"Spooky Island" or "Why won't Leo smile?"

Martin Scorsese’s latest stab at the big screen fits nicely into this classic genre, which happens to be one of my personal favorites:

The “mind fuck.”

The “mind fuck” is characterized by blatant (borderline corny) foreshadowing, furrowed brows, culminating a juicy, decadent plot twist. Thus we are forced to watch the entire film over again, now knowing what was really going on.

We all have our favorites. From the classic “Citizen Cane” (rosebud!) to the more recent “Six Sense,” and “Donnie Darko.”

O.k., the “Six Sense” is a bad example. Go with me here.

“Shutter Island” is no exception to the pattern. It strings us along for over two hours, giving no hints while asking even more questions. DiCaprio stumbles along the cliffs bordering the sea and treks trough the deep forests and creepy graveyard inland. We wait patiently until…

“What?!”, a direct quote from disgruntled Shutter Islanders this past weekend. Apparently, classic is out.

Scorsese does go back to basics. The suspense is a direct homage, if not rip off, to the styles of Hitchcock, displaying beautiful cinematography and highly drawn out anticipation. The opening sequence is something straight out of film noir, as the two unfamiliar detectives approach the gate of the spooky mental hospital.

The plot seems simple enough, they always do:

Set in 1954 Boston, U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels takes an assignment to investigate a disappearance at the Ashecliffe Hospital for the criminally insane, conveniently located on sinister Shutter Island.

But when Teddy thinks he has found a lead, the doctors refuse to give him access to the records he needs. When you combine rumors of dangerous and sinister mal-practice, a dangerous hurricane cutting off all communication to the island and a “missing” prisoner who no one wants to discuss, “Shutter Island” will have even you doubting your sanity.

As typical with many “mind fucks,” the actors have a difficult time outshining the convoluted plot. DiCaprio is no exception. He ranges a total of one facial expression for the entire film. Would it kill you to smile Leo?

Even Mark Ruffalo, who plays Daniels suspicious partner Chuck Aule, gets lost in the shuffle. At least DiCaprio HAD a facial expression.

It was a promising idea, and even though well executed, still leaves something out. Lets just say that the whole point of the “mind fuck” is that you cannot figure it out. I’m not sure even that can be said for spooky island.

There is not much to get excited about either way. It is disposable, another unfortunate symptom of the “mind fuck.”