Shutter Island

So, I finally saw Shutter Island today. After it being delayed for months and after missing the screening earlier in the week... the wait had been killing me. Scorsese returning to a "lower" fare of film a la Cape Fear. I love when the truly great directors go move into this territory. Before seeing the film I got a bit of a Psycho and The Shining vibe from what I was seeing (not plot wise of course) and thankfully the film gave me exactly what I was looking for in an entry of this type.

This is most definitely not the best Scorsese film... it isn't even close. I just want to make that clear before I go on. It is not even close.

However, it is one of the best examples of why Scorsese is one of the greatest directors of all time. He has so much room to play in this film and he is in total mastery over every aspect. He kills it. The film is incredibly dense and layered. Shots are composed wonderfully, the actors play amazingly, and everything is layered with an overall sense of dread most modern directors would have no clue how to build.

This film screams of classic storytelling that was perfected by the likes of Hitchcock and Wells. Large amounts of symbolism and meaning behind every choice in the film. Fantastic.

Every actor is cast perfectly, from the smallest role right up to the lead in DiCaprio, who is the backbone of the film (actor wise. and he has had an impressive decade or so... but working with Scorsese, Spielberg, Danny Boyle, Ridley Scott and more will do that). The cinematography accomplishes a very strange thing. It feels very classic... yet incredibly modern. It has a bit of a classic grainy feel... but skies and other things are CGI enhanced to make a really surreal visual. I mean that in the best possible way. Editing is in peak form. Costumes are exactly right. Great stuff at every turn.

I want to single out the films soundtrack. It is a remarkable compilation. No original score was composed, yet the selections fit it perfectly. The sounds invoke a classic Bernard Herrmann score and caused me to have a huge smile on my face the entire time. Herrmann's career of course started with Citizen Kane and came to an end with Scorsese's own Taxi Driver.

This film opened with a 40 million dollar opening weekend. Impressive. Sadly, it is Scorsese's largest opening ever. That says a lot about the movie going public. Reportedly, the film has a very mixed word of mouth. This is ridiculous. On the other hand, I can see why... mainly due to the fact this film is the work of a master who won't pander and also that modern audiences have no idea how a thriller/mystery that actually stands the test of time should be composed. In a true rarity for the genre (in the modern age anyways), this film will be BETTER on repeated viewings. Take in what was laid before you... and smile that someone has a handle on film like Scorsese...

Make no mistake. This film is the work of a master who continues to impress over 40 years into his career. This one will be around for a long time, regardless of what your average drooler thinks of it coming out of the theater. I will be going for a second theater viewing. Make sure you make it for at least one go round.

Bravo, Marty.