Brilliant

Rating: 10/10 (3 August 2004)

"The Village" is clear proof that M Night Shyamalan is one of the most talented filmmakers of our time. Unfortunately, many are under the impression that his only purpose in life is to shock moviegoers with his every film. This school of thought, sadly, tends to be the not-so-subtle undertone to all IMDb comments and forums. I have seen the movie twice in its opening weekend, and I must say, without hesitation, that this film is absolutely beautiful. What viewers must realize is this: plot twists are always essential to a good story, but that in no way means the film must have surprises that hit as hard as the ending of 'The Sixth Sense.'
That being said, allow me to continue discussing a few of the film's strong points (of which there are many):
Bryce Dallas Howard's performance is flawless. For being one of her first leading roles she has shown talent that makes even the most polished actresses appear as amateurs. Her ability to express emotion throughout the film is so believable it is haunting, and this gift is only amplified by Shyamalan's keen sense of writing and camera movement. Two of the most powerful scenes in the movie exemplify this: the first, when Joaquin Phoenix and Bryce Dallas Howard are speaking on her family's porch, and the second when Howard fears that something horrible has transpired and moves hastily toward Phoenix's house.
Without delving too much into the details and disclosing too much of the story, focus on Howard's and Phoenix's exchange in the first scene. This begins with how she is able to 'see' with her feet (a subtlety that some people tend to miss) and ends with dialogue that is so beautiful, it almost removes the characters entirely from the film's disturbing premise.
The next scene to which I am referring is a single shot that centers on Howard (as she struggles to maintain composure at the thought of something horrific), which stretches halfway across the entire village. Her movement through the fear, sadness and desperation is perfect. I only hope that other directors will be able to harness and utilize this talent half as well as Shyamalan has done here.
This is why I would like people to disassociate themselves from their preconceived notions as fans of M Night Shyamalan films. The basic foundation for his films is not to trick or dupe the audience, but rather to tell a good story; and whether or not you can determine beforehand what the ending will be, it is the journey that the characters take that is so 'shocking.' That's what viewers of 'Unbreakable' and 'Signs' had to realize. The level of fear to which the audience is subject is not to make the film scary, but rather to add depth and dramatic tension to the decisions the characters make. There will be points in all of his films whereby you feel terror--but this is not necessarily for the purpose of shocking the audience; it is a method of storytelling where we feel the same emotions the characters would if we were in the same position.
There is a fantastic subtext to each and every film that Shyamalan has made, but that subtext has only been made clearer with 'Signs' (faith), and 'The Village' (love). Do not go to his films to be shocked, startled and scared, but go to them with an open mind with the eagerness to see a well-made story; there is a much larger picture than that which appears on screen.