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It turns out that almost everything I didn't actually see already in a trailer, I could pretty much guess within the first two minutes. This movie is following an incredibly predictable path. Maybe one or two of the details along the way are surprising, but anyone who's seen a few of these kinds of movies is going to know exactly what the mystery of Shutter Island long before the answers arrive.
That said, the movie isn't without merit. It may have a mostly pedestrian, predictable script, but aside from that, the movie is very expertly made. I've never been one to worship at the altar of Scorsese, but he really displays his move making prowess here. He has a perfect sense of every detail -- framing, pacing, editing, staging, atmosphere, performance -- and how they all assemble to make a compelling whole. While you could make the case that some films are better with the artistry and craftsmanship is invisible, this isn't such a movie. It's all on display, and can really be admired. The acting is also very good. Leonardo DiCaprio carries the movie well enough, but it's the other actors -- particularly Ben Kingsley and Mark Ruffalo -- that add much needed nuance.
And while that final act is exactly what you expect it to be, I should note that the movie does have a "coda" of sorts, one final scene, that actually is... well, I don't know if the word is "surprising," exactly, but it does add a strong dramatic, emotional punch just before the credits roll.
In all, it might be a movie to catch as a rental somewhere down the line, but definitely not one to rush out to the theater for. I rate it a C+.
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