Saturday, February 03, 2001

Unbreakable


Year: 2000
Dir: M. Night Shyamalan
Screenplay: M. Night Shyamalan

Stars: BRUCE WILLIS, Samuel L Jackson, Robin Wright-Penn, Spencer Treat Clark, Charlayne Woodard, Michael Kelly.

It may be called ‘Unbreakable’, but another more apt title would fit the picture. How about unbelievable? That is not to say that the movie is a bad one, just not one that lives up to its promise. However, if it is possible to be amazed and disappointed all at the same time then this movie delivers.

The pacing is too slow; so much is lost in those stretched out moments. The premise is too clever for its own good, and glaringly obvious pointers, as to who is responsible for all the disasters surrounding our protagonist David Dunn, give the feeling that director Shyamalan knows he’s not getting through to his audience. Almost as if he has put them in on purpose, shouting at his audience to pay attention.

Should you be paying attention then there is plenty to keep you occupied. Some wonderful camera work with superb angles that beg curiosity. Throughout the film Bruce Willis shows us just what it was that made him a star in the first place. His talent so evident you feel yourself being truly spooked by his character’s powers as they are gradually revealed.

Again there are moments where you wished for more, scenes that are never quite played out to their full potential, adding further disappointment. It’s sad to say Mr. Shyamalan doesn’t do his own script justice. Perhaps, if he had given it to someone else, someone with a rather less gloomy picture of the world, Unbreakable could have been outstanding.

The formula may have worked for ‘The Sixth Sense’ but unfortunately not here. The revelation unfolding is not dark or fearful enough to warrant such indulgence in the realms of gloom and doom.

It is essentially the making of a superhero or rather the prequel to the making of a superhero. A capacity that is inherent in all of us. Like the man that saves a child from drowning, or the fireman rescuing the old lady from a burning building.

In a nutshell, you don’t need to be able to lift the weight of 10 cars or be immune to pain to be a superhero. This is where the film is going. Unfortunately it takes the long way round.

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