Writer: Syahida Kamarudin

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Watch this if you liked: “The Departed”, “Secret Window”

DiCaprio to Scorsese is like Cruise is to Spielberg, Depp is to Burton, Chow Yun Fatt is to John Woo, and David Furnish is to Elton John. And while the latter is in no way relevant, it is safe to say that as Scorsese's new De Niro, it is interesting to watch the partnership between the actor and the director again after "The Departed".

Based on the bestselling novel of David Lehane, "Shutter Island" takes you on a journey to the world of the insane - the criminally insane, to be exact. It plays around with Freudian ideas, conspiracy theories, the loopholes in human imagination, and irritatingly at times; the Holocaust.

This psychological mystery thriller has certain elements that will remind you of Stanley Kubrick's "The Shining", especially the scene with Emily Mortimer covered in blood with dead children on her feet. Beautifully horrifying, one might say. The cinematography plays a big part in making this otherwise dark thriller into an ominous yet stunning film that you can enjoy.

Leonardo DiCaprio gave an interesting performance that - while at times makes you wonder if you even remembered what accent he has in real life, has shown that he is and will always be an A-lister in Hollywood. On the other hand, you can't criticise Mark Ruffalo's acting as much since his role as Chuck Aule is no more than your average supporting cast, even if the character has more significance by the end of the film. And Ben Kingsley as always, has a presence in him. You can just put him in the corner next to a dustbin, and he will still command the scene.

Here's a predicament. The conclusion of this movie may touch you in more ways than one. If you're a simple, inside-the-box, no-hassle type of audience, the ending will make you just snort and think it's a waste of your precious time, jabbering about directorial cheap tricks and anti-climaxes. If you are an official snoozer, the conclusion will baffle you. But if you're the kind of person who thinks beyond the box, you will leave the cinema trying to fathom and end up thinking about your sanity.

And that's what "Shutter Island" is all about.

Cinema Online, 09 April 2010