Shutter Island (2010)

"Someone is missing."

Directed by Martin Scorsese
Produced by Martin Scorsese, Bradley J. Fischer, Mike Medavoy, Arnold W. Messer
Screenplay by Laeta Kalogridis, Steven Knight
Based on "Shutter Island" by Dennis Lehane
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Michelle Williams, Patricia Clarkson, Max von Sydow
Cinematography: Robert Richardson
Edited by Thelma Schoonmaker
Production companies: Appian Way Productions, Phoenix Pictures, Sikelia Productions
Distributed by Paramount Pictures
Release date: 18 February 2010 (Australia)
Running time: 138 minutes
Country: United States
Budget: $80 million
Box office: $294,804,195

"Shutter Island" is a mystery thriller film directed by Martin Scorsese and based on Dennis Lehane's novel of the same name. The story is about U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels who while investigating of the disappearance of an insane murderess finds out the truth about himself.

Cast

• Leonardo DiCaprio as Edward "Teddy" Daniels/ Andrew Laeddis
• Mark Ruffalo as Chuck Aule
• Ben Kingsley as Dr. John Cawley
• Max von Sydow as Dr. Jeremiah Naehring
• Michelle Williams as Dolores Chanal
• Emily Mortimer as Rachel Solando
• Patricia Clarkson as Dr. Rachel Solando
• Jackie Earle Haley as George Noyce
• Ted Levine as Warden
• John Carroll Lynch as Deputy Warden McPherson
• Elias Koteas as Andrew Laeddis (in visions)
• Jill Larson as Old Manacled Woman
• Ken Cheeseman as Doctor 1
• Ruby Jerins as Little Girl
• Robin Bartlett as Bridget Kearns
• Christopher Denham as Peter Breene
• Matthew Cowles as Ferry Boat Captain

I adore films like that: firstly they plant a bomb, a fake story, and then it explodes! Splendidly! Martin Scorsese who is more known to me for his gangster pictures amazed me with his his psychological thriller. The only disadvantage was some unnatural special effects but that was all: the twisted plot and the magnificent cast were on the high level.

My love to Leonardo DiCaprio is boundless. Therefore I'm ready to watch every film with his starring roles as he guarantees an excellent way of spending time. And "Shutter Island" isn't an exception. I also want to mention performances of Mark Ruffalo (Foxcatcher), Jackie Earle Haley ("Watchmen") and Michelle Williams (My Week with Marilyn) who make a story complete.

Advantages

• Leonardo DiCaprio as Edward "Teddy" Daniels/ Andrew Laeddis
• Mark Ruffalo as Chuck Aule
• An interesting story
• The atmosphere of an asylum

Disadvantages

• At times the film seems slow moving

"Strangenesses"

• What is the truth?

Clue Moments

• The lighthouse

Are you insane? Or crazy? Are you sure that you are not? Some people can drive you crazy, mistake the wish for the reality and make everything head over heels. So be all eyes...

Let's clear up all with several psychiatrical and medical terms - for the aid to Wikipedia.

First of all, the insanity defense. In criminal trials, the insanity defense is the claim that the defendant is not responsible for his or her actions during a mental health episode (psychiatric illness or mental handicap). Exemption of the insane from full criminal punishment dates back to at least the Code of Hammurabi.There are different definitions of legal insanity, such as the M'Naghten Rules, the Durham Rule, the American Legal Institute definition, and various miscellaneous provisions (e.g., relating to lack of mens rea).

Secondly, migraine. It's a chronic neurological disease characterized by recurrent moderate to severe headaches often in association with a number of autonomic nervous system symptoms.

Typically the headache affects one half of the head, is pulsating in nature, and lasts from 2 to 72 hours. Associated symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light, sound, or smell. The pain is generally made worse by physical activity. Up to one-third of people with migraine headaches perceive an aura: a transient visual, sensory, language, or motor disturbance which signals that the headache will soon occur. Occasionally an aura can occur with little or no headache following it.

Migraines are believed to be due to a mixture of environmental and genetic factors. About two-thirds of cases run in families. Changing hormone levels may also play a role, as migraines affect slightly more boys than girls before puberty, but about two to three times more women than men. The risk of migraines usually decreases during pregnancy. The exact mechanisms of migraine are not known. It is, however, believed to be a neurovascular disorder. The primary theory is related to increased excitability of the cerebral cortex and abnormal control of pain neurons in the trigeminal nucleus of the brainstem.

