Shutter Island Review
Posted by Shawn S. Lealos on 02.21.2010
Martin Scorsese brings us his most twisted film since Cape Fear.
Directed by Martin Scorsese
Written by Laeta Kalogridis
Cinematography by Robert Richardson
Music Composed by Robbie Robertson
Cast
Leonardo DiCaprio ... Teddy Daniels
Mark Ruffalo ... Chuck Aule
Ben Kingsley ... Dr. Cawley
Max von Sydow ... Dr. Naehring
Michelle Williams ... Dolores
Emily Mortimer ... Rachel 1
Patricia Clarkson ... Rachel 2
Jackie Earle Haley ... George Noyce
Ted Levine ... Warden
John Carroll Lynch ... Deputy Warden McPherson
Elias Koteas ... Laeddis
Runtime: 138 min
MPAA: Rated R for disturbing violent content, language and some nudity. Official Website
When Shutter Island ended, I sat there for a moment awe struck at what I had seen. I will admit up front, I walked into the theater spoiled to the ending so instead of being blindsided by the eventual reveal I was looking to piece together the clues throughout the movie. I think that knowledge helps me appreciate the movie more than others. There was an older couple sitting next to me who was visibly disappointed at the ending because it was not what they wanted to see. They wanted to see a more straightforward thriller with clear cut good guys and bad guys and felt cheated at the way the film played out. My wife had a more interesting take on the film, which she labeled a complete mind fuck.
Martin Scorsese is a master film scholar and anyone who has read his writings or listened to him speak knows he is a walking encyclopedia of film knowledge. This is also evident when you watch Shutter Island, a movie part mental asylum drama, part haunted house horror, but all pulp thriller. Scorsese is a master at the period piece and brings this fifties era homage to life. From the hats to the actual camera work, you almost believe you are watching Hitchcock at work here. Add in touches of film noir and classic Universal horror and Scorsese creates a mishmash of styles that harkens to an era from long ago.
Leo DiCaprio is U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels who, along with his new partner Chuck Aule (Mark Ruffalo), is headed on a ferry to Shutter Island, a remote area off the coast of Boston where a Civil War fort had been reformed into an asylum for the criminally insane. They are travelling there to investigate the disappearance of a woman (Emily Mortimer) who murdered her three children and has lived in the asylum ever since, blocking the entire debacle from her memory. The mystery is lifted straight from a mystery pulp magazine. The woman was in a room, locked from the outside with only one window covered with bars. No one working saw her escape and she apparently dissipated into thin air. The only clue is a small piece of paper that might indicate there is a missing patient in the asylum, one not on record.
This mystery is only included to set up the real problems lying within the walls of the prison. The asylum is presided over by Dr. Cawley (Ben Kingsley). He is working with Dr. Naehring (Max Von Sydow), a German who might also have been involved with mind altering experiments for the Nazi’s. Also playing a prominent role is the warden of the prison, played by a manic Ted Levine (Silence of the Lambs). When Kingsley, Von Sydow and Levine are the men who run the prison, you know something can’t be right within the institution.
The entire movie is a mystery wrapped in an enigma wrapped in, as my wife said, a complete mind fuck. Scorsese pieces together a puzzle that amazes me with its brilliance. From the start, you know something is wrong. When the marshals arrive at the island, the guards visibly appear on the edge. Their guns are always clinched tight to their bodies and their fingers always seem prepared to pull the trigger. When they reach the asylum, the first person Teddy sees is a crazed looking woman, a patient cleaning the grounds. She simple puts a finger over her mouth in the attempt to tell Teddy to hush. He also meets another woman who tells him to run.
If anyone is a study of filmmaking, they will notice many discrepancies in the continuity. A wedding ring that appears in one shot will be gone the next time you see the character. In another scene a character is drinking a glass of water and then the camera cuts to another view where the characters hand is still at his face, but the glass is now missing, with none of the characters noticing. This is not something done by accident. Scorsese and his longtime editor Thelma Schoonmaker don’t make those kinds of mistakes. This is a movie that takes place in a mental asylum where nothing is as it seems. Scorsese does everything he can to make sure you are as disoriented as the characters. This begins at the start when the music swells and beats the hell out of your senses as the Marshals make their way onto the island. It continues as one red herring after the next is raised until you have no idea what the hell is going on.
