Another intelligent, powerful Shyamalan movie.

Rating: Null/10 (24 September 2004)

Leaving aside the pro-atheist side issues the film raises such as the nature of religion, and the control of the masses through fear, I found it to be another quality piece of story telling from Shyamalan.
Bryce Dallas Howard's powerhouse performance really stood out, which was just as well, since the film hangs upon her performance.
There's a few loose ends in the film, which struck me as a bit strange given what a craftsmanlike writer Shyamalan is. As a writer you always tie up your loose ends. Nothing should ever be placed in the narrative unless it serves a purpose. It's the golden rule. For instance Sigourney Weaver's character who keeps getting rejected in the film whenever she looks with puppy dog eyes to the object of her affection. Where's the pay off? How does the tension resolve? It doesn't. So, why put it in, in the 1st place? Was it just to flesh out her character? Maybe this is all part of the enigma that is Shyamalan.
I especially liked the porch scene. The dialogue is very powerful. The only time in the film where Pheonix out talks Howard. Up to that point she gets all the best lines.
Possible Spoilers
There are flaws certainly in the film. Noah's final act. (I deliberately remain ambiguous for those who haven't seen it) Could Noah really have pulled off such an accomplished Houdini act, and then dressed himself given his level of inadequacy? Or kept silent throughout the duration of the pursuit, given that he spends all of the 1st part of the film laughing manically to himself every few seconds? One laugh and the game would have been over. It's just a small observation. I don't mean to detract from the film because I really enjoyed it, but still something I found difficult to overlook.
8/10