Even those in the latter category, though, benefit from a sense of lightness and wonder that has often eluded Night's dour filmography. The disconnectedness of the narrative makes more sense if you watch it as a modern-day Grimm Brothers tale, and I think that's what Night was trying to achieve. The rampant self-mythologization (casting himself in a crucial role was a bad, bad idea) sours this somewhat, but this is still surprisingly spry stuff from the man who has more in common, formally, with Tsai Ming-Liang than any of his SoCal contemporaries.
Speaking of, Night is still a fantastic visual filmmaker, and here's he's gone and acknowledged his debt to the Asian-master-shot school of filmmaking by hiring Christopher Doyle, Hong Kong cinema's favorite cranky expatriate, as his director of photography. Doyle pulls every significant trick and angle from his vast bag of tricks in order to make this thing shine like gold in Alaska. The results are stunning - Lady may be goofy, but it's also gorgeous.
Especially neat is how the first half-hour or so is chock full of shots that focus on one element of the shot while leaving everything else slightly blurry - it gives the impression of information being parceled out, of things not yet seen or understood. And the last shot, as insane and inane as it is, will stick with me purely on visual merit.
Expert casting helps Night as well. The cast is comprised mainly of skilled character actors like Jeffrey Wright and Jared Harris; while the performances in previous Night films has been heavily stylized. In Lady he seems content to let everyone do their own thing while he concentrates on directing. So the acting is about as good as it can be, given that most everyone with the exception of Giamatti has to spout exposition like they were cousins of Basil. Shyamalan's expectedly awkward turn is the sole exception to this; hands up if you're surprised.
Still, there's something about the cut of Night's hubris that makes it difficult to smack him down. He'll cast himself instead of a real actor. He'll craft an ode to fairy tales that really is about his own presumed brilliance with yarn-spinning. He'll throw things at the audience without thinking about how the audience will take them, assuming that because he thinks it's a great idea, it automatically becomes a great idea. And you know what? There's part of me that admires that kind of dedication in filmmaking. The faults in Lady are myriad, but damned if he didn't intend every bit of the blinkered nonsense, and damned if he didn't believe in it wholeheartedly. I'll say this for Night: He's got stones.
![Unbreakable [Region 2]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41VM91H4Z4L._SL120_.jpg)
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - RJ Elliott
"What we have here is the daffiest Hollywood product since Lawrence Kasdan's Dreamcatcher."
Dreamcatcher wasn't exactly a great film, but it kept my interest, and I don't regret spending a few dollars to rent it...
2 - MCH
OK RJ, but did you get laid that night? You used to never be able to relate a life experience without mentioning how you "didn't get laid that night"...
3 - RJ Elliott
Actually, I did. What's your point, psycho-stalker?
4 - Iloz Zoc
Gee, I hope I come across a Narf someday, so my unused brain portions will become active. Now, I certainly don't want to come across a Barf, as they can cause activity too, but not in a good way. Best to avoid them. And I disagree with your assessment: Shamalama is definitely alot nutters. Maybe he needs a Narf to cross his path to wake up his creatively restraining portions of his brain. Less is more should be his mantra, or a Barf should definitely cross his path.
5 - dr.ess
He took a risk and gave us something unique and truly original in many ways. It is like all critics want the same garbage recycled every year and then complain that there is no originality. I loved it. I think it was brilliant.
6 - Steve C.
RJ: Hey, I saw "Dreamcatcher" twice. I don't regret either viewing, and I'd watch it again too, just for the telephone-gun scene. ("Jonesy? Is that you?")
Iloz: I'm actually a bit torn between wanting to see Night regain his senses and wanting him to make more utterly daft films like this one. At least it wasn't dull.
dr.ess: It's okay to be original, but at the same time originality and quality are not inextricably linked concepts. Being unique and original doesn't guarantee that you've made a good film. But then, nothing I say will sway you. The irony is, of course, that I kinda liked it anyway, as I think I made clear. But I don't know if you read that far.
7 - Kevin Lawrence
It's clear Steve enjoys transcribing his scrambled dreams word for word as his style of writing is more confusing and nonsensical than any Night film. After trying patiently to finish reading his review, which I couldn't force myself to do, I am encouraged to discover that there are much worse things to endure than this movie.
8 - Duke De Mondo
well, i thought this was a marvellous review, wonderfully written. and i'm lookin forward to this flick, actually. i didn't like The Village one bit, but the three before that i adored. i never saw the numbers he did afore The Sixth Sense. that Rosie O'Donnell flick, for example.
I hope this doesn't dissapoint me. i had a fair idea the village might be terrible before i saw it. this, in spite of the negative word, i'm actually expecting to like. here's hoping. that he's reclaimed his sense of humour is reason enough for me to be somewhat thankful.
again, great review Steve. you said you didn't like it but admired bits here and there, and descirbed it and your thoughts on the matter with marvellous clarity. i'll let you know if'n my own thoughts are at all similar to yours when i get to see it.
9 - Tom Bux
Outstanding and well written review. Though I liked the movie, your nagative review is the first one that didn't reak of typical movie reviewer smarminess.
I agree with dr.ess, film critics blast hollywood for lack of originality, and when originality does come around, they say doesn't follow a formula that they think movies should follow. And they wonder why box office numbers are down. I think many of them wanted this movie to fail so we can be subjected to poorly made movies like "The Three Burials of Melquaidas Estrada".