The entire cast works hard to help move the story without actually spoiling the twists to come. Michelle Williams comes across as the least realistic character we see but, since it is obvious she is only there in Teddy’s nightmares, it might be excused. The rest of the cast is rounded out with unsettling performances by actors as varied as Elias Koteas, Jackie Earle Haley, Patricia Clarkson and John Carroll Lynch.
Shutter Island is not a horror movie. This is more of a psychological thriller with touches of film noir (Out of the Past), Hitchcokian thrillers (Vertigo) and old fashioned horror films (Val Lewton’s The Seventh Victim). People may leave this movie feeling cheated by the ending but that is a knee jerk reaction. There is nothing in this movie to cheat the viewer. When watched, with the ending in mind, everything logically leads to the end. It is not a “twist” no one will see coming but a puzzle that, when the last piece is put into place, creates a completely offsetting story.
The 411: There are some realistic complaints that the story from Shutter Island could never be pulled off in real life but is beside the point. This is a movie and, when taken as a classic murder mystery, works beautifully. Shutter Island takes everything you expect to happen and turns it on its head. From the score to the camera movements, it never allows you to relax and builds the tension until the very end. Any other director would have flubbed the entire process but Martin Scorsese is not just any other director. He is a master filmmaker, a student of cinema, and Shutter Island is another addition to his growing body of masterpieces.
It was an alright movie, but the ending was actually pretty predictable, it was the ending I was guessing when I walked into the movie. Mind you, they were on the way to convincing me that the ending I expected wasn't the ending I would get, but I ended up leaving disappointed. I think an 8.0 is stretching it, more like a 6.5.
Posted By: Joel Yeomans (Guest) on February 21, 2010 at 12:08 AM
I agree that ending was infact disssapointing. I knew 67th patient was Dicaprio. I expected different ending than the novel because we knew similar movies like Others, Sixth Sense came on similar story line. I would be more happy if they twicked the ending a little bit with some creativity. Rating is probably 7 but dicaprrio and mark raffalo acting is excellent
Posted By: paul (Guest) on February 21, 2010 at 12:19 AM
Bull fucking shit you knew the ending before it happened. There were a limited menu of logical endings and story options this story ever could have been and he hybridized the options.
He laid out all the possibilities and you didn't know for sure until it happened which it was. So keep pretending, buddy. It doesn't take a genious to guess where the story could logically go. It takes a moron like you, though, to pretend that you knew for sure what was going to happen next.
Posted By: BK Van Helgen (Guest) on February 21, 2010 at 12:22 AM
"I knew 67th patient was Dicaprio."
Paul can you not spoil the movie next time for us who have not seen it. Thanks Jerk.
Posted By: Guest#8227 (Guest) on February 21, 2010 at 12:34 AM
what is good about this movie. this is the most predictable movie ever made. you could call the whole thing from the trailer. shit was ridiculous.
Posted By: Guest#4942 (Guest) on February 21, 2010 at 12:36 AM
I thought the movie was great but its completely confusing! Was he crazy the whole time were was his mind messed with to make him believe those things took place?! I honestly believe everyone was in on it but him! And he had no choice in the end to just let them believe he was crazy and all that happened,he was basically playing their game back. i thnk the doctors were definately liars! He was not there for two years and he wasnt makin his story up! How can u explain the woman in the cave who warned him alll of these things would happen to him! It was too late he already took their pills ate their food and smoked their ciggarettes! He was bound to fall into their trap! Im just curious to know if in the end he let them do the brain surgery in the tower! Or did he escape?! He did say something about dieing a monster or a good man! Ughhh i hate being confused and i do feel cheated!
Posted By: jmarie (Guest) on February 21, 2010 at 12:41 AM
I half to agree that there wasn't too many routes to take in the movie.
Going into it, I expected more of a thriller horror movie with the typical escape ending.
About half way into the movie was when I figured that he had to be a patient himself. The escape ending would of made no sense at all considering the events of the movie.
It was very well put together though. At the end of the lighthouse scene, even though the ending they went with was more logical, They could have twisted again at the end by not having Leo be a patient but instead being convinced of being one and it would have been just as believable.
Posted By: Guest#1991 (Guest) on February 21, 2010 at 12:55 AM
Paul, you're an idiot.
Posted By: Drake (Guest) on February 21, 2010 at 01:01 AM
What a sham...this movie tried so hard to be suspenseful. What a waste of a Saturday night. At least my date was hot. Music was scary though.
