Saturday, 18 September 2010

Not the usual Hollywood blockbuster



Shutter Island is not the usual Hollywood blockbuster. Directed by Martin Scorsese, this psychological thriller is insanely intriguing. It’s the type of film which could confuse you, so it’s advisable to pay attention! Nevertheless, it’s worth it.

Leonardo DiCaprio plays Edward "Teddy" Daniels, a U.S. Marshal who is investigating the disappearance of a patient from an island psychiatric facility. The story line wasn’t at all what I expected, with a surprising twist at the end. Little is given away and, as the film continued, my curiosity just kept growing.

The film flicks between reality and Daniels’s imagination, nightmares and past. Unlike other films, Scorsese has managed to slip in these scenes without interrupting the story. They are particularly powerful and surreal; the effects are fantastic and so convincing that I felt uncomfortable.

Sounds play a large part. Music helps to set the tone, increasing the suspense. I especially liked the parts where only footsteps or the character’s breathing could be heard over the music. I also found it refreshing how Daniels, the main character is not typically strong. He’s scared, haunted by his past and by the death of his wife. The reason for this apparent weakness is revealed towards the end.

Scorsese shot the film in such a way that it plays on the perspective and disorientates the audience. At one point, the characters are seen from the floor and, during another scene, there are fast close-ups mixed with sound clips.

I would definitely recommend Shutter Island, not just for the unusual plot but also for the style of filming.

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