Shutter Island is a 2010 American neo-noir psychological thriller film directed by Martin Scorsese and written by Laeta Kalogridis, based on Dennis Lehane’s 2003 novel of the same name. Leonardo DiCaprio stars as U.S. Marshal Edward “Teddy” Daniels, who is investigating a psychiatric facility on Shutter Island after one of the patients goes missing.
The film had a troubled development stage, with a number of script rewrites and cast changes. Principal photography took place in 2008 on locations including the Massachusetts State Psychiatric Hospital and Tisbury, Martha’s Vineyard. The film was released on February 19, 2010, by Paramount Pictures.
Critics praised Shutter Island for its direction, screenplay, acting, visuals, and production values, though some criticized its ending. The film grossed $294 million worldwide and received five Academy Award nominations, winning Best Cinematography.
Dennis Lehane’s novel Shutter Island was published in 2003. The story is set in 1954 and centers on U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels, who is investigating the disappearance of a patient from Shutter Island’s Ashecliffe Hospital, a psychiatric facility for the criminally insane.
The novel was optioned by Phoenix Pictures in August 2003. Phoenix Pictures’ Mike Medavoy and Arnold Messer set up the project at Paramount Pictures, with Martin Scorsese attached to direct and Leonardo DiCaprio cast in the lead role. Laeta Kalogridis was hired to adapt the novel.
In March 2007, it was announced that the production had been postponed due to script problems. The next month, it was reported that Scorsese had scrapped Kalogridis’ script and had begun working on a new draft with screenwriter William Monahan.
In May 2007, it was announced that Paramount had green-lit the project, with filming to begin in March 2008. In June 2007, it was announced that Ben Kingsley, Mark Ruffalo, and Emily Mortimer had joined the cast.
Shutter Island began principal photography on March 19, 2008, and concluded on July 16, 2008. The film was shot on location on Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, including the Massachusetts State Psychiatric Hospital and Tisbury.
The film was released in the United States on February 19, 2010. It grossed $128 million in its opening weekend, making it the second-highest February opening weekend ever, behind The Passion of the Christ. The film went on to gross $294 million worldwide.
Shutter Island received positive reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 87% based on 276 reviews, with an average rating of 7.8/10. The site’s critical consensus reads, “Shutter Island is an ambitious thriller that succeeds on the strength of its cast — particularly Leonardo DiCaprio — and Martin Scorsese’s deft direction.”
On Metacritic, the film has a score of 72 out of 100, based on 41 critics, indicating “generally favorable reviews”.
Writing for the Los Angeles Times, Kenneth Turan praised the film, calling it “a masterfully effective thriller” and “a return to top form” for Scorsese. Peter Travers of Rolling Stone also gave the film a positive review, calling it “a spellbinding mystery” and “a triumph”.
However, some critics were less impressed. Writing for The New York Times, Manohla Dargis called the film “a mess” and “a muddle”.
In his review for The Guardian, Peter Bradshaw gave the film three out of five stars, calling it “a watchable mess”.
The film was nominated for five Academy Awards, winning one for Best Cinematography. It was also nominated for three Golden Globe Awards, winning one for Best Supporting Actor (Kingsley).
Synopsis
Shutter Island is a 2010 American neo-noir psychological thriller film directed by Martin Scorsese and written by Laeta Kalogridis, based on Dennis Lehane’s novel of the same name. Leonardo DiCaprio stars as U.S. Marshal Edward “Teddy” Daniels, who is investigating a psychiatric facility on Shutter Island after one of the patients goes missing. Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Max von Sydow, Michelle Williams, and Emily Mortimer also star.
The film began production in March 2009, and was released on February 19, 2010, by Paramount Pictures. Although initially announced as a February release, the studio moved the film to October 2009, then to February 19, 2010, in order to accommodate DiCaprio’s filming schedule for Inception.
Shutter Island had a troubled development history. By February 2004, Lehane had completed a draft of the script and handed it over to Appian Way. Lehane initially wrote the novel as a screenplay, but decided to turn it into a novel when it was clear that the studio wanted to make changes to his original vision.
When Scorsese came on board, he insisted on a faithful adaptation of the novel. The script underwent several drafts, with Scott Cooper being the last writer to work on it. In 2008, Cooper’s draft was leaked on the Internet, which led to a lawsuit from the studio.
Filming took place on location on and around Shutter Island in Massachusetts, as well as in Toronto and Vancouver. The film was a box office success, grossing over $294 million worldwide.
Shutter Island tells the story of U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels (DiCaprio), who is investigating the disappearance of a patient from the titular psychiatric facility in 1954. Teddy and his new partner, Chuck Aule (Ruffalo), travel to the island by ferry, where they are met by Dr. Cawley (Kingsley), the facility’s director.
Teddy and Chuck soon realize that the patients at the facility are not what they seem, and that the staff is keeping secrets. As they investigate further, they begin to suspect that the disappearances are connected to a government conspiracy.
As their investigation comes to a close, Teddy suffers a nervous breakdown, and is committed to the facility himself. In the film’s final twist, it is revealed that Teddy is actually a patient at the facility, and that his memories of his wife’s death are false. The film ends with Teddy being led away by the staff, his mind still shattered.
Movie Details
Director: Martin Scorsese
Writer: Laeta Kalogridis
Actors: Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley
Release Year: 2010