Posted By: Ripped Off (Guest) on February 21, 2010 at 01:04 AM
This was a great movie as it is a great book! I believe in the end he truly realized that he was the monster and didn't want to live that way and he choose to "end his life a good man"
Posted By: guest (Guest) on February 21, 2010 at 01:26 AM
I think that the whole point of the movie was not the twist but that fact that, in the end, they did get him to come back to sanity but he chose to have a lobotomy rather than live with the horror of what he did.
Posted By: Guest#8856 (Guest) on February 21, 2010 at 01:37 AM
jmarie- I agree- I percieved the movie like you did, and my date the opposite- really got me thinking though, otherwise I would'nt be sitting up trying to figure out that ending! Pretty wild how two people could both watch the same movie and have to try to explain it to each other (or argue their points) Scorsese musta done good...
Posted By: guest44 (Guest) on February 21, 2010 at 02:10 AM
If by the trailers alone you couldn't tell DiCaprio's character was a patient, you probably should get a labotomy. My friends and I figured out that would be the most probable upon seeing the first trailer. I'm the journey to those ends is phenomenal, but I'm not interested.
Posted By: Johnny Israel (Guest) on February 21, 2010 at 02:23 AM
People need to stop taking what the ending is for face value and think about the complexity of the period(end of WWII). Here is a soldier from a time when man saw some of the darkest and disturbing acts done to others(concentration camps, experiments, ethnic hatred beyond what we will ever know) only to come back and start a life just to see it taken away from him. The ending is not to justify the movie, only to strengthen the mental torment that leo dicaprio plays. Makes you really think about soldiers mindsets after wars, especially the holocaust. Brilliant use of allegory. If you think it sucks, that's fine, but use your head and think about underlying meanings before you bash it.
Posted By: Jerome N (Guest) on February 21, 2010 at 02:27 AM
This movie was very predictable. It doesn't take a complete genius to find it out. I would give it a 6 out of 10, just for the simple fact that the twist wasn't that much different than several other movies. You don't like my comment, I really don't give a shit. For all I care you can take your mouse, bend over, and shove it up your ass if you have a problem.
Posted By: Guest#6658 (Guest) on February 21, 2010 at 02:35 AM
the ending left me sort of disappointed but then I remembered back to the end when dicaprio supposedly goes back to his teddy character that doesn't exist. And realized when he talks to his doctor mark fuffalo as his partner he is actually playing along so that he'll make them think he is still insane, because he wants to die and he sees one doctor holding tools wrapped up neatly. so he plays along like this and how I realized that he new the truth now was when he says "I've been thinking about this place, chuck" oh yeah about what. "is it better to live as a monster or die as a good man" he finally knows the truth and wants to die as a good man rather than live as his real self and be a monster for the thing that he did. He's not insane anymore.
Posted By: Brian Jensen (Guest) on February 21, 2010 at 03:07 AM
Wow what is with all the people giving away the ending? I agree though it was a great movie. I saw the end coming but I didn't realize it until pretty much the end of the movie. I enjoyed the movie, it was not what I expected but still a total mind fuck is right. Instant classic, Scorsese is a genius. Worth watching again to see the parts you missed. I would give it an 8 also or a 9.
Posted By: Saint Anger (Guest) on February 21, 2010 at 03:10 AM
Wow what is with all the people giving away the ending? I agree though it was a great movie. I saw the end coming but I didn't realize it until pretty much the end of the movie. I enjoyed the movie, it was not what I expected but still a total mind fuck is right. Instant classic, Scorsese is a genius. Worth watching again to see the parts you missed. I would give it an 8 also or a 9.
Posted By: Saint Anger (Guest) on February 21, 2010 at 03:11 AM
excellent film, Scorsese is still the king of film. Remember friends, James Cameron and Michael Bay make movies; Scorsese and Tarentino make films.
