Without a Twist

Rating: 5/10 (1 August 2004)

I kept wanting to like this movie more than I did. The problem, in my view, is the "twist." Because Shyamalan is so known for surprise endings, it seems that he caves into the pressure to have one. I won't reveal it here, though I think it is what does the film in. Rather than have the "big surprise" (which I DID figure out--and I'm no supergenius) at the end, I found myself much more interested in that backstory. How much better the film would be if the "twist" were actually the beginning of the movie, and not a surprise at all. One is given only the surprise; what one needs is all the information to let you in on ALL the implications of that surprise. I saw the movie this morning and keep filling in all the blanks myself. Because what is quickly glossed over is actually a compelling story full of sacrifice, hard work, and guilt. Now, THAT movie I would line up to see--without a surprise in view. Having said all this--and it probably makes no sense unless you have seen the film--I will add that Shyamalan remains a superb technician: there are individual shots and sometimes entire scenes of such evocative beauty that I found myself holding my breath. Specifically, the scene of Ivy standing in the doorway, with her hand held out, waiting--that was tense and lovely. And the long, static shot of Joaquin Phoenix and Bryce Dallas Howard sitting on the porch and talking in profile was just gorgeous--it was also the best-acted sequence in the movie not involving Sigourney Weaver (who gives the single best performance in the film--maybe her best ever). The Village could have been astounding, had Shyamalan not felt it so necessary to tweak us. Without relying on a big shock, he could have filled this film full-to-bursting with prodigious emotion.