“Shutter Island: The Guessing Game”

By: Dan Jones

Many have been able to solve the riddles of mystery thrillers. Novels, movies, “Twilight Zone,” “Alfred Hitchcock Presents,” Sherlock Holmes tales. Some are tough, some aren’t.

Author Dennis Lehane (“Mystic River,” “Gone Baby Gone”) often fails to put one past me; but I wanted to read “Shutter Island” before the film’s release.

Unfortunately, Lehane’s story of a U.S. Marshall investigating an isolated asylum for a vanished criminally insane patient was predictable. So I stepped into the theater not only knowing the story, but knowing what the audience could be in for – minimal shockers.

Was I going to be disappointed?

First theatrical viewing. The layout of plot turns seemed tedious. A conversation before a distracting fire was uninteresting. Revealed clues in Act III seemed talky and drawn out.

After the theatrical release of “Shutter Island,” many said they were not surprised by much but still enjoyed the film. Others got the full effect and were happy to be stunned. For me, it came down to three critical points; but, really, that was all I had. Apart from knowing what was going to happen, I didn’t have any problems with the film.

Was I blinded by reading ahead, and did I overanalyze the transition from book to movie? Was I truly disappointed?

I returned to the theater.

Second theatrical viewing. The experience went beyond witnessing an adaptation. Welcoming the story as a whole justified crucial development and made it easier to recognize the graceful staging.

Director Martin Scorsese’s distinct technique and editor Thelma Schoonmaker’s constant progress with pacing mesmerized and set specific tones for individual scenes. Upon multiple viewings, one can observe the complexity of Leonardo DiCaprio and the perfectly underplayed Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, and Michelle Williams. Other supporting cast members are just as involved and create an atmosphere of ambiguity. Cinematography, music placement, and sound editing successfully manipulate your senses, and a masterpiece evolves.

I was not disappointed.

Therefore, the question isn’t why did my opinion change the second time around, but why did I have a predetermined opinion in the first place. The obvious answer: Lehane’s novel was missing the fire one wants to feel at the fingertips. Thankfully, Scorsese and his team managed to light those novel pages on fire and spread the ashes like beautiful snowflakes.

All in all, a decent, straightforward story is all Scorsese needs to please.

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