A Fine Film, but probably not what you expect.

Rating: 8/10 (2 August 2002)

Alright, so it's not the film that they showed in the trailers, but that doesn't mean its not a fine movie.
****** Possible Spoilers *****
The alien invasion/crop circle plot is really just a backdrop to a storyline of the test of a man's faith. The loss of Mel Gibson's wife made him lose his faith, and the saving of his son got it back. He realizes that he is one of the first group of people and that there are no coincidences.
Sure, the alien effects at the end are a little goofy, but that's OK as this is not the focus of the film. If it was, we'd have seen Mel's basement loaded up with firearms and he and Joaquin would have kicked down the door and started kickin' some alien butt. Instead, we see a man's struggle with loss and the effect it has on his family.
I think the roles are perfectly cast. Mel shows great range, Joaquin Phoenix is WONDERFUL (and actually steals the film IMHO), Rory Culkin shows that there IS some talent in that family and Abigail Breslin is just plain adorable.
Night does another great job with tying up everything at the end and manages to give you another surprise ending, albeit not nearly as surprising as The Sixth Sense or Unbreakable. I can't wait for his next film