Posted By: Guest#7390 (Guest) on February 21, 2010 at 03:32 AM
SPOILER* The movie was amazing. I read the book by Dennis Lehane(who my husband turned me onto. The writer of mystic river, gone baby gone and others that havnt been made into movies) and I must say Martin Scorsese was wise to not changing a thing! I love that he respected and appreciated the writers story and didnt come in and change a bunch of stuff like so many movies do. Many of the most momentous scenes were almost word for word from the brilliant Dennis Lehane. I'm confused by why im reading so many unsatisfied viewers. I read the book and I knew going into this what was gonna happen and i was STILL in AWE. To all of those who say they thought it was predictable....Realize that you only predicted one part of the plot. Yea he was a patient...did you predict why, what happened to his family, the people in his dreams, how about the very ending? All these details are what makes a movie so enjoyable to watch and even more enjoyable the second time around when you pick out things that you wouldnt notice before...yes even you PREDICTORS. Besides even if you did predict it how could you not enjoy the movie? Really now what movies arent predictable? And even though you thought you knew, the writer definately made you second guess yourself for a while. No one can deny that and if you do your a liar and arent a real fan of film. your a fan of being a mindless jock :) But back to the film. I must also comment on the whole cinematography and colors that were so mezmorising in the dream scenes. And lets not overlook the acting. Leonardo at his best and Ben Kingsly loved his suits and pipe :) But to sum up. AmAziNg! Another movie to add to the top favorites list.
Posted By: Guest#4683 (Guest) on February 21, 2010 at 03:40 AM
It really is astonishing how two people can watch the same movie and come up with completely different interpretations. I'm a psychologist, and although the practices of confront patient 67 were unethical, unsound, and unfounded in science, i do agree with most in thinking he was in fact patient 67. if anyone else had directed it, i would fathom the possibility that everyone else was in on it, but it seems to out-there for scorsezie. the film was brilliant, mind-fucking, and inspirational.
Posted By: H. Jernazian (Guest) on February 21, 2010 at 04:29 AM
but when did he become the 67th patient?? 2 years ago or the 2 days prior, that note could have been planted anytime. and the way chuck/dr. shia says "teddy" at the end, sounded too sincere. my take is he arrived the 2 days prior,was going to blow the lid, his partner got paid off to act as dr shia,and when at the end they knew they couldnt convince him that he wasnt a patient for the last 2 years they were going to do the lobotomy to vegetate him- the true question is did teddy allow them to do the operation or did he do something to get the guards to kill him. i dont think he would let them do the operation, he did a "gran turino" at the end it just wasnt shown(my theory).
Posted By: mts007 (Guest) on February 21, 2010 at 04:30 AM
Personally, I thought this movie was extremely well done on all aspects. You have to remember that the twist is the books ending; Scorcese choose it because his focus was to make a quality film from an unfamiliar genre. He showed he can take a B rate movie concept and give all aspects of it A list qualities. DiCaprio's performance was nothing short than stellar as expected. When will he get the recognition he deserves for being such a professionally passionate talent in cinema? Overall, Great job by the two. I will see every movie these too team up on for as long as I watch film.
Posted By: Frank C (Guest) on February 21, 2010 at 05:20 AM
"I think that the whole point of the movie was not the twist but that fact that, in the end, they did get him to come back to sanity but he chose to have a lobotomy rather than live with the horror of what he did."
^^^ THIS
Posted By: Guest#7918 (Guest) on February 21, 2010 at 05:27 AM
Sure, it's a mind-fuck if you're a nearly-comatose sack of flesh vaccuuming overpriced popcorn. Otherwise it's a painfully telegraphed and poorly edited waste of money. Gave away the ending after 45 minutes. Spent the next 45 minutes trying to convince the viewer otherwise, and the final 45 easing the viewer into what they already fucking knew.
Posted By: Guest#4958 (Guest) on February 21, 2010 at 06:00 AM
I would like a habuGAR sire!
Posted By: Wimpy (Guest) on February 21, 2010 at 06:02 AM
From start to finish I thought everything about this movie was extremely WELL DONE. Understand that Scorsese's did not choose Shutter Island to rewrite the books "twist" ending, but to make a quality movie from an unfamiliar genre. I don't think anyone else can take this potentially B rate concept and impressively give it all the qualities of an A rate movie. Not to mention another stellar performance by DiCaprio, which makes me wonder when he will finally get properly rewarded for what has been one of the more impressive cinematic resumes I have seen. Nothing less than expected from Scorsese and DiCaprio. Overall, great job guys. I will see everything these two team up on for as long as a continue to watch movies.
Posted By: Frank C NJ (Registered) on February 21, 2010 at 06:39 AM
I already read the novel, so colour me spoiled.
