Shutter Island

Mike has a man crush on Leonardo DiCaprio, and I can't say that I blame him. We tend to see movies with Leo, because I just don't think that the guy has made a crappy film (that I've seen, anyway). He was even good on "Growing Pains," and he had to deal with Chrissy and Ben. And they were annoying.

It's 1954. Leo plays Teddy Daniels, a federal marshall sent to an island prison/hospital to investigate the disappearance of a female inmate. Shutter Island hosts criminally insane prisoners, most of whom are convicted murderers, and with one on the loose, the security procedures and precautions are now even more intensified.

"A fedora and a smoke? 1954 can't get much better, my friend."

Teddy and his partner, Chuck Aule (Mark Ruffalo), are immediately thrown into a world where they don't seem to have as much control as they expect, and as their investigation continues, Teddy becomes more and more convinced that there is something sinister going on - something that the doctors would keep secret at any cost.

Stuck on the island due to a horrific storm, and unable to delve deeper into the case because of a lack of access to files and evidence, Teddy becomes frustrated and drastically changes the course of the investigation.

Shutter Island is a crisp, concise, beautifully shot film, and with Martin Scorsese behind the camera, I would expect no less. The acting is top notch, of course, and the script is exciting and interesting. The pace slows at times, but it's more so that Scorsese can demonstrate the mood and feel of this island prison, letting the viewer feel as trapped as the main character.

The supporting cast includes Michelle Williams, Ben Kingsley, Max von Sydow, and Emily Mortimer. All are given excellent material, and all act the hell out of their roles.

Shutter Island is a very good film with a satisfying conclusion. I have a hunch that it would improve with additional viewings... once you know the ending, I'm sure that it would be a completely different film.