese captures the disturbed mind of a mentally ill detective seeking to resolve a murder mystery.
Another admirable aspect of “Shutter Island” that contributes to its success is the production-design. Scorsese’s choice to shoot the movie in a real-life mental institution is risky but it pays off tremendously. Scorsese expertly uses the production of a mental institution to build tension. Throughout the movie, the island is a setting that plays a powerful role in building tension. Whether it’s the ominous prison cells or elaborate doctor offices, the island plays a pivotal role in capturing the mind of a mentally ill detective. For instance, the setting of the island enhances the introduction scene During this frightening scene, Teddy arrives on the terrifying island for the first time seeking to investigate murder which is perplexing. One admires ominous production bringing to life an island that’s terrifying. Moreover, the musical score is magnificent. Taking inspiration from Alfred Hitchcock, it gives the movie a tense and suspenseful atmosphere. Through powerful production, Scorsese captures detectives conducting an intense murder investigation.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “Shutter Island” is a murder mystery which is compelling. The movie is beautifully written, and successfully uses unreliable narration to capture the mind of a man enduring mental deterioration. Scorsese effectively captures the mental state of a man facing a decline by unreliable narration. Throughout the movie, Teddy is an unreliable narrator whose point-of-view can’t be fully trusted. Evoking Christopher Nolan’s “Inception”, Scorsese uses unreliable narration to capture the perspective of a man facing conflicting emotion. Like Cobb’s inability to tell the differences between his dreams and reality, Teddy experiences hallucinations of his past tragedies. Through this clever technique, Scorsese captures the hardships that individuals with mental problems go through. Unreliable narration is a complicated technique. When used excessively, it can often cause viewers to become confused. As Christopher Nolan’s “Memento” demonstrated, unreliable narration elevates movies about memory loss. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this movie. Through a spectacular screenplay, Scorsese captures individuals with mental illness facing a price to pay.
One admires astonishing performances.
Leonardo DiCaprio delivers one of his finest career performances as Teddy Daniels. DiCaprio achieved appreciation playing star-crossed lovers aboard doomed ships. With “Shutter Island”, however, DiCaprio takes on his most emotional role. It isn’t simple to embody the personality of a mentally ill man seeking to inspect a murder mystery, but he succeeds. This is the actor unlike you’ve ever seen him before: intense, charismatic and emotionally vulnerable in his most demanding role to date. With riveting expressions, he captures the angst, fear and guilt of a psychopathic detective investigating a perplexing murder in mental institutions. It’s a phenomenal performance from one of the greatest movie-stars working in Hollywood today.
The supporting cast is extraordinary and also worthy of recognition. Mark Ruffalo is remarkable, capturing compassion of an assistant willing to go through great lengths to assist a detective facing sorrow. Sir Ben Kingsley is captivating, bringing an air of mystery to a doctor keeping the nasty truth about a mental institution shrouded in secrecy. Lastly, Michelle Williams deserves appreciation. As Teddy’s deceased wife, she brings a haunting screen presence toward the movie.
Finally, “Shutter Island” would earn the appreciation of everyone for capturing the consequences of mental health facing danger. Unlike most films about mental health, it’s a movie that everyone would be able to relate to. It discusses universal themes including identity, mental health and trauma. Audiences aren’t required to be fans of the famous novel to appreciate the movie. It delivers a universal message which would resonate with everyone facing trauma at an early age. Therefore, “Shutter Island” is one of those rare thrillers everyone would adore.
Fans of Leonardo DiCaprio will definitely appreciate “Shutter Island” and so will movie-goers seeking thought-provoking entertainment. A mesmerizing masterpiece, it celebrates an actor with a career that’s lasting by portraying characters that are compelling.
A powerful portrait of mental illness leading the lives of detectives investigating murders to deteriorate, it’s a riveting reminder of a movie-star that hasn’t lost his abilities to captivate audiences by portraying compelling characters facing mental health struggles with whom audiences can easily relate whose timeless films have universal themes that resonate which have built a lasting legacy that fans will forever appreciate.
5/5 stars
The Film Buff 