Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio have collaborated for their fourth film in Shutter Island. DiCaprio plays a federal marshal on assignment at Shutter Island, an island mental asylum for the criminally insane, and what plays out is an illustration of movie class at its finest.Every scene, indeed every shot, is quality and packed with stylised cinema. Much of this style is unquestionably Hitchcockian, however the layers that are going on owe far more than to one genre only. This material suits DiCaprio’s acting down to the ground. There is no room for subtlety here and we know that Leo can deliver that in spades. For all the acting competency on offer, including Mr Reliable, Ben Kingsley, the accolades belong squarely with the technical staff, and Scorsese himself who have created a psychological, thriller, detective, drama, with a fair licking of horror to boot.
Its a rollicking journey: and an enjoyable one. It will be interesting to see if the notorious short memory spans of the Academy voters will extend to Shutter Island, this long out from the 2011 Oscars.
