Shutter Island: More than One Type of Prison
Contains spoilers!
Based on the Dennis Lehane novel, Shutter Island, released in 2010, forces the viewer to think, “What is real?” The film, directed by Martin Scorsese, tells the story of U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio), who ventures to Shutter Island, home of the infamous Ashecliffe Hospital for the Criminally Insane, located on Shutter Island in the Boston Harbor. One of the patients has escaped, and Teddy and his partner, fellow Marshal Chuck (Mark Ruffalo), are assigned to track her down. As the investigation deepens, Teddy finds himself struggling to maintain his own sanity, seeing hallucinations of his deceased wife Dolores (Michelle Williams).
The film is only one in the long list of DiCaprio-Scorsese collaborations, and it’s a clear example of why the pair works so well together. Together, the two bring forth a strong film, making it-in my opinion- one of Scorsese’s most underrated works. DiCaprio’s performance shows a man that is being challenged with what he perceives as reality, and Scorsese’s direction makes Ashecliffe claustrophobic, uneasy, and an unpleasant experience, in the best way.
At the climax of the film, Teddy learns that he himself is a patient of Ashecliffe and that the whole “escaped mental patient” situation has been a façade. Teddy murdered Delores after she had previously killed their children. Dr. Cawley (Ben Kingsley) allowed Teddy to play out the whole scenario in a last-ditch attempt to force him to admit what he’s done.
I will admit, it’s strange to see DiCaprio in a role like this, but as mentioned, he, like all his previous films and future ones, brings his A-game to this and never falters. I think part of that strangeness is that we don’t know who Teddy really is until the climax. We are just as caught up in the fantasy as Teddy is, and we are just as surprised when the curtain is pulled back.
Ruffalo’s Chuck, though, isn’t nearly as interesting as Teddy. Ruffalo doesn’t have near the commanding presence as DiCaprio here, and Chuck is about the same way: follow Teddy around like a good dog, making sure he doesn’t get in trouble. When Chuck disappears at the start of the climax, I, personally, am not scared for Chuck; I’m nervous for Teddy and how he’ll react.
Ben Kingsley, on the other hand, rivals Teddy as the most interesting character in the film. Part of Teddy’s illusion about Briarcliffe is that the institution is performing surgeries to control people, making them into mindless drones. Kingsley plays the part as though he knows more than he’s letting on, though the secret isn’t what Teddy believes it to be. When he reveals to Teddy the last few days have been a hallucination, one can feel the genuine compassion Cawley has for those in his care, even the monsters like Teddy. Cawley’s hope for Teddy’s redemption leaks over to us.
Shutter Island ranks highly, for me, as one of Scorsese’s best works; this film ranks third after TheDeparted (2006) in first, and Goodfellas (1990) in second. It’s a film that I would argue has some of the best atmosphere of any thriller film. I can’t wait for my next return to Ashecliffe and its deranged patients.
Cast
Leonardo DiCaprio as Teddy Daniels
Mark Ruffalo as Chuck Aule
Ben Kinglsey as Dr. John Cawley
Michelle Williams as Dolores Chanal
