Review of Shutter Island (2010) by Jacob S — 21 Dec 2018

Martin Scorseseâ(TM)s â~Shutter Islandâ(TM), is one of his more underrated works and one different from his usual mob/crime cinematic masterpieces. The only imprint he leaves to make it one of his own is his lead role, Leonardo DiCaprio, who is now a staple in Scorsese movies, and the brilliantly shot Film-Noir Cinematography that is used throughout his works. This film simply throws you in for a thrill ride with loops and twists, yet it has an impressively disguised definitive ending if you notice the details. Shutter Islandâ(TM)s ending scene is a neatly twisted closure with just as much tension as it had throughout the movie. Filled with small details, Scorsese practically hands you the answers itâ(TM)s just up to the viewer to notice. A look at the ending scene, âLive as a Monster or Die as a Good Manâ?, will innerve the mind to meticulously identify and put together the pieces that are encompassed by the, â~big fourâ(TM) elements of movie-making.

Mise-en-scene.

The shot is filmed at the entrance of Shutter Islandâ(TM)s Insane Asylum, during the day, where after the revelation that Teddy Daniels is actually the missing patient and not really a Federal Marshall, hoping that the Doctorâ(TM)s plan of revealing his scheme works sends in Danielsâ(TM) personal doctor to see what his mental state is. Few shots are held while the rest are landscaped -across for the scene which shows patients doing daily chores in white garbs as well as nurses and police keeping a close eye on them. Trees and the garden are in view as well as patients, nurses, doctors walking by and Teddy and Chuck sitting at the steps to the entrance smoking cigarettes.

Cinematography/Editing.

When Chuck sits down with Teddy itâ(TM)s a Low turned straight on shot with the camera notably being hand held by the way the camera got into position. Next to show the emotion on Chuckâ(TM)s face, yet still show Teddyâ(TM)s in the foreground but not the focus, the camera cuts to a side close up to get both their faces on but still only focus on Chuck. Next the camera cuts to an opposite close up so that now Chuck is in the foreground focused nodding to an off-screen person while Teddy watches in the background keenly. Then the shot turns to the doctor behind the whole experiment shown on the lawn with a colleague and the head police officer on the island. It then does a close up on the doctor to show his reaction to his â~failedâ(TM) experiment. Now a medium shot is shown showing all the expressions of the men when the doctor tells them as well. Lips are seen moving but no noise is heard, just that of the morning birds chirping, eerily peaceful and quiet. Switching back to Teddy and Chuck with the shot that they left at but now both are focused. They talk for a few then it cuts to a high long shot of the colleague and officer walking across the lawn towards Teddy while the doctor has his back turned away in the background and stays. The shot follows them but from the front. A close up of a nurse holding a lobotomy tool is seen, then cuts back to Teddy and Chuck where Teddy says the infamous line and Chuck realizes that Teddy isnâ(TM)t still in his fantasy world but would rather die a â~good manâ(TM). The shot finally moves back at a low angle as Teddy gets up from the steps to go get a lobotomy. Chuck in the background looks confused and calls his name in an interrogative way. The camera lingers for a bit on Chuck to catch his expression and reaction. From a high angle medium shot from behind, Teddy walks down the steps and walks off with the nurses, officer and colleague doctor who await him. Teddy glances to his left and the camera cuts to a medium close up of the doctorâ(TM)s face then cuts to Teddy. The high medium shot previous to the double close ups is back but it stays put as all 5 of them walk straight on the concrete path presumably to get Teddy lobotomized.

Sound.

The sound is purposefully low with just the conversation between Chuck and Teddy being audible while the rest are muted and birds chirp in the background.