There is a point while watching Shutter Island that you will realize just how finely crafted the entire movie is. The thing is constructed something like a maze with plenty of dead ends for you to find, but always has one exit and never moves its walls on you.

The cinematography is great, evoking a strong sense of the period and calling back to some great Gothic horror images. To that effect, the performances also get the job done admirably. I find DiCaprio to fit pretty well in period movies, and he does the same here. My other favorite performance is Ben Kingsley as a psychiatrist. His performance has strong echoes of Donald Pleasance - soft-spoken and intelligent.

If anything, the film might be a little too long, but I don't think I ever got bored on the trip. Excellent film.