Thirdly, lobotomy. It's a neurosurgical procedure, a form of psychosurgery. It consists of cutting or scraping away most of the connections to and from the prefrontal cortex, the anterior part of the frontal lobes of the brain.

The procedure, controversial from its inception, was a mainstream procedure for more than two decades (prescribed for psychiatric and occasionally other conditions) despite general recognition of frequent and serious side effects. While some patients experienced symptomatic improvement with the operation, this was achieved at the cost of creating other impairments, and this balance between benefits and risks contributed to the controversial nature of the procedure. The originator of the procedure, the Portuguese neurologist António Egas Moniz, shared the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine of 1949 for the "discovery of the therapeutic value of leucotomy in certain psychoses".

The use of the procedure increased dramatically in some countries from the early 1940s and into the 1950s; by 1951, almost 20,000 lobotomies had been performed in the United States. Following the introduction of antipsychotic medications in the mid-1950s, lobotomies underwent a gradual but definite decline.

Fourthly, psychoactive drugs. Psychopharmaceutical, or psychotropic is any chemical substance that changes brain function and results in alterations in perception, mood, or consciousness. These substances may be used recreationally, to purposefully alter one's consciousness, or as entheogens, for ritual, spiritual, or shamanic purposes, as a tool for studying or augmenting the mind. Some categories of psychoactive drugs, which are prescription medicines, have medical therapeutic utility, such as anesthetics, analgesics, hormonal preparations, anticonvulsant and antiparkinsonian drugs or for the treatment of neuro-psychiatric disorders, as hypnotic drugs, anxiolytic and some stimulant medications used in ADHD and some sleep disorders. There are also some psychoactive substances used in the detoxification and rehabilitation programs for psychoactive drug users.

Fifthly, mind control. Brainwashing, reeducation, coercive persuasion, thought control, or thought reform is a theoretical indoctrination process which results in "an impairment of autonomy, an inability to think independently, and a disruption of beliefs and affiliations. In this context, brainwashing refers to the involuntary reeducation of basic beliefs and values".

Theories of brainwashing and of mind control were originally developed to explain how totalitarian regimes appeared to systematically indoctrinate prisoners of war through propaganda and torture techniques. These theories were later expanded and modified by psychologists including Margaret Singer and Philip Zimbardo to explain a wider range of phenomena, especially conversions to new religious movements (NRMs). The suggestion that NRMs use mind control techniques has resulted in scientific and legal debate; with Eileen Barker, James Richardson, and other scholars, as well as legal experts, rejecting at least the popular understanding of the concept.

Newer theories have been proposed by scholars including: Robert Cialdini, Robert Jay Lifton, Daniel Romanovsky, Kathleen Taylor, and Benjamin Zablocki. The concept of mind control is sometimes involved in legal cases, especially regarding child custody; and is also a major theme in both science fiction and in criticism of modern corporate culture.

Soundtracks

1. Orchestra Of St. Lukes & John Adams - Fog Tropes
2. Allegro Moderato The National Polish Radio Symphony & Antonio Wit - Symphony No.3 - Passacaglia
3. Philipp Vandrй - Music For Marcel Duchamp
4. Nam June Paik - Hommage A John Cage
5. Wiener Philharmoniker & Claudio Abbado - Lontano 
6. Uc Berkeley Chamber Chorus - Rothko Chapel 2
7. Johnnie Ray - Cry
8. Max Richter - On The Nature Of Daylight
9. Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra - Uaxuctum - 3Rd Movement
10. Prazak Quartet - Quartet For Strings And Piano In A Minor
11. The San Francisco Symphony & Edo De Waart - Christian Zeal And Activity
12. The New Professionals Orchestra & Rebecca Miller - Suite For Symphonic Strings - Nocturne
13. Brian Eno - Lizard Point 
14. Torleif Thedйen & Entcho Radoukanov - Four Hymns - Ii For Cello And Double Bass
15. Boris Berman - Root Of An Unfocus
16. Ingram Marshall - Prelude - The Bay
17. Kay Starr - Wheel Of Fortune
18. Lonnie Johnson - Tomorrow Night 
19. Dinah Washington & Max Richter - This Bitter Earth - On The Nature Of Daylight

Quotations

* * *

Teddy Daniels: So, what's our next move?
Chuck Aule: You tell me.
Teddy Daniels: I gotta get off this rock, Chuck. Get back to the mainland. Whatever the hell's going on here, it's bad. Don't worry, partner, they're not gonna catch us.
Chuck Aule: That's right, we're too smart for 'em.
Teddy Daniels: Yeah, we are, aren't we? You know, this place makes me wonder.
Chuck Aule: Yeah, what's that, boss?
Teddy Daniels: Which would be worse - to live as a monster? Or to die as a good man?

