Top Notch Thriller

Rating: 8/10 (12 August 2002)

All right. It's not perfect. Mel Gibson is not the actor that Bruce Willis is. Some plot issues are curiously unresolved. Diabetics should be warned about the presence of supersweet child actors. Joaquin Phoenix seems to have mastered one goofy expression for this role and had his face freeze in it. The notion of a faith challenged parson is as trite as it is tedious.
NONETHELESS, this film is as good a picture as any of us is likely to see this year. The craft and artistry are nothing short of music for the eye and Shyamalan is fast becoming one of the finest directors presently working out of Hollywood.
Don't miss this movie. It is simply superb. Not perfect, just wonderful.