Posted By: Propagandhi (Guest) on February 21, 2010 at 08:51 AM
c'mon, I read the book 2 times and I didn't know how the movie would end. Besides, I'd rather WATCH the movie than sit around figuring out how it might end.
Posted By: reeko (Guest) on February 21, 2010 at 09:28 AM
I figured what the ending might be when I saw the trailer, but I didn't think it would come about the way it did. Anyway, it's not about the destination, it's about the journey. Shawn, you're wife is right about the movie being a mind fuck. I saw my brain with a smoke after the movie ended and I don't even smoke!
Posted By: The Great Capt. Smooth (Guest) on February 21, 2010 at 10:26 AM
OMG.....i dont care what any of u say it was a GREAT movie. I dont beleive people when they say i knew that was gonna happen. so what yeah for u. then dont watch the movie. lets not forget it is a MOVIE, PRETEND, NOT REAL. and through this whole movie i was on the edge of my seat excited intrigued and lets not forget how AMAZING the acting was. it was not in anyway predidctable yeah u could of made a good guess but they set it up and led it to soooo many endings u could of guessed it! i honestly NEVER thought he was the patient through the whole movie! the acting was amazing and i thought it was a great story line! any person who did that to there kids deserved to get murdered. (that was the best part someone who hurt a child died!) and the dreams oh man......i could keep going on it was AMAZING! not predictable in any way!! they could of saved everyone and gotten of the island! or the Govt. could of keep him there to really try to test him! IDK all i know is i will be watching that again!!
Posted By: melissa (Guest) on February 21, 2010 at 10:54 AM
One Flew Over the Cookoo's Nest meets K-Pax. Boy, I'm impressed with you folks who saw that end coming; you should be working on global warming, peace in the Middle East or affordable water de-salinazation. I sensed that there at least five possible endings and--one week later-- am still discussing with the group I saw the movie with about our interpretation of the ending.
Posted By: jasper (Guest) on February 21, 2010 at 11:22 AM
411 needs to filter the comments for spoilers. come on now.
Posted By: m fisher (Guest) on February 21, 2010 at 11:47 AM
This movie was slow and boring. I could of fallen asleep.
Posted By: guest (Guest) on February 21, 2010 at 11:55 AM
I agree that ending was infact disssapointing. I knew 67th patient was Dicaprio. I expected different ending than the novel because we knew similar movies like Others, Sixth Sense came on similar story line. I would be more happy if they twicked the ending a little bit with some creativity. Rating is probably 7 but dicaprrio and mark raffalo acting is excellent
Posted By: paul (Guest) on February 21, 2010 at 12:19 AM
What. A. Cock.
Posted By: Thanks, Paul (Guest) on February 21, 2010 at 12:34 PM
First of all, I'd like to congratulate all the people who "predicted" the ending. If you really think Martin Scorses didn't want you to predict by watching the trailer, you are an idiot, and should not be allowed to comment on his movie. Scorses is a genius, and made the trailer the way he did so he could totally fuck with your mind.
You cannot tell me this movie didn't have you second guessing your "prediction". Also, I'd like to meet the person who predicted the "incident" between Ted and his wife.
You people need to stop patting yourselves on the back for your brilliant "predictions" and realize the masterpiece Scorses has made. The last 20 minutes of the film will haunt for a long time.
Amazing film. 9 out of 10
Posted By: David F (Guest) on February 21, 2010 at 12:40 PM
I already read the novel, so colour me spoiled.
Posted By: Propagandhi (Guest) on February 21, 2010 at 08:51 AM
I have read every DL novel besides this one. Most people have not read the book. Thus, it was legitimately spoiled for us...
Posted By: Guest#0777 (Guest) on February 21, 2010 at 12:58 PM
I thought it was ok, I would give it a B a little bit like a hitchcock movie.
Posted By: Guest#8135 (Guest) on February 21, 2010 at 01:21 PM
I am a big fan of martin scorseses movies but this movie I don't believe was his best work.I don't believe this movie was Dicaprios best acting or movie either.From start to end I found it very boring and I thought it could have been put together a whole lot better.If I had to give it a rating it would have just been 6.0.
