This teaming of director Martin Scorsese and actor Leonardo DiCaprio for “Shutter Island” marks their fourth collaboration. Previous movies include "The Departed"(2006) best director Oscar, and best director nominations for "The Aviator” (2004), and "Gangs of New York" (2002), while Leonardo DiCaprio received a best actor nomination for the “Aviator”.
Frequent Director/Actor reteaming collaborations produces creative and intuitive ‘magic’ in the telling of compelling stories. High on my list of director/actor teams and my favorite is director Paul Greengrass and actor Matt Damon for the ‘Jason Bourne’ films. They have teamed once again for the upcoming “Green Zone”, an action/thriller in the genre of the Bourne films, opens in mid-March.

This period-thriller takes place in 1954. Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Chuck Aule (Mark Ruffalo) are two detectives sent from the mainland to investigate the mysterious disappearance of a patient from Boston's Shutter Island Ashecliffe Hospital. It’s a foreboding looking facility, an island surrounded by water. I’m reminded of the old Alcatraz penal institution off our Pacific coast.

While Daniels and Aule are at the facility, ‘inequities’ become apparent. Events escalate when a hurricane cuts off communication with the mainland. As more dangerous criminals "escape" in the confusion, and the puzzling, improbable clues multiply, Daniels begins to doubt everything, his memory, his partner, and his own stability…

“Shutter Island” once again establishes the creative expertise of director Martin Scorsese, and the thespian depth of actor Leonardo DiCaprio. As regular readers know, my rule of not giving away vital clues or the ending of the story is hard to maintain while giving my highest recommendation. For a hint, let’s just say that if you enjoyed “The Sixth Sense” (1999), see “Shutter Island”…

Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Max von Sydow, Michelle Williams, Emily Mortimer, and Patricia Clarkson.

Directed by Martin Scorsese. Written by Laeta Kalogridis. Paramount Pictures release. Rated R for disturbing violent content, language and some nudity. Runtime: 138 minutes.