Shutter Island DVD Blu-ray Review
Shutter Island DVD Blu-ray Review
Ascend the Stairway to Horrors with Leo Di Caprio
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Being a dyed-in-the-wool Scorsese fan (and occasional apologist), I was really hopeful that my second viewing of Shutter Island (I reviewed it for the theatrical release, which you may read here) would be easier.
= = = Spoiler Alert = = =
I shouldn't even have to note spoilers, since the novel upon which the movie is based was a huge bestseller and on top of that, any semi-astute viewer will see the "twist" coming about a mile and half away very shortly into the film. BUT… just in case, consider yourself warned.
Scorsese go-to guy Leonardo DiCaprio and the affable Mark Ruffalo play federal marshals circa 1954, who're sent to examine the mysterious disappearance of a dangerous female inmate from a gloomy and super-secluded — ala Alcatraz, the facility's sequestered by sea — high-security institution for the criminally insane.
Flanked by some truly great supporting players (Max von Sydow, Sir Ben Kingsley, Michelle Williams, Jackie Earle Haley, and Emily Mortimer to name just a few), the acting — while often over-the-top and sometimes bordering on histrionic — really can't be faulted once you've seen the behind the scenes footage on the DVD (mine was Blu-ray, and w-o-w — what a great picture and superb sound!).
For the plot recap, please refer to the review. My opinion has not changed.
It has, however, softened. It must have been (and it shows) exceedingly difficult for the actors to, as one of them says in an interview, "play three sides of one character." Let's take Ruffalo, for example. He is shown to us (the audience) and is perceived by Teddy (DiCaprio) as a U.S. Federal Marshal. That's one. But he is really a psychiatrist playing a part in an elaborate hoax; he knows this of course, and so as an actor Ruffalo's got to tip that hand that to some extent. That's two. And then, there's the emotional side of the character — he's got to pretend he is the partner and trusted friend of the insane inmate (and maybe he actually does like, or at least, pity, him). That's three. So it's no wonder the acting is uneven and all over the place in the movie. I really think Scorsese over-thought this one and painted himself into a corner even MC Escher couldn't find a way out of.
And here we are at the artistic influences on the film. Escher is one (very evident in the production design, especially the Ward C staircase mosaic), and so is Dali, plus countless nods to German Expressionism… not to mention the very strong (and much appreciated) nods to some of the great Film Noir visualists (Gregg Toland, John Alton, and Nicholas Musuraca for sure). The imagery in the movie, while somewhat disconcerting at times with too much CGI (I think the naturalistic noir approach would have been more effective, but then again — how many times has Scorsese been nominated for the Oscar?), are absolutely beautiful and crystal clear on the Blu-ray.
In addition, I also gained a better understanding and appreciation for Robby Robertson's score. It was less-grating in my home theater, as I could hear the nuances more singularly. Also, the interview with Scorsese in the DVD extras educated me about the motivation for the music chosen and how it was tweaked and reshaped to enhance the story.
Overall, I still think Shutter Island is a misfire. But it's a very pretty one.
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Reviewed by Staci Layne Wilson
DVD Features:
Interview With Cast And Crew;
Featurettes: Behind the Shutters; and Into the Lighthouse