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> UNBREAKABLE (2000)
Once again M. Night Shyamalan and Bruce Willis have a winner on their hands.

By John C. Lyons
Film Critic

Starring: Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson, Robin Wright

Directed by: M. Night Shyamalan

Written by: M. Night Shyamalan

Genre: Drama/Thriller/Sci-Fi

Our Rating: 8 out of 10

Let me first say do not try and compare this film in any way to The Sixth Sense. I have heard people attempt this and it is quite frustrating, these films have only one thing in common (other than some of the cast) and it is not plot. And I am not going to tell you what they have in common, well, not exactly. Writing a review on this movie is not an easy thing because I do not want to give anything away, but here we go…

The film opens to a black screen that shares some facts on comic book sales which really confuses you from the get go. This is obviously on purpose, and it is all explained as the film rolls on. A friend, that I saw the film with, leaned over to me after the first few minutes passed and said something to the effect that the movie just started and he's already lost. As you probably know from the trailer, David Dunn (Bruce Willis) is a passenger in a train that collides with another train. No one survives the accident but David, who not only survives, but he doesn't even have a scratch on him. The remainder of the film follows the discoveries David makes about himself and a fragile man he meets named Elijah Price (Jackson).

I really must say that I enjoyed this film on many levels. The story does move rather slowly for the majority of the film, and then really picks up during the last quarter. It is very subtle, but powerful at the same time. Even the cinematography is very subtle, with long takes and very little panning and cutting. I really liked the point of view style that this movie was filmed in. You feel like you are part of each scene. When Willis meets the girl in the train, the camera is positioned as if you were the passenger seated in front of the two (a little girl), and as a different character speaks the camera moves very slowly around and between the seats to focus on the one speaking. I liked the characters and the cast was perfectly chosen. Bruce and Sam are two of the best at what they do, and they really brought their characters to life in Unbreakable. Which believe me, is not an easy thing to do with these particular characters. Robin Wright is always good, and Spencer Treat Clark put in some good work also.

I saw this film at the Tinseltown theaters on upper Peach Street in Erie.

PROs: Great cast. One of those films that is unique enough to keep your attention and interest throughout. Bruce Willis, Samuel L., and M. Night make quite the team.

CONs: Moves really slow. Plot may be a little hard for some to swallow.

(00-1230)

related links:

Unbreakable - official site