Movie Review: SHUTTER ISLAND (2010)

SHUTTER ISLAND (2010)
Directed by: Martin Scorsese
Written by: Laeta Kalokridis
Based on the novel by Dennis Lehane

First, I must say that I read the novel beforehand. And as much as I don't won't to be one of those people who always say the book was much better, in this instance it's true...but not by much. I would never take anything away from Martin Scorsese. He is an amazingly talented director that has a true vision and always produces a quality film. Such is the case with SHUTTER ISLAND. I just found the novel to be more compelling in certain scenes. As with all novels that are adapted to film, there are certain little details left out that I would have loved to have seen. With that being said, I still enjoyed SHUTTER ISLAND very much. The main thing to understand is watching a movie and reading a book are two completely different experiences. You can't expect to get the same feeling from one or the other.

The presence the film brings is unique. The look of the island when you first see it is very ominous. The film's score contributes its own anxiety throughout. The cast is great. The standout performance for me is Ben Kinsley as Dr. Cawley. You get a sense of dramatic pull from him and his acting. The special effects are ever-present, but all too noticeable. There must have been a lot of shooting on green screen. I'd much more prefer a more practical setting, but I'm sure their location scouting produced very limited results. The film's end is very powerful and emotional. The last scene in the movie really makes the whole experience worthwhile and makes it stand apart from the novel.

Overall, SHUTTER ISLAND isn't Scorsese's best, but if you are a fan of his, it should not be missed. It's very well made and captures the essence of the source material fantastically.

Overall Rating = 7.4/10.0
/5