Strange things are afoot on ‘Shutter Island’

Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Ruffalo frolic on ‘Shutter Island’(AP Photo/Paramount Pictures)

The movie: Shutter Island

The minds behind it: Director: Martin Scorsese; screenplay by Laeta Kalogridis; based on the novel by Dennis Lehane.

Famous people in the movie that will make people go see it: Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Michelle Williams, Ben Kingsley, Max von Sydow, Emily Mortimer, Patricia Clarkson, and Jackie Earle Haley.

Year the movie takes place: 1954

What I wore to the screening: Teal green Sisley button down, navy Alexander Olch tie with little dogs on it, black H&M cardigan, black waxed denim April 77 jeans, Chinook banded collar military jacket, and Calvin Klein combat boots

Long story short: U.S. Marshals Teddy Daniels (DiCaprio) and Chuck Aule (Ruffalo) are sent to an asylum called Ashecliffe Hospital on Shutter Island near Boston. With their “why I oughta” attitudes and accents, they investigate the mysterious disappearance of one of their patients (Mortimer). One thing leads to another and some crazy shit starts to go down which causes Teddy to have a big “WTF” looming above his head throughout most of the film.

A movie that screws with your mind is always enjoyable: Cut from the same cloth as Cape Fear, the movie gets under your skin. It’s like a worm that crawls into your ear and then burrows itself into your brain and violates it in so many ways – and Scorsese makes you enjoy it. It’s like cinemaschosim. The film is billed as a thriller and it’s layered with driven backstories, theories of mind control, nightmarish fantasy sequences, lots of cigarettes and sanitized white asylum uniform. As Teddy tries to put the pieces of this puzzle together with a shaky hand, you are bolted down to your seat trying to endure this “rat in a maze” tale of doubting onself and others.

What could’ve made the movie a big ol’ suckfest? Even though I haven’t read the book, the storyline presents itself as tricky. With a very texturized plot, translating it into a feature film would be quite a feat. There’s a lot of juggling going on and from a big-screen storytelling standpoint, it succeeds if you really glue yourself to the screen and commit yourself. As for the plot twists – they were almost predictable. But they were executed with a clever and steady hand.

What does Michelle Williams have to do with it? Oh yeah, the Dawson’s Creek star plays Teddy’s wife who died in a fire. (Or did she?)

Haley, Clarkson and Kingsley: That sounds like a law firm. Haley and Clarkson have minimum screentime and do make the most of it as Shutter Islanders. As for Kingsley, you know that this homeboy is up to something from the very beginning – and he makes sure you follow him until you find out. He’s such a tease.

Best use of a tacky accessory: That novelty pink and green tie Teddy wears. Sure, it symbolizes his dead wife – but man – it is really ugly. Maybe his wife gave it to him as a joke and he just didn’t get it. It looks like something you’d find at a gas station in Florida.

Overall critique: Chances are, the movie will make you want to read the book and if you’ve read the book, you’ll probably want to see the movie. Grade: B+