Last Updated:8:43 PM EST 2/24/10 Section: Lifestyles

Media Credit: Paramount Pictures Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Ruffalo are on the case in this Scorsese thriller.

Before watching Shutter Island, directed by Martin Scorsese, I read opinions about the movie saying that the famed director should stay with the crime/mob genre that made him known as one of the most influential American directors ever.

After watching his most recent work, I decided Scorsese is so talented that if he wanted to direct a romantic comedy, I believe it could possibly be as successful as Goodfellas or The Departed.

Shutter Island begins with star Leonardo DiCaprio throwing up on a small ship because of seasickness (ironic for a man that was once in Titanic). This eerie scene sets the mood for the movie and doesn't leave the crowd disappointed.

DiCaprio and co-star Mark Ruffalo play U.S. marshals Teddy Daniels and Chuck Aule, respectively, who are assigned to investigate the sudden disappearance of a patient at a hospital for the criminally insane on an island in Massachusetts.

Upon arriving at the island, they meet Dr. John Cawley (Ben Kingsley), the hospital's chief administrator. It seems to the two marshals that the doctor is trying to deceive them.

As the movie continues, the marshals interview other patients and the doctors. Teddy Daniels begins to find out the nature of this mental hospital, or so he thinks.

The actors that play the criminally insane patients in the ward make the movie even better and give it an even creepier mood.

The ending does get a little complicated, but as it is finally unravels, it seems that the audience collectively says, "Ah, now I understand," which I don't necessarily see as a bad thing in a psychological thriller like this.

DiCaprio, Kingsley and Ruffalo perform nearly flawless roles that seem to give this film exactly what it needs.

I especially enjoyed every scene that Kingsley was in because of his perfectly mysterious depiction of the doctor.

The modern classical music that is used gives the film a touch of spookiness that would not be possible with another type of music. It slowly helps build momentum and puts the audience on the edge of their seats.

One aspect of this movie that I particularly enjoyed was that, unlike many thriller or horror movies, the scenes in Shutter Island that make you jump are not because of loud thunder or someone shooting a gun in silence.

As the movie got closer to the end, I felt like it was starting to drag on. However, before I could even think that this movie was starting to bore me, it quickly came back on pace.

Shutter Island may not be one of Martin Scorsese's most well-known movies such as Casino or Taxi Driver, but this psychological thriller is able to keep the audience involved with great storytelling and believable characters.

I highly suggest you choose this over Dear John.

ejm03514@sjfc.edu

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