Martin Scorsese's latest film, Shutter Island, is absolutely fascinating, at times frustrating, too long by half an hour, has pacing issues - and is worth seeing twice. In fact, it's almost necessary to see it twice. A psychological drama reminiscent of Hitchcock's work, Shutter Island (despite its flaws) not only solidifies the fact Scorsese's a master filmmaker, but showcases the best performance of Leonardo DiCaprio's career.

Buzz had been building for this Scorsese film all last year when it was initially set for an October release. Paramount booted it out of 2009 to 2010, which led to lots of speculation even after the studio offered up an explanation, with Paramount Pictures Chairman Brad Grey saying it was strictly a financial decision. Shutter Island had been on a lot of 2009 Oscar hopeful lists (mine included), and moving it to early 2010 seemed to signal the film wasn't going to live up to expectations. There was even speculation the studio had lost all confidence in the film's success, thus its February berth.

Thankfully, the final product is not the disappointment some were positive it would be. It's not Scorsese's best film, but even when he's not hitting on all cylinders his work is better than most directors working today.

The Story
To say too much about the story would be giving the twists of the plot away, and I don't want to spoil the experience for anyone. So, the least possible spoiler-ish explanation of the film is that it's 1954 and U.S. Marshals have been called out to investigate the disappearance of a woman who murdered her children and has been locked up at the Ashecliffe Hospital for the Criminally Insane since being found guilty of the horrible act. The hospital is located on Shutter Island, a remote location available only by ferry.

"Mark Ruffalo and Leonardo DiCaprio in 'Shutter Island.'"

Mark Ruffalo and Leonardo DiCaprio in 'Shutter Island.'
© Paramount Pictures
As a hurricane bears down on the island, U.S Marshal Teddy Daniels (DiCaprio) and U.S. Marshal Chuck Aule (Mark Ruffalo) must try and figure out how the murderess escaped from a locked room without anyone noticing and where she could possibly have wandered off to on the small island in the middle of nowhere. Again, that's the basics, but in no way is it the real meat of the story. To say more would risk ruining the suspense of watching Shutter Island play out.

The Cast
DiCaprio's never been better than he is in Shutter Island. This fourth collaboration with Scorsese requires DiCaprio to go deeper and be more vulnerable than we've seen him on film, and the 35 year old actor who's grown up in front of the camera does something here he's never done before. I can't explain just how he disappears into Teddy Daniels, but more so than any of his previous performances, he's tapped into the very essence of this conflicted and tormented character.

Mark Ruffalo plays another one of those supportive, second banana-type characters he's done so well before, and delivers another solid, understated performance. Sir Ben Kingsley's gone through a real rough patch lately, picking projects that don't offer much in the way of character development. This is not one of those projects. As Dr. Cawley, the man in charge of overseeing treatment of the criminally insane, Kingsley never overdoes it, never overplays the authoritarian aspect of this powerful doctor who tries to be humane during a time when the treatment of the unbalanced was anything but.

Some of the finest moments in Shutter Island occur when DiCaprio and Michelle Williams share screen time. Williams is heartbreaking and brilliant as DiCaprio's deceased wife, and even though the film runs long, I wouldn't have minded adding additional minutes to the running time if they were minutes that included DiCaprio and Williams building on the relationship we glimpse in a series of flashbacks.

Scorsese's surrounded his leads with a fine supporting cast that includes Emily Mortimer, Ted Levine, and Max Von Sydow, as well as memorable cameos by Patricia Clarkson and Jackie Earle Haley. There's not a weak link in the bunch.

The Bottom Line
Shutter Island's simply gorgeous, and the acting, production design, cinematography, costumes, and editing are all top-notch. The only criticism I have is the score. It's intrusive and irritating, though it's easy to understand why Scorsese chose to go in the direction he did with the music. It fits the period perfectly - but I'm still not a fan of music that telegraphs every move about to be made onscreen.

"Leonardo DiCaprio and Michelle Wiliams in 'Shutter Island.'"

Leonardo DiCaprio and Michelle Wiliams in 'Shutter Island.'
© Paramount Pictures
I'm also not a fan of Shutter Island's trailers, which I found very misleading. I haven't read Dennis Lehane's novel and I really had only the vaguest idea of what Shutter Island was all about going into the screening. The clips used in the trailer made me think of a gothic horror story, but that's not in fact what Shutter Island is. No, this is a mess with your mind sort of film, the kind you think you've got all figured out before it hits its midpoint that then throws in a couple of complete surprises at the end. I was positive I had it all sorted out and then the story took a turn I never anticipated, actually making the slow pacing of the first hour and a half worth sitting through. The punch packed at the end is a knock-out, and the rocky parts of the film are soon forgotten as the final act is a real doozy.

GRADE: B+

Shutter Island was directed by Martin Scorsese and is rated R for disturbing violent content, language and some nudity.

Theatrical Release: February 19, 2010