Shutter Island Film critique

Topics: Martin Scorsese, Leonardo DiCaprio, Shutter Island Pages: 11 (2512 words) Published: September 29, 2014

Shutter Island Film Critique
Jeannie Hatton
Eng.225/Introduction to Film
Instructor Wiltz

First way that helps tell a story and converting it onto film is by using a nonlinearly or chronological approach. Often a director considered to be auteur is the main reason for audience popularity such as the director Martin Scorsese. How does cinematographers, actors and directors contribute in creating a film? By the use of different camera angles, lighting, colors, and sound. Cinematographers and directors are able to establish a certain look that contributes to the genre and theme of a movie. Additionally, the director and actors with their special talents help to promote the movie in order to get a high volume of viewers. Like most films they tend to have a social impact on society. Sometimes they even show how things have changed throughout history or not changed. Therefore, I will analyze the film Shutter Island directed by Martin Scorsese. Screenplay: Laeta Kalogridis

Based on: Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane
Director: Martin Scorsese
Cinematographer: Robert Richardson
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio as Teddy Daniels, Mark Ruffalo as Chuck Aule, Ben Kingsley as Dr. Cawley, Michelle Williams as Dolores, Max von Sydow as Dr. Jeremiah Naehring Release date: February 19, 2010

Story and plot: In 1954 U. S. Marshalls Teddy Daniels and Chuck Aule set out to investigate the disappearance of a murderess mental patient named Rachel. On an eerie remote Boston harbor island called Shutter Island. Where investigations would take place at Ashecliffe Hospital, which housed the most dangerous, psychopathic criminally insane patients. With suspicious talk of mind enhancing drugs, and secret experiments performed by probing Psychiatrist. Shutter Island was eleven miles away from anywhere. There was only one dock where the Ferry would be allowed to port. The other side of the isle was surrounded by cliffs and caves. Which where infested with rats, and covered with poison ivy, oak, sumac, and thick thorns. Surrounded by freezing water, strong currents and rigid rocks. Which made escaping the island impossible. There was a light house that had been converted in to a sewage treatment facility, which was believed to be where lobotomies were being performed. Marshal Daniels requested the assignment because he had a hidden agenda He heard the person responsible for his wife’s death was in the institution, and he would finally face Andrew Laeddis his wife’s killer. Little did he realize Troy Daniels was about to be confronted by his worst fears. As the story is told and the plot unfolds Scorsese used a nonlinearly approach. “One editing technique that helps us perceive continuity called “matching on action” cuts from a shot to something else in the scene or even an entirely different scene, but still matches the direction of movement of action in one shot with the following shot, helping tie the two together.” (Goodykoontz, B., & Jacobs, C. P. 2011.) This aesthetic choice enabled the audience to see through the eyes and thoughts of the mind of Teddy Daniels, which would be referred to as a “subjective camera,” as seen when Dr. Cawley invites the marshal’s Teddy Daniels and Chuck Aule to his house for drinks and cigars. Music is playing on the phonograph which reminds Daniel of a time served in the war, Daniels flashes back and relives the events that took place in vivid detail. As the characters developed and the plot unfolds and the story progresses we find Dr. Aule plays the new detective and address Teddy Daniels as boss, the lead Marshall, which allows Daniels to be in charge. Dr. Cawley allows Teddy Daniels to question staff, patients, and his self. As the story develops, the audience is left to use implicit characterization on the narrative of the protagonist Teddy Daniels. Foreshadowing the character Dr. Cowley lets the audience aware he has different treatment theories than...
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