Understated excellence

Rating: Null/10 (4 February 2003)

After having just seen 'Signs' I felt compelled to comment on what
is not only M. Nights best film, but also one of my all-time
favourites, 'Unbreakable'. I may be in the minority but I feel that everything M Night tried to do
with 'Signs' was more comprehensively covered in this subtle
masterpiece. The issues of family and relationships are
prominent as is the underlying theme that there is something
lurking under the surface which the director is just itching to tell
you yet smartly doesn't in the insecrated hope that the payoff has
been well worth the wait. M. Night knows what to with his actors, the performances are
always spot on as shown with Bruce Willis who is in career best
form here (which isn't too hard considering his resume is
somewhat weak with the exception of 'The Sixth Sense' and Pulp
Fiction'). Spencer Clark is excellent as the child looking for a hero
in his old man and Samuel Jackson is obviously enjoying himself
as the crippled comic book seller with a secret. The comic book theme of heroes and villains is given an
astounding twist that plays superbly especially as the finale
reveals itself in what I regard as a more satisfying and complex
twist than the 'Sixth Sense' which, although excellent, was
comprehensively spotted halfway through by myself and co-conspirators with great smugness. Brilliant film, excellent understated performances (If done correctly
you do not need to bang audiences over the head to let them know
whats going on, M. Night knows this and executes it magically)
and and excellent story make this a good film to watch and keep
watching should the message pass you by on first viewing.