Posted By: roc4life31 (Guest) on February 21, 2010 at 01:51 PM
Great movie, excellent cast, and great directing. Sure you have a feel for the plot. But the whole atmosphere of the movie is a fun thrill ride. If you want to see a movie that is worth your money. This movie is the one to see. Good review
Posted By: Fan (Guest) on February 21, 2010 at 02:07 PM
I'd say 8.0 is about right. Shutter Island is fantastically constructed, and the little continuity slips here and there only help draw the viewer into the mystery and the paranoia. Throughout the movie you watch Teddy Daniels get more and more dragged into the mystery, the paranoia, and the sense that something more sinister is going on here. You see the vivid nightmares he has, and can tell that THEY are doing things to HIM and that there IS some sort of conspiracy going on. Are the doctors REALLY experimenting on patients? Is Teddy Daniels going to SNAP, go on a killing spree, and end up an inmate himself, which is probably what the higher powers WANT him to do?
I actually guessed much of the twist ending about halfway through the movie, though STILL wasn't convinced THAT was what was REALLY going on until the final 10 minutes. And even when they start to reveal the twist I STILL didn't believe it at first until they started to dive deeper into it. The twist works VERY WELL (especially if you figure out some of the clues along the way), but it would have been better if they left some things ambiguous. They did such a good job building up one possible outcome BEFORE the twist that they should have left some elements of it present AFTER the big reveal. While the final scene REALLY drove home the point of the twist, they still could have left some things vague to make you wonder if something bigger was going on at Shutter Island.
Posted By: Guest#1867 (Guest) on February 21, 2010 at 02:22 PM
It reminded me of the 1980's movie Angel Heart with Mickey Rourke. Which I thought was a much better movie.
Posted By: kc (Guest) on February 21, 2010 at 05:35 PM
Believe me or not. I thought the movie was genius. All you people saying that it was bull shit are wrong. The ending was not expected, because all of my friends thought that Andrew Slate would be the 67th patient because everyone was edgy when DeCaprio asked them about him.
Yes, I admit the ending was dissapointing but that's what Martin Scorsese(director) wha. Shutter Island was one of those movies where there is no ending..it was supposed to make you wander and argue with the ones who saw it with you. I would have to applaud Scorsese for his utter originality.
I mean....I am a 13 year old girl and I can see that...cummon gus, really? Look past judgement.
Posted By: Tia (Guest) on February 21, 2010 at 07:30 PM
Believe me or not. I thought the movie was genius. All you people saying that it was bull shit are wrong. The ending was not expected, because all of my friends thought that Andrew Slate would be the 67th patient because everyone was edgy when DeCaprio asked them about him.
Yes, I admit the ending was dissapointing but that's what Martin Scorsese(director) wha. Shutter Island was one of those movies where there is no ending..it was supposed to make you wander and argue with the ones who saw it with you. I would have to applaud Scorsese for his utter originality.
I mean....I am a 13 year old girl and I can see that...cummon gus, really? Look past judgement.
Posted By: Tia (Guest) on February 21, 2010 at 07:32 PM
this was a great movie! It kept everyone second guessing themselves throughout the movie and even after it ended The movie made each person you were watching it with think a different ending. The way the movie was made, let all the predictions be possible. It depended how you took it! and the people who thought that it was that he was just was the 67th patient and crazy are just boring. I think that he just became the 67th patient when he arrived there as an actual fire marshal. That all the doctors used the investigation to drive him to break for that moment. In the end i think he realized that it was all true about the experiments and that his partner had just went through with the plan because he didnt want to be made a patient. Thats why in the end he chose not to go with the plan when he said would you rather live a monster or die a good man.... and then they showed the ice pick! that just proved that everything he thought was right.
Posted By: britt (Guest) on February 21, 2010 at 11:28 PM
I saw this movie not knowing a single thing about it. All I knew was Scorsese and DiCaprio together again. Why not. My expectations were pretty high, but again, I hadn't the foggiest idea what this movie was about or what to expect. It was awesome. Every damn scene had me guessing again and again. Then the ending. Which I'm surprised so many people didn't like. I thought it fit perfectly and was open for different interpretation. Man this was a good movie. I give it a 9.0. I seems like a lot of people read the book or did research before they saw the movie and maybe that's why they were disappointed. Hell, I didn't even know there was a book. For those of you who did none of that and were still disappointed, well, congratulations you've officially reached the point to where you are more concerned with figuring out a movie than letting it do its justice. If you can name me three movies that have more twists than that one you are a loser and you need a life. This was a good movie at the very least and it's sad to see so many of these movie buffs try to destroy it.
