Deep and complex

Rating: Null/10 (5 August 2002)

For some years I've been able to read dozens of reviews of a movie form critics and moviegoers in all parts of the country, and from other countries. By the time a movie has been out for a week, there are hundreds of reactions to read. I now realize that peoples' reactions to a movie are far more varied than I ever had realized.
A movie can be broadly popular by design. People who begin by asking themselves "What, and who, are hot at the box office?", and then bury themselves in a lot of demographic and focus group studies, have often managed to produce a film that earns 100-million-plus at the box office. The Princess Diaries, Pearl Harbor, Rush Hour 2--all designed with box office appeal in mind. They aren't always above average, and they don't always make a mint, but they're usually entertaining enough, and mostly make money.
The more a movie is the personal vision of one person, though, the less likely that it will receive a groundswell of positive reaction and big box office. Being John Malkovich, Pi, Crouching Tiger, Traffic--the people that love them will really love them, but reaction will be more varied, and they are at a greater risk of never making back their investment.
Shaymalan's last 3 movies are all feel unpredictable and unusual. They should elicit from moviegoers some worship, some detraction, and a whole lot of "Who wants to see a wierd movie like that, anyway?"
Well, reactions are varied. An atheist reviewer thinks the movie validates her opinions. Another thinks the movie will steer people towards a greater belief in God. Several people say there was an alien invasion; another says they were deamons; another says it really doesn't matter about the aliens, that wasn't the point anyway.
And yet 2100 people have registered their reaction, and it averages out to 8.7 out of 10. I doubt if E.T., Star Wars or Gone With the Wind could have done much better than that. How does this guy Shaymalan get so deep and complex, provoke such different reactions, and yet keep so many people liking his movies?
I thought this movie extremely well done. I loved Phoenix's character. He lost out on his big chance at greatness, and he's sad and a little put down. But he isn't depressed and he isn't bitter. Mostly, he just wories that he isn't verty helpful to his brother. I loved the police woman. I thought these two characters deserve special mention.
When doing movies about ghosts, comic-book heroes and alien invaders, most filmmakers would have resorted to the old crowd-pleasers: gore, violence, and sex. M. Night seems to find a teaspoon's worth enough to season his stories. I like that. 9/10 for this and Unbreakable, 10/10 for Sixth Sense.