re: the ending of Shutter Island - discussion (SPOILERS)

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1. Was Leo's "investigation" really taking place, with everyone around him just playing along to keep Leo sane or was all of this in his head? Because the lighthouse scene led into the scene in Leo's room and they were having the exact same discussion, which made me think everything was a fantasy world in Leo's mind. Think about it, was there REALLY someone hiding in the rocks?

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The book led me to believe that some people/patients were involved with the "role playing since he was viewed as a master in escape, was a highly trained killer, and very intelligent. I do believe the lady in the cave was a delusion. Something in the book led me to believe he had possibly escaped many times before and they were having trouble containing him. That's how they knew in advance what he would do and how he would possibly react in certain situations. I need to read it again.

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2. Did Leo escape from the prison prior to the beginning of the movie? Because I got the impression that he escaped and then they made up the Rachel-gone-missing story to bring him back to the prison since he thought he was a detective and then that's how they got him back on the island. Why else would they have been on the boat? Or again, was this all in his head?

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The book definitely led me to believe this. Like I said, it's been a few years since I read the book.
DanMullen:
The movie was a very accurate portrayal of the book with the exception of a few details being left out. I'm sure book sales will climb as a result. I believe Andrew's delusions were at times mixed in with the "reality" of the situation.

Re: Dennis Lehane, he is one of my favorite authors. I've been looking forward to this movie and wasn't disappointed. Mystic River wasn't portrayed nearly as well as this one. I read Gone Baby Gone but haven't seen the movie. I did recently read Darkness, Take My Hand and A Drink Before The War. They both were excellent though Shutter Island so far, is my favorite.

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2) After Leo leaves with the doctors for the Lobotomy. they show the lighthouse in the very next scene and the movie ends on that. Going through both scenes I thought he had excepted reality and didn't want to live with the memories. But when they show the lighthouse I thought they were insinuating that Leo was actually Teddy, he accepted he would never get off the island, and they took him to the lighthouse to do the lobotomy where all along Teddy thought they were doing experimental surgeries in there?

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This is a very good point. Why show the lighthouse?

I left the movie so confused. I understood what all of you are saying, I was just looking for some deeper meaning. The movie's "twist" was just too easy to get. That's what got me the most.





Also, did anyone else think the "green" screens were way too obvious? Do you think that was done on purpose?

Saw this movie tonight. The more I think about it, the more I like it. I didn't see the "twist" coming, I just thought it was the Dr. trying to convince him that he was crazy. Now it makes sense.

As others have said, he was definitely finally cured and chose to get the lobotomy.

The fact that so many people are debating/talking about the meaning of the movie (to me) is the mark of a great film. I feel the same way about I Am Legend.

ETA: typo

My thoughts going into the movie were this:

-Leo arrives to investigate Rachel's disappearance

-The investigation is fake/a set up

-Somehow they make Leo go crazy

-Leo ends up as a mental patient


Boy was I way off, lol....but I'm glad because I LOVED everything about this movie!

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The twist wasn't the point of the movie, that's why we were given so many hints throughout the movie. Scorsese wanted to focus on Teddy Daniels, not the investigation.

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exactly. people think they're einstein around here because they "cracked the code."

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The fact that so many people are debating/talking about the meaning of the movie (to me) is the mark of a great film

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wooow

the discussion about this movie isn't that deep

this was far from a great film

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I feel the same way about I Am Legend.

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oh

i should have waited until the end of your comment

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it is my understanding that when he said... "is it better to die a good man than to live as a monster" or whatever.... that he was aware of who he was and what he had done, but chose to have the lobotomy. is this what we are meant to think?

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This is what I took from it as well, and thought it was pretty obvious, but after reading this thread, I guess it wasn't so obvious...

Watched this a second time last night and it was a totally different movie knowing what I know now. Teddy's "partner" did a great job of acting in this movie. Every line makes complete sense now from the security officer beginning it with "we're all on edge right now." I highly recommend watching it a second time. It's like a totally different movie.

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Watched this a second time last night and it was a totally different movie knowing what I know now. Teddy's "partner" did a great job of acting in this movie. Every line makes complete sense now from the security officer beginning it with "we're all on edge right now." I highly recommend watching it a second time. It's like a totally different movie.

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Wow. I didn't even think about that.

What about when he was interviewing the patients? They seemed like they were coached. It would be worth a second watch.

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Have you actually seen it yet, or are you basing your criticism off of what you read off other message boards again?

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Brah, you should know by now, slow made up his mind he didn't like it during pre-production. This is his M.O. He doesn't even like himself. dude is suffering from a bad child hood and he likes to take it out on stuff other people happen to like.