Posted By: RY (Guest) on February 22, 2010 at 12:20 AM
movie was great...i told my friend i was going to go home and masterbate to the script because it was that amazing..and now i see it was adapted from a novel..I guess it was too good to be true.
Posted By: tones (Guest) on February 22, 2010 at 03:38 AM
the movie messes with your head till the end credits...you don't know if it is true or not.....totally worth seeing...and enjoyable evening at the cinema
Posted By: tones (Guest) on February 22, 2010 at 03:40 AM
i don't think i'm ever going to read a review on this site anymore. there needs to be some major filtering of the comment section for spoilers. pretty ridiculous.
Posted By: Guest#5513 (Guest) on February 22, 2010 at 09:01 AM
I wish my date would have let me walk out. The ending was so predictable and their was no suspense. The only good thing about this movie is that it has a few loud parts that scared my date. 6/10 at best and that's being generous.
Posted By: Walked Out (Guest) on February 22, 2010 at 10:44 AM
i thought that the movie was confusing but i liked it.
Posted By: amanda (Guest) on February 22, 2010 at 11:47 AM
I told my husband this film was like an hour of great foreplay with no orgasm at the end. Disappointing. I understand film makers want to make history, etc., but we simple film watchers want to be entertained; that's what we're paying for.
Posted By: AnneMarie (Guest) on February 22, 2010 at 12:21 PM
Really, Came to this site to see if this movie was worth going to see.. now I don't have to. Now that I know the ending I think I'll just wait till it shows up on cable! Next time just say wether you liked the movie or not!
Posted By: Tom (Guest) on February 22, 2010 at 04:05 PM
"i don't think i'm ever going to read a review on this site anymore. there needs to be some major filtering of the comment section for spoilers. pretty ridiculous."
Don't avoid the reviews, avoid the comments at the end...
Posted By: Shawn S Lealos (Registered) on February 22, 2010 at 05:28 PM
I loved it, the ending they show is what happened otherwise the whole flashback with his family wouldn't be in it. Because in the first act he said they burned but hey, flashback scene makes it legit. And the character that burned his family didn't exist it was all in his mind and also how would Dr. Crawley know the line "why are you all wet", he would have to know that by being the doctor for said amount of time. I know someone already spoiled it but even knowing that go see it, It's a complete mind fuck but it's a good one.
Posted By: Inda (Guest) on February 22, 2010 at 06:22 PM
Listen everyone..Everyone is entitled to their own opinion in this section and everyone needs to respect one anothers opinion.We all will agree to disagree about how we feel about this movie but no need for all this nonsense.The movie rating is just a movie rating by this site only.I don't agree with the rating and I don't agree with the fact its a good movie but everyone just CHILLLLL!!!!
Posted By: floggingjimmy (Guest) on February 22, 2010 at 10:12 PM
The end of this movie made me feel I was watching the end of Total Recall. I don't know which side was the actual reality. Was the woman in the cave real? Why was it so easy for him to get to the lighthouse after he blew the car up? He gave up trying to get to it earlier, were their possibly 2 lighthouses? If Shutter island was a mental hospital for the most violent criminal offenders, why was he there? I mean his wife drowned his kids and he shot her, pretty understandable, I think regular jail in Boston would have sufficed. Who was the man that attacked him in building C? Why did his wife change what she wanted from him killing Laedis to just getting off the island? I think Scorsese has created a masterpiece by making a film where either side of the opinion can't be proven. Forget the jaded movie buffs, every story has been told before, what matters is the execution. Give this a 9 out of 10.
Posted By: legalizeit (Guest) on February 23, 2010 at 01:22 PM
This was theeee worst movie I ever paid to see. Waste of my time and money!
Posted By: AJ (Guest) on February 23, 2010 at 01:25 PM
Movie sucked and here is why. The movie is shown from the point of view of DeCaprio. the audience is lied to when he has flashbacks and hallucinations. Ever see the Swimming Pool? Same thing. It was all in her head -she was writing a book.
Memento did it the right way.
Posted By: guest (Guest) on February 23, 2010 at 04:12 PM
So, at the end of the movie you already know his wife drown his kids and he shot his wife...so do you really need to flash back and show this happen? It was terrible!
