Amazing in every sense

Rating: Null/10 (9 September 2001)

I admit that "American Beauty" deserved the Oscar for Best movie of 1999, but I also have to admit that this movie came in a pretty close second place(all due respect to Michael Caine, but "The Cider House Rules" was not up to the competition). "The Sixth Sense" was almost perfect in every way- starting with the brilliant plot, the chills, the suspense, the acting, the directing, the editing, need I go on? This movie became a classic as soon as it hit the big screen- and in the same year "Fight Club" and "The Matrix" came out. Admit it- anything that becomes competition to those two movies has to be at least brilliant.
First off, there are very few movies which leave you as breathless as this one. And it's not only the ending, but the whole thing- starting with the open cupboards in the kitchen and topping it off with that "realization"(don't worry, i'm not going to spoil it for you, but if you haven't seen this one- rush to the video store!). Speaking of spoiling, this is one of the few movies where you can have the shocking finale and still enjoy the movie more than once. Why? Well, simply because it's a multi-layer, highly developed story which becomes better every time you see it. Mr. Shyamalan achieves cinematography that equals the mastery of Hitchcock and the eye of Orson Welles(although Syamalan doesn't live up to these standards in his later "Unbreakable").Anyway you look at it, the camera is moving and you are following every small motion with a sparkling mind and an enticed eye. Very few directors can control you like that.
Mentioning "The Sixth Sense", there is no way you can't credit young Mr. Osment. That kid has the skill that some "A" class Hollywood actors lack(let's hope he doesn't end up like "wonder boy" Culkin). Haley Joel Osment is not afraid of the camera and creates an unforgettable character full of fear, need of protection, and most of all- innocence. There is no way you can hate that kid(unlike young Mr.Vader in episode one), you feel compassion for the character and you can put yourself in his place. That's again something very few people can create.
There is another person in this movie that deserves immense credit as well. No, it's not Bruce Willis, but rather Ms. Toni Collette. The Australian actress proved she was up to Anjelina Jolie's competition, but the Academy wasn't very keen on giving her the Oscar. Collette creates the image of a truly caring mother, the type of person Susan Sarandon portrays in "Lorenzo's Oil". She begins as a stereotype, but proves to be more than a face in the crowd(quite like Judy Dench in "Shakespeare in Love")and leaves a lasting impression on the viewer.
There is much more to be said, but it would take a rather long time and I would hate to be boring. In conclusion, "The Sixth Sense" is one of those movies that take a part of you for two hours and return a completely different thing. You walk out of the theater and you think: "What people am I seeing?"Living, my friend, living, but they seem so different now...