Long-awaited film offers suspense

By Colt Langley/sports editor 

Leonardo DiCaprio plays a U.S. marshal on a case involving a psychiatric hospital in Martin Scorsese’s new movie Shutter Island. In the film, the case gets dropped, and DiCaprio and his partner try to leave the island. Photo courtesy Paramount Pictures
Leonardo DiCaprio plays a U.S. marshal on a case involving a psychiatric hospital in Martin Scorsese’s new movie Shutter Island. In the film, the case gets dropped, and DiCaprio and his partner try to leave the island. Photo courtesy Paramount Pictures

The number one movie in America for two weeks, Shutter Island gives audiences a suspenseful ride.

Martin Scorsese’s new film Shutter Island stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo and Ben Kingsley.

Set in 1954, the film starts out with U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels, played by DiCaprio, on a boat heading out to Shutter Island, miles off Boston Harbor. Located on the island is a psychiatric hospital for the criminally insane.

Mark Ruffalo and Leonardo DiCaprio arrive at Shutter Island on an investigation for an escaped inmate. Photo courtesy Paramount Pictures
Mark Ruffalo and Leonardo DiCaprio arrive at Shutter Island on an investigation for an escaped inmate. Photo courtesy Paramount Pictures

Once on the island, Daniels and his partner whom he has just met, U.S. Marshal Chuck Aule, begin their search for an escaped patient/inmate.

Dr. Crawley, played by Kingsley, is the head physician on Shutter Island and refers to the inmates as his “patients.” Throughout the marshals’ investigation, they find Crawley untrustworthy and unwilling to cooperate.

After some time of getting nowhere with their investigation, the marshals decide they will leave the island and forgo the mission. But because of weather conditions, there are no ferries left to take them back inland.

This is when the story turns, and Daniels begins to question his own sanity.

Haunted by hallucinations of his wife Dolores, played by Michelle Williams, and nightmares of when he was in World War II, Daniels makes for an interesting character.

This movie is definitely worth seeing but not necessarily a must-see movie. Not to downgrade the movie, but audiences have seen these kinds of psycho-thrillers before. But it is a fun movie to see because suspense will have theatergoers on the edge of their seats.

As for the performances, each actor delivers a stellar performance. DiCaprio and Ruffalo are both believable in their roles. For DiCaprio, it is obvious he is a grief-stricken widower committed to his job.

There is no overacting in the movie, which makes this film work.

This movie is based off Dennis Lehane’s 2003 novel. Lehane has two other novels that were adapted for the big screen.

Like Shutter Island, water plays a major role in his 2001 novel Mystic River, which was later turned into a movie by Clint Eastwood. In 2007, his novel Gone Baby Gone was also released as a movie.

This adaptation is every bit as good as those before.