BRILLIANT...SHYAMALAN'S BEST FILM TO DATE

Rating: Null/10 (18 August 2004)

I don't quite understand what all the fuss is about pertaining to M. Night Shyamalan's latest film. I personally feel it is his best film and the best exercised combination of his writing and directing skills. Shyamalan is like a great novelist who can produce tale after intriguing tale that are not only tailored to his strengths but are fresh at the same time.
WRITING & DIRECTING: One of the reasons I admire Shyamalan is that he writes and directs all his films and retains complete control and vision of them. His directing skills here are amazing as he continually exhibits such patience with his subjects while keeping the camera still. That is a noble gift to have in this MTV-frenzied era of directing. He truly admires the position of the camera and the composition of the frame. Of course, this has been obvious since the first time I saw "The Sixth Sense." He is clearly one of the best directors working today and he has yet to disappoint me.
ACTING: A droolworthy group of actors were assembled for this movie. Of note are the performances of these actors and actresses: Joaquin Phoenix, Adrien Brody, William Hurt, Sigourney Weaver, Brendan Gleeson, and newcomer Bryce Dallas Howard. To my surprise, Howard emerges as the true star of the film and carries it brilliantly. Hurt, whose voice and demeanor can sometimes be almost narcoleptic in other films is a perfect fit here. His conversations with the elders in the film are stirring, especially one in particular late in the film. Phoenix, who remains relatively quiet as his character requires, becomes a fascinating character to watch as the film progresses. Brody, with probably the meatiest role in the film besides Howard, is brilliant and a fascinating portrayal of heartache and confusion in an important scene late in the film. Gleeson and Weaver are also quite good but didn't quite affect me like the other actors. Nevertheless, Howard is clearly the standout here. My only disappointment with the acting is the limited use of Cherry Jones. She was utilized brilliantly in "Signs" but here she is nothing but another town elder.
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Ah, Roger Deakins. One of my favorite directors of photography. He's become a favorite of both Frank Darabont and the Coen brothers. His lighting at night is spooky as hell. He manages to make dark spaces LOOK like dark spaces. Because of the time period, the only lighting utilized at night are lanterns and torches. And that is all you see. And during the day the clouds are always overcast, making certain bright colors pierce the landscape.
Overall, a brilliant film and it is definitely Shyamalan's best. I'm proud that Shyamalan made this film. While it is vastly different from his other films in regard to the "scare" factor, it is clearly a more mature film. Hopefully, the creative energy that produced this film will bear even tastier fruit for his future projects.
MY RATING: **** out of ****