SHUTTER ISLAND

Martin Scoreses is a great director of scenes; he is among the world’s worst directors when judging the correct time to say “cut.” This film runs almost 140 minutes and without the unnecessary padding, it could have been over in 90 minutes. We are given the same information several times and we are watching scenes well past their value to the story.
This film has great production values, fine actors, dramatic sets and fascinating locations.
Surrounding Leonardo DiCaprio with legendary actors like Ben Kingsley and Max Von Sydow is a plus. Yet these fine performers are ill served by being put in scenes that run too long, repeat themselves and serve very little purpose in moving the story along.
This film requires you to give it A PASS – to let certain gaps in the plot go unquestioned. If you can do that, you will have a good experience with this mysterious film.
If you demand an answer to all the issued presented, you won’t have a very satisfying time on “Shutter Island.”
I salute the ambition of the production; I can’t say it was a glowing success, but it is worth a trip to the theatre to judge for yourself.
WHILE SCORESES IS CONSIDERED A FINE / GREAT DIRECTOR, I RETURN TO MY ORIGINAL
COMMENT -- HE SCREWED UP "GANGS OF NEW YORK" AND "CASINO" BY WASTING
TIME ON POINTLESS ROMANCE AND DETAILS THAT DID NOTHING TO IMPROVE THE FILMS - 40 MINUTES OF NOTHING INVOLVING CAMERON DIAZ IN "GANGS" AND MORE SCREEN TIME THAN SHE DESERVED IN "CASINO" FOR SHARON STONE'S CHARACTER.
WHEN HE STICKS TO THE MAIN THEMES YOU GET GREAT FILMS: RAGING BULL, GOOD FELLAS,
TAXI DRIVER, MEAN STREETS, THE DEPARTED - OTHER TIMES YOU GET THE AVIATOR - A FILM ABOUT NOTHING - A LONG FILM ABOUT NOTHING.
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COMMENT BY SELLESTINE McLAIN - SOUTH CAROLINA >>>>

Shutter Island is a psychological thriller that captures your attention and keeps you engaged throughout the machinations of the plot. The interaction between US Marshall Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio)) and Dr Cawley (Ben Kingsley) is thoroughly intriguing from the opening scenes to the very end of the film. Their acting is so superb that you feel you are in their skin - living their lives as it unfolds on the screen. Martin Scorsese directed in such a manner that the viewer is under his power and instead of watching this movie, you are moved out of the comfort of the theater and into the dark passageways of a 1954 asylum for the criminally insane. The complex interplay of character plot and setting is managed very well and the tone of mystery and terror is sustained throughout. There are moments when the action is a little slow, but the suspense is maintained so you are compelled to stay until the end. And, yes -the ending is worth it. I advise you to see it with a friend because you will want to go over the puzzling details with someone.