10 - David Montoya
I cannot believe we watched the same movie. I found Lady in the Water to be a creative and spiritual work that draws the viewer into a the most human of encounters, facing what we do not know.
We have to causully tossed away mystery of our world and settled for a wow me with the technical as portrayed by this shallow review. Night has grasped a great human need, the need to find the heroic in the mundane and the everyday. He gives us courage from the those who are considered social outcasts and keeps us guessing as to who will ultimately arise as the champions of the cause.
I find it very interesting that Night also speaks of the unknown of time and death in a way that could be referred to his current creative struggles with Disney and the movie making world that are more interested in a roller coaster ride that makes money than in the depth that a film maker like Night wishes to take us.
Finally, the casting was perfect. Watch the movie again in a year or two and it will probably be one of your all time favorites (narf, scrants, and all)
11 - Steve
Hmm, having seen his previous movies "The Sixth Sense" and "Signs", I can't say I'm keen to see this movie as I didn't particularly enjoy either of those. I had similar feelings about his previous movies that the reviewer had about this one, his movies do not seem to fit well in the full length movie format. He seems to be more suited to "Twilight Zone" TV episodes or something IMHO.
Apparently he has expressed interest in directing one of the last two Harry Potter movies that are still future (i.e. not in production yet) but that he would treat the source material as 'sacred'. Apparently, he had been offered the first one ("...Sorcerer's Stone") but he couldn't do it because he was making "Unbreakable".
12 - Steve
Interesting point in #10, I think Night focuses on affecting folks at the visceral, emotional level, rather than the logical, intellectual level. Hence the contrasting love/hate responses to his movies, methinks.
13 - RJ Elliott
"One worm...whole world..." LOL!
14 - Rebecca
I saw the film yesterday and thought it was awful. I had everything I could do to stay awake. It feels like every movie Shyamalan does sort of feeds off of 'The Sixth Sense' in a way. I'm also not a fan of the acting of Bryce Dallas Howard. She seems very wooden, but she is obviously a Shyamalan favorite.
15 - Steve C.
Wow, that's more discussion than I usually get. Awesome.
The more I think about this film, the more I wish I liked it -- this seems like exactly the much-despised mangy-dog film that I like to champion. There are things that have stuck, too (the ending in particular). I may have to see this again.
Also, as Mr. Montoya points out, there is a sense that Night is completely bypassing the world of the rational and going straight for the emotional. Although I think it's a mistake to separate Night from the "wow us with the technical" world (nobody hires Chris Doyle if, on some level, they're not looking to knock your eyes out).
Lastly, I'm amazed that it took someone this long to accuse me of incoherence. I've always thought that was one of the most charming things about my prose. :-)
16 - Michasi
Great review. Very objective and professional. Does any one know who did the beginning narration?
17 - Michasi
Wow, that was quick - I'm told David Odgen Stiers (“M*A*S*H”, “Lilo and Stitch”) was the narrator.
18 - Socialretard
I had absolutely no intention of seeing this film, but your review may get me to plunk down money for a matinee next weekend. I don't know whether to say bravo on an excellent review or curse you for instilling a desire in me to see something that I'm still 99% sure I won't like. Thanks a lot, Mr. Carlson.
19 - RJ Elliott
Okay, I watched this movie tonight, and I was pleasantly surprised. There were several funny scenes, a couple of truly touching scenes, and lots of great dialogue.
On the other hand, it was a very odd movie (as all of Shyamalan's flicks are)...I don't think it's gonna make big box office, or reap many major awards.
3 - 3.5 stars of out 5.
20 - RJ Elliott
Oh yeah, and the camerawork was pretty damn good, too.
21 - Dibydawg
What's up with the boom mic? It was in so many scenes it should have been listed as a supporting character!!!!
22 - Steve C.
Diby: I'm gonna go ahead and assume you saw a print that was being framed incorrectly. Which is another kettle of fish.
23 - T-Man
Shouldn't Warner Brothers get an honorable mention for allowing the trademark saying of one of their beloved cartoon characters, Pinky from "Pinky and the Brain", be used to name the primary type of character in the movie???
N A R F !!!!!
:-)
-TM
24 - nights
I like this movie..... I think it all depend where you are in life, steve said everybody will hate this film it shows that he have no clue about the message in this film I think Steve is in the state of mid life crisis right now maybe around 40 or early 50 .
I think this movie is refreshing, very original I bet you steve like clerk 2 which I thing is the worst movie ever. I'm from germany most people here love this movie
25 - Briana McDonald
The disappointment this movie put me through was unimaginable.I didn't expect much from the movie in the first place but I was hoping it would prove me wrong.It wasn't even scary and had no story line whatsoever.All they did all throughout the movie was make mistakes and almost get killed.And Reggie was extremly scary for only working out on one side of his body.And the kid reading the ceral boxes was outragious.GOD.And Story never put pants on, not even once which I found rather disturbing.I mean I know she from a world where people proably never wear clothes but doesn't she know the saying,'In Rome do as the Romans do'.THAT MEANS PUT ON SOME PANTS FOR THE VIEWERS SAKE.And the whole thing about the guy going to die because of what he said in the book I mean give me a break he could have changed the words or better yet, NOT PUBLISH IT AT ALL.I mean the only funny part was when before that movie credit guy was gonna get eatin and he was predicting what was going to happen.