Shutter Island (USA, 2010)

Saw this a week ago, still haven’t talked about it. It was very enjoyable. It’s a grand operatic noir, an unnerving psychological thriller that doesn’t make much sense (do any psychological thrillers make much sense?). Great intensely-imagined visuals, gripping and moody atmosphere, pitch-perfect performances (heavily stylised and just OTT enough). The film offers very few surprises but is a great ride nonetheless.

It’s a big screen film, but probably not worth the big screen ticket prices unless you’re a particular fan of Leo DiCaprio or Marty Scorsese or Michelle Williams or Mark Ruffalo*. So watch it on your home cinema with surround sound, or go to the fillums on cheap night.

To its enormous credit, the film absolutely nails its very final scene.

* Hah! No-one in the world is “a particular fan of Mark Ruffalo”!**
** I stand corrected

7 thoughts on “Shutter Island (USA, 2010)”

  1. I’m glad you stand corrected.

    I used to watch this police drama called The Beat on Sky One or something a few years back. It only go half a season and was on late at night. Why I was up I’ll never know. But I loved it. Ruffalo was one of the leads in it and he was great. He was also great in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

    I am not a huge Michelle Williams fan though. And I think that is because her character was the least interesting and most annoying in Dawson’s Creek.

  2. I’m glad you stand corrected, too. Thirteen Going on Thirty was a predictably silly film, but Ruffalo was adorable in it. And I liked him in Collateral.

  3. I’m a fan of Ruffalo. He’s type cast, but in a good way (though, he’s almost not a cop in this one).

    I think he’s cute.

    Shutter Island is a film that it might be good to watch a second time to see how many clues you missed. I think the Michelle Willaims thing worked well in the end – I was wondering if it was just me who was finding her kinda unlikeable at the start.

  4. Yes. Since ‘You Can Count On Me’ I would count myself as a particular fan of Mark Ruffalo. He’s slouchy twitchy goodness in that filum.

  5. Who is Mark Ruffalo? I’ve noticed his name on at least half a dozen movies I’ve seen, but I can never put a face to the name.

  6. Pearce! I’m shocked at you! How could you not know Mr Ruffalo? He was marked for greatness, in about 2003 he appeared in the coolest indie-ish films going and looked like he was gonna make it, but he never tipped over. Zodiac was his shot, but that didn’t play in Pomona so now he’s solidly Hey It’s That Guy. Hence the gag in my footnote.

  7. I just did a google image search, and he doesn’t look familiar at all; according to his IMDb profile I’ve seen 8 movies he’s been in.

    Obviously he isn’t annoying, talented or distinctive enough to register for me. He certainly looks bland.

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