Shutter Island

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Directed by Martin Scorsese
Produced by Martin Scorsese, Mike Medavoy, Arnold Messer, and Brad Fischer

Screenplay by Laeta Kalogridis Based on the novel by Dennis Lehane

With: Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Max von Sydow, Michelle Williams, Emily Mortimer, Patricia Clarkson, Jackie Earle Haley, Ted Levine, John Carroll Lynch, Elias Koteas, Robin Bartlett, Christopher Denham, and Matthew Cowles

Cinematography: Robert Richardson
Editing: Thelma Schoonmaker

Runtime: 138 min
Release Date: 19 February 2010
Aspect Ratio: 2.35 : 1
Color: Color

Scorsese returns to Cape Fear territory with another overproduced but shallow genre exercise. DiCaprio plays a federal marshal investigating a water-bound mental hospital for the criminally insane in this psychological thriller full of big stars, elaborate sets, surreal CGI, and plot twists that don't fully pay off.

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How I Rate Films



An All-timer. One of the 5000 greatest films. Usually only awarded after repeat viewings.



One of the year's best. An excellent film. Possibly one of the 5000 greatest and certainly worthy of repeated viewing.



A very good film. Most films I see fall in the two- or three-star ranking. I give an extra half-star to three-star films that could end up on the list of the 5000 greatest.



A good film that fully succeeds at what it sets out to accomplish. Well worth seeing, but less effective than a three-and-a-half stars films and often less consequential than a two-and-a-half star film.



A noteworthy or enjoyable film that I can’t fully recommend. Still, two-and-a-half star films are often some of the most memorable films of a year.



A disappointment, an interesting failure, or just a bad movie. But still worth seeing if you’ve got the time.



A bad, rant-worthy film. Should be avoided regardless of hype or talent involved.



One of the worst films.