Unbreakable Breaks Fresh Ground

Rating: 9/10 (29 November 2000)

M. Night Shaymalan's follow up to his masterful Sixth Sense may not be as tightly-wound, but it's still certainly a fresh, innovative, mysterious thriller with what seems to be becoming the director's trademark: a fantastic ending.
When Bruce Willis (in a somewhat muted performance) is in a disastrous trainwreck, he is the sole survivor and is tracked down by Samuel L. Jackson, whom suspects he might know why Willis survived unscathed.
Shaymalan directs with the same eerie restraint he incorporated so well in Sixth Sense, and sometimes the silent stretches that have no dialogue overshadow the regular scenes. Bruce Willis' quiet performance is contrasted by Samuel L. Jackson's decidedly determined, obsessed character, the same way Willis' deadpan doctor in Sixth Sense was overcome by Haley Joel Osment's intense supernatural child.
Also, Shaymalan does not forget to make us sympathize with his characters plights. Willis' scenes of emotional estrangement from both his son and daughter and the small splashes of intermitten bonding are deeply heartfelt. The same goes for Jackson's scenes with his mother which evoke sympathy.

Unbreakable's cinematography is also effective, serving the workings of the script, framing each shot as if it were in a box. While the film has an overcast look to it, there are scenes lit beautifully to contrast the overall grey blandness.
With Unbreakable, M. Night Shaymalan proves that his masterful handling of Sixth Sense was not a fluke. Great storytelling, good performances, and a mysterious setting peppered with some affecting though small bits of comedy all come together in a wholly original, involving thriller.
8 out of 10