What if a superhero did exist?

Rating: 10/10 (29 October 2013)

Where did M. Night Shyamalan go wrong? Touted as one of the best directors of modern time due to his deep stories, ability to get great performances and twist endings. It all seemed to fall apart after Signs and whilst many believe The Sixth Sense to be his best film, in my view it is his 'real life' and extremely underrated superhero origin tale Unbreakable. This is the film that shows Shyamalan's potential in all its glory. Plus we finally get a quiet and sombre look at superheroes, putting Marvel's bombastic and cheesy work to shame.
Security guard David Dunn becomes the sole survivor of a train derailment, which he didn't even receive a scratch from. His crumbling marriage and job worries are then put into perspective. David is later contacted by a comic book specialist named Elijah, who has a rare bone disorder, who makes a detailed claim that David might just be a real life superhero. The story is one of the films strongest points and effectively what makes the film so intriguing. That one question of, what if a superhero existed in real life? The detailed and very introspective look at that question through the eyes of two men is what sells the film in my view. The story is all you could possibly want it to be, striking, stylish, gloomy and uplifting all rolled into one intelligent ball. Those who don't like slow films won't enjoy the time taken to build things up, but those who appreciate the craft will be rewarded.
Considering how important the characters to the overall story, the acting had to be exceptional to make the characters seem real and thankfully it is especially from the two leads. Bruce Willis seals, for me anyway, himself as a truly top actor as David. He gives an incredibly understated performance that works wonders, his expressions are so powerful that he rarely needs dialogue to get across what he wants. Willis' reserved turn adds layers to the disheartened Dunn that not many could. Luckily his equal is seen in Samuel L. Jackson as the broken Elijah. Jackson also offers a very, compared to his usual work, low-key turn as a man who prays for there to be someone who is the opposite of him. His sombre performance works the same way as Willis' in adding complex layers to the character.
The support is excellent which is key due to the main roles being the focal point. Robin Wright puts in a very authentic performance as David's isolated wife. She allows herself to fit into the background whilst remaining memorable due to her genuine and sensitive portrayal. Spencer Treat Clark is equally good, you genuinely feel for him as he is willing for his dad to be special. He showed a calm and delicate presence despite his young age.
One thing that really sets the film apart is the way it is shot and how the cinematography feels rather unique. There is an almost saturated view that the film takes on which means that certain colours used really standout, especially blue and silver that give the film an almost comic- book styling. Shyamalan knows how to use the camera with skill as shown by the very slow moving shots which help to create atmosphere and his focus upon the characters which gives us more of an insight into how they feel through their expressions. Certain visual representations also strike me as being very, such as the frequent associations of glass to Elijah due to his condition and the way David's security hood later acts as his 'costume' per-say as both a smart allusions to superhero mythos.
Themes play a big part in the films story and the way it presents as well as tries to answer the ideas it sets up is brilliantly executed. The focus being placed on isolation and trying to find a place in the world are developed with a delicate understanding that most films don't attempt to craft. David is presented as a man with sadness hanging over his head and this idea that he might be special is his chance to fit in as he sees it. These also fit the personas of both main characters which gives another subtle comparison between the two. The psychological themes that the film develops between David and Elijah add to its intelligence and insight. Importantly the superhero mythos works as we get references such as David having his own kryptonite and his power of super-strength.
The intense scenes are just that. The scenes were David's son tries to prove he is special by shooting him and the confrontation with the 'Orange Man' really does pile on the tension with very successful results. Shyamalan's well-known twist is here and people appeared divided over this. For me the twist was very smart and fit the film well, it wrapped things up nicely and came across as being quite well thought-out.
The score is just magnificent and really stands out. James Newton Howard deserves far more plaudits for his incredible work here. It is such a beautifully sombre and moving piece of work that it adds wonderfully to the films already thoughtful nature.
Unbreakable is one of those films that is unjustly dismissed and that might be down to Shyamalan's increasingly bad reputation. But, in fairness, if this is your best film then you've done a bloody good job in my eyes. There's so much that the film has going for it, I love the superhero ideals behind it, I love the two leading performances, I love the score and I love the gripping narrative. This is the superhero film alternative for those who want a 'real life' film and those who want a quitter intelligent film. Unbreakable is one of those films that stays in your head and makes you really think, and films that do that are special.