Night Is Falling

The comments on a discussion of good bad movies of the past decade, which listed The Happening at #6, turned into an analysis of M. Night Shyamalan's oeuvre. It confirmed something I've been noticing for a while--the rising reputation of Unbreakable.

Many list it as Shyamalan's best. I suppose they want to avoid the obvious, Sixth Sense, so pick the next film, even though it was a disappointment in its day.

It does have its moments, and both Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson are pretty good. The idea isn't bad either--what if there were a superhero in real life. But the story doesn't hold together that well.

I'll still take it over his next film (and bigger hit) Signs. On the other hand, I've stated more than once I find The Village to be his most interesting film. There are numerous flaws, and the surprise ending surprises no one. But it looks great (I generally agree with the argument that M. Night is a far better director than writer), captures a mood and plays better on second viewing. I think his mistake was not revealing the secret of the elders about halfway. Then we could see the artificial world they created, and even wonder if they've given a gift to their children or are crushing them under their psychotic rule.

Above all, there's Bryce Dallas Howard, who has never looked better or given a better performance, The scene near the end when she confronts the world outside the village is the most beautiful thing Shyamalan has ever done.

Good or not, the stuff M. Night's made since then--Lady In The Water, The Happening--are horrible. He needs to try something different. Maybe direct someone else's script?