* * *

Teddy Daniels: I had a friend. I was with him yesterday, but we got separated. Have you seen him?
Rachel 2: Marshal... you have no friends.

* * *

George Noyce: This is a game. All of this is for you. You're not investigating anything. You're a f*cking rat in a maze.

* * *

George Noyce: You wanna uncover the truth? You gotta let her go.
Teddy Daniels: I can't.
George Noyce: You have to let her go!
Teddy Daniels: I can't! I can't!
George Noyce: Then you'll never leave this island.

* * *

Dr. Jeremiah Naehring: Did you know that the word 'trauma' comes from the Greek for 'wound'? Hm? And what is the German word for 'dream'? Traum. Ein Traum. Wounds can create monsters, and you, you are wounded, Marshal. And wouldn't you agree, when you see a monster, you... you must stop it?
Teddy Daniels: Yeah... I agree.

* * *

Nurse Marino: She was in a group therapy session.
Teddy Daniels: Anything unusual occur?
Nurse Marino: Define 'unusual'.
Teddy Daniels: Excuse me?
Nurse Marino: This is a mental institution, Marshal. For the criminally insane. Usual isn't a big part of our day.

* * *

Dr. John Cawley: Sanity's not a choice, Marshall. You can't just choose to get over it.

* * *

Teddy Daniels: After she tried to kill herself the first time, Dolores told me she... she had an insect living inside her brain. She could feel it clicking across her skull, just... pulling the wires, just for fun. She told me that. She told me that but I didn't listen. I loved her so much.

* * *

Warden: If I was to sink my teeth into your eye right now, would you be able to stop me before I blinded you?
Teddy Daniels: Give it a try.
Warden: That's the spirit.

* * *

Rachel 2: You're smarter than you look, Marshal. That's probably not a good thing.

* * *

Warden: Did you enjoy God's latest gift?
Teddy Daniels: What?
Warden: God's gift. Your violence. When I came downstairs in my home, and I saw that tree in my living room, it reached out for me... a divine hand. God loves violence.
Teddy Daniels: I... I hadn't noticed.
Warden: Sure you have. Why else would there be so much of it? It's in us. It's what we are. We wage war, we burn sacrifices, and pillage and plunder and tear at the flesh of our brothers. And why? Because God gave us violence to wage in his honor.
Teddy Daniels: I thought God gave us moral order.
Warden: There's no moral order as pure as this storm. There's no moral order at all. There's just this: can my violence conquer yours?

* * *

Rachel 2: Fifty years from now, people will look back and say, "Here, at this place, is where it all began. The Nazis used the Jews, Soviets used prisoners in their own Gulags. And we - we tested patients on Shutter Island."

* * *

Dr. John Cawley: It's my job to treat the patients, not their victims.

* * *

Warden: You're as violent as they come. I know this, because I'm as violent as they come. If the constraints of society were lifted, and I was all that stood between you and a meal, you would crack my skull with a rock and eat my meaty parts. Wouldn't you?

* * *

Dr. Jeremiah Naehring: Men like you are my specialty, you know. Men of violence.
Chuck Aule: Now, that's a hell of an assumption to make.
Dr. Jeremiah Naehring: No assumption, no, not at all. You misunderstand me. I said, you are 'men of violence'. I'm not accusing you of being violent men. That's quite different.

* * *

Teddy Daniels: Pull yourself together, Teddy. Pull yourself together.

* * *

Teddy Daniels: I could come get you, get, get you off this island.
Rachel 2: Haven't you heard a word I've said? The only way off the island is the ferry, and they control it. You'll never leave here.

* * *
You may see the trailer here.

Plot: 9/10

Entertainment: 9/10

Acting: 8/10

Originality: 8/10

Music and Sound: 8/10

8/10