Reciprocal healing

Rating: 10/10 (27 August 1999)

Bruce Willis plays troubled child psychologist Malcom Crowe, and young Haley Joel Osment is Cole Sear, his patient, a disturbed nine-year-old who sees ghosts. Slowly Crowe gains young Cole's trust; and just as slowly Cole gains Crowe's trust. Therein lies the heart of this extraordinary film--for both individuals, when the film is over, have healed each other. And that's what the film is about--recirpocal healing. Willis gives his best performance since In Country, and young Osment is a revelation. The lad should be nominated for 1999's Best Actor. What a performance! The Sixth Sense isn't a horror film. The Sixth Sense isn't merely a ghost story. It's more: It's a terrific, riveting film, one the viewer will think about long after it's over. Final words: The wonderful twist at the end alters the film's entire meaning; and the name M. Night Shyamala should be kept in mind: He has directed and written the summer's best film.