| How do I feel about the work of legendary | | | | up the haunting sanitarium. It doesn't take long |
| filmmaker Martin Scorsese, you ask? Let's put it | | | | before certain truths are uncovered and the two |
| this way, if the man made a 6-hour documentary | | | | marshals discover that there is something far |
| on the history of sand, I would go to the theater | | | | worse happening on Shutter Island than what |
| and see it. The 67-year-old director, whose name | | | | appears on the surface. |
| is synonymous with cinema among film geeks and | | | | Along with DiCaprio and Ruffalo, the film also |
| casual moviegoers alike, has had such an illustrious | | | | stars the always-great Ben Kingsley. Oh, I'm |
| career in Hollywood that he really doesn't need | | | | sorry, Sir Ben Kingsley (The House of Sand and |
| any introduction. With a resume that spans over | | | | Fog, Elegy). Acting alongside these three talented |
| fifty years and well over thirty films, there aren't | | | | gentlemen is also Patricia Clarkson, Max von |
| too many people out there who haven't seen a | | | | Sydow and Jackie Earle Haley, an actor who is |
| Martin Scorsese picture at this stage in the game. | | | | slowly solidifying himself as one of my favorite |
| Known more for his gritty character studies and | | | | character actors. The film's adapted screenplay is |
| violent gangster dramas, most people will typically | | | | courtesy of Laeta Kalogridis, whose previous |
| cite Goodfellas, Taxi Driver and The Departed | | | | screen writing credits include Oliver Stone's |
| (the film that finally won the man his long-awaited | | | | Alexander. |
| Oscar) when discussions arise about the films of | | | | The movie is based on the critically acclaimed |
| Martin Scorsese, despite the fact that the man | | | | book of the same name from distinguished author |
| has dipped his chip plenty of other material. Sadly | | | | Dennis Lehane, a man who is very familiar with |
| though, one area where the director as been | | | | seeing his work unfold on the big screen. Some of |
| rather vacant from is the thriller/mystery/horror | | | | his other novels besides Shutter Island are Mystic |
| genre, a field where audiences haven't seen him | | | | River and Gone Baby Gone. So yeah, the man |
| since his wonderfully gripping remake of Cape | | | | knows a thing or two about writing a story. |
| Fear, starring longtime collaborator Robert De Niro | | | | Gothic-style storytelling in the vein of Edgar Allen |
| and Nick Nolte. Sure, there was Bringing Out The | | | | Poe and horror-infused pulp fiction is what the |
| Dead after that, but that was more of a black | | | | author cites as his inspirations for writing the |
| comedy if anything and one of his weaker films. | | | | book. A book that the films producer, Bradley J. |
| Luckily though, that is about to change as the | | | | Fischer, describes as "a thriller and a Gothic |
| director makes his long-awaited return to the | | | | mystery, but there is also much more to it |
| thriller/mystery genre with the upcoming release | | | | because it has so much depth and deals with |
| of Shutter Island, the new film from Paramount | | | | serious moral issues. The dense, atmospheric plot |
| Pictures. The movie marks the fourth collaboration | | | | features a series of twists and turns that leaves |
| between Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio, with | | | | you reeling and is quite mind-blowing." |
| the previous three being Gangs of New York, | | | | It seems that the story's engaging, nightmarish |
| The Aviator and The Departed. So with this track | | | | plot is what brought all creative minds behind the |
| record, there's a pretty good chance Shutter | | | | film to the project, including Scorsese. "This is the |
| Island is going to be a decent movie. And even | | | | type of picture I like to watch, the kind of story I |
| though that is quite the impressive list the two | | | | like to read," Scorsese explains. "Over the years, I |
| have created together, Leo has along way to go | | | | think I've stayed away from certain kinds of |
| to take over De Niro's top spot as the director's | | | | pictures that emulate the style that I find |
| favorite leading man. The two of them have done | | | | nurturing in a way, but these are the kinds of |
| a total of nine films together. | | | | films I go back to and view repeatedly. I've |
| The film was supposed to be released in theaters | | | | always been drawn to this sort of story. What's |
| this past October, which would have allowed it's | | | | interesting to me is how the story keeps |
| spooky material to fit in a little more with the | | | | changing, and the reality of what's happening |
| Halloween-crazed times and more surprisingly, the | | | | keeps changing, and how up until the very final |
| fall release would have primed Shutter Island for | | | | scene, it's all about how the truth is perceived." |
| the 2009-2010 award season, something that | | | | Similar is how DiCaprio felt, crediting the story as |
| everyone took for a given with the success | | | | well for his interest in Shutter Island. "A lot of |
| Scorsese had during The Departed's run at the | | | | things about this character appealed to me," Leo |
| Oscars. The real reason why the film's release | | | | explains. "Teddy comes to Shutter Island devoted |
| was postponed is one of those major movie | | | | to solving a mystery and to uncover what is |
| studio secrets that only the Hollywood Big Wigs | | | | really going on, but he has his own innermost |
| truly know, but reports had stated that | | | | agenda and secrets. He's in a situation where |
| Paramount Pictures' primary motivation for the | | | | there's a lot more to his journey than there at |
| delay was to not allow the film to get in the way | | | | first appears to be. One of the great things about |
| of The Lovely Bones, Peter Jackson's rather | | | | the story is that it's constantly jarring you. It |
| disappointing flop from earlier this year, which was | | | | works on so many different levels; it's like a giant |
| one of the studio's releases that they had hoped | | | | layer cake." |
| would be a frontrunner in the Oscar race. Man, I | | | | But naturally, it was also the draw of once again |
| bet they wish they had that one back. | | | | collaborating with his old friend that pushed Leo |
| As I stated earlier, Shutter Island is an eerie | | | | over the edge in agreeing to do the film. "The one |
| thriller that is set in the year 1954 with the | | | | thing I don't think people understand about |
| majority of the film taking place in an insanely | | | | Scorsese is how much he believes in the actors |
| creepy (pun intended) psychiatric hospital for the | | | | he hires and how much he depends on them |
| criminally insane that ironically is located on a | | | | doing their homework before they show up on |
| desolate island that shares its name with the | | | | the set." DiCaprio went on to say, "With Teddy |
| movie. Two "dually appointed federal marshals," | | | | [his character], there were certain fine lines we |
| played by Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Ruffalo | | | | couldn't cross and that was very challenging. I |
| (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, The | | | | really needed Scorsese's guidance on how far |
| Brothers Bloom) are summoned to Shutter Island | | | | things could be pushed." |
| to investigate the bizarre disappearance of one of | | | | And really, I don't know of too many directors |
| the hospital's patients. | | | | that actors would rather receive guidance from |
| Unable to leave the island thanks to an | | | | than Martin Scorsese. Will Shutter Island be as |
| approaching hurricane, the two men shack up at | | | | successful as the duo's previous films? You can |
| the hospital and focus all of their attention and | | | | see for yourself, the film opens in theaters |
| efforts on solving the case by "investigating" the | | | | everywhere on February 19, 2010. |
| dark chambers and creepy corridors that make | | | | |