Easily Shyamalan's best.

Rating: 9/10 (9 January 2008)

One of my favorite techniques in the film is Shyamalan's use of color contrast, that is very unique to how most directors use it. He uses vibrant colors (orange, red, purple) to highlight the antagonist(s) and uses very dull colors (green, brown, black) to blend the protagonist into the background. It helps to display the films overall theme of someone completely ordinary having the abilities of someone extraordinary. The cinematography itself is very fresh and original. Seeing Willis' conversation on the train through the point of view of the girl sitting in front of him was a great technique. I also liked seeing the scene between young Elijah and his mother reflected off of the television screen. Another unique strategy used by Shyamalan.
The performances are some of the best work done by the actors involved. Willis is very subtle and flawlessly melancholy in what I firmly believe is his greatest performance. Jackson is, like the theme of the film, on the other side of the spectrum. Vibrant and extravagant, using great vocal power in everything he says. The film is just full of these contrasts between Willis and Jackson which Shyamalan uses brilliantly. The twist itself is one of the best I've ever seen. It's subtle and extremely unpredictable. Also, the fact that the entire film isn't based on this twist (unlike The Sixth Sense) makes it that much less predictable.