Posted By: Guest#9373 (Guest) on February 25, 2010 at 01:33 PM
This movie was excellent. Excellent acting as well.Not only was it an interesting story line, it also depicted aspects of the human psyche and the practices in the psychiatric and mental health field during that time. Luckily, we have come a long way since then. This was a thought provoking movie.Of course,anyone expecting the average Hollywood "No brainer" would be disapointed.
Posted By: GJ,Guest (Guest) on February 25, 2010 at 08:37 PM
i saw this movie last night...your first fucking paragraph (which is where i stopped reading) ruined this fucking movie for me...the fucking second i saw leo on the boat with his partner i fucking knew the ending because of your fucking first paragraph.....and this movie might be well made, but their was no suspense for me because i knew the ending because some nerd with poor writing skills told me that their was a twist ending. uggggggggggggggh....why do reviewers feel the need to give plot details? is it because you don't know how to write properly?
Posted By: romano (Guest) on February 27, 2010 at 01:25 PM
Scorsese consciously leads you to believe that you've figured it all out in the beginning. There is a superficial "twist", which is what everybody is referring to when they say that they were disappointed that they've figured it out. Then there is the untold, unmentioned twist, which makes this movie great. I will just say this: The gun, the lighthouse(s), the cigarettes. Question what you see, question what you are told, trust your instincts. Brilliant movie!
Posted By: Marmarus (Guest) on March 05, 2010 at 04:57 AM
all you jabronis who like to give away the endings in your comments can go fuck yourselves. All you idiots that said they predicted the ending , have a hero cookie and then go fuck yourselves. All you douchebags that weren't entertained in the least can go watch a romcom because your little mind can't comprehend good film and go fuck yourselves.
Posted By: marty (Guest) on March 07, 2010 at 11:59 AM
Thanks, guys, for saving me some money. The ending sounds a lot like I Am the Cheese, a book that I thoroughly hated. I won't waste my time on this one. Besides, DiCaprio is way overrated, in my opinion.
Posted By: Robert (Guest) on March 15, 2010 at 02:00 PM
The funny thing about this film is that those critical of it would be correct IF they were right in their interpretation. This is not some simplistic horror movie with a boring predictable ending that reveals De Caprio was crazy all along. That would be boring. Instead I think the correct interpretation is that he was who he claimed to be and those things that he accuses them of doing on the island they are in fact doing. He has a damaged past with the war and his wife and his sanity is on edge and they take advantage of that to manipulate him and then give him the opportunity to walk away by agreeing with them that he had a sort of nervous breakdown. Instead he chooses to die rather then live in their lie. This is the only interpretation in which the movie has power. Otherwise what is the point of his last remark - would you rather live a monster or die a good man- if he was actually insane. He is a sane and good man in an insane and evil world.
Posted By: streaker (Guest) on March 16, 2010 at 12:25 AM
for god sake! your comments are obviously showing huge ignorance!
shame on you, you still dont get what he means about the "end" , did u even care to listen to the last sentence in the movie?
very good review, i agree with everything, specially the "discrepancies in the continuity." you said what was on my mind thanks!
Posted By: bernadette (Guest) on March 20, 2010 at 08:45 PM
The film is good, but end is confusing and bewildering.
Posted By: Common Man (Guest) on March 26, 2010 at 03:39 PM
I just watched this movie for the second time and believe it got even better since I knew the ending. It is incredible the way Scorsese payed attention to every single detail in the making of this movie. The first time I watched it I wasn't bothering myself with how it ended, but rather what the hell was currently happening. I had so many lightbulbs go on just to have them shut off by the following sequence of events. Do I believe the doctors were lying? Absolutely not. I think that the whole charade worked in getting him to remember exactly what his mind repressed. I also don't believe at the end that he relapsed. That quote about "living as a monster vs dying a good man" sealed the deal for me that after accepting what had happened he could not go on living in a mental institution dwelling but would rather pretend to have relapsed and be put out of that psychological misery. Is that answer correct? Maybe, maybe not, but if Scorsese really wanted the audience to have a definite answer it would have been there plain as day. Every part of this film was excellent. 8.5 out of 10
Posted By: Guest#9893 (Guest) on June 23, 2010 at 12:01 AM
To each his own thoughts, I thought it was a great movie, a movie that makes me think of all which ways to go. It was excellent. I give it a 10. I didn't fall asleep as usually I do in a boring movie. GREAT GREAT GREAT
Posted By: Chanelmyst (Guest) on July 04, 2010 at 01:19 PM
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