Is it better to live like a monster or die a good man?
Shutter Island is not an easy movie to watch. The acting, as always from Dicaprio, is top notch. The supporting actors are all incredible especially Sir Kingsley. The filming still sees Scorsese at his best.
I did like this film, a lot, BUT not all of it. If you are familiar with the psychological-thriller genre then you know that most of these films suffer the same fatal flaw. . .the ending. Now there are exceptions to this rule: best of all being The Usual Suspects, and the Sixth Sense in a close second. On the opposite side of the spectrum there are films like Identity, which suck donkey balls due to a cop out ending.
Shutter Island sets itself apart due to its great story. Every aspect is engaging and the backstory is fascinating. Scorsese also does a great job of messing with the audience in certain key moments of the film. However, as the end draws near, a too familiar and predictable ending (in my eyes) comes through to fruition but still leaves the audience with something to ponder.
Overall, I'll give Shutter Island a 7.5/10. With a slight ending modification, this would easily warrant a 9.
