Shutter Island

A serious condition that has been a headline grabber in recent years is that of post traumatic stress disorder. It is a condition that has been around for as long as people have fought each other on the battlefields. It's been known as shell shock and battle fatigue. It is a disorder that develops in people who have experienced a severe psychological trauma. For soldiers, that can be an everyday experience. Films have explored this area before, notably in The Deer Hunter. It is becoming more prevalent as the central element of plot and character.
Shutter Island is directed by the esteemed Martin Scorsese. His previous romps in the thriller field have been lukewarm. Cape Fear was weak to say the least. Yet Scorsese finds something with Shutter Island. A certain note or feel that escaped that previous work. More like he decided to change instruments altogether. The film is set in 1954 and follows U.S. Marshall Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) as he investigates a missing persons case on the secluded mental institution of the films title. It hits you right away: this island is no fun. It looks like Shawshank prison on crack. The place and staff feel....wrong. Ben Kingsley finds a remarkable uneasiness about his character that builds on you. Max Von Sydow is equally as unsettling. And yet all theyre characters really do is...well, act like doctors of the criminally insane. Perhaps that's whats scary. They appear perfectly normal considering the patients they tend to. These are seriously deranged individuals, what does it take to be the one who treats them? The film ends with a whimper when it could have bellowed. Its unfortunate because it nearly messes up the film as a whole by this much. The body of the film is solid oak and withstands the damage. Some people may criticize certain moments of editing, but it's effect is achieved based on the content.
The film explores the state of the human mind. Unlike many films which follow the thriller script to a 't', Shutter Island provides new and character driven content. Not to mention, for those who pay attention, Scorsese does an effective job paying tribute to the great crime noire thrillers of the '50's.