Great movie

Rating: Null/10 (29 March 2003)

Unbreakable centres around two characters: David Dunn (Bruce Willis) and Elijah Price (Samuel L Jackson). David is at a low point in his life. His wife has recently left him and taken his son, he has a poor job, and appears to be desperately lonely. To top it all he is then involved in a train crash, but he is the only survivor, without a scratch. Something is not right. He is then pursued by Elijah (who suffers from a bone disease that means he can very easily break his bones) who tells him that there is something special about him. David is trying to take all this in while also trying to re-establish relations with his son and wife.
Who would like this movie? This is a little like Sixth Sense, in that it has some supernatural overtones but does not involve ghosts or similar. There is a heavy comic book feel to it, which is intentional, but it isn't really like X-Men or similar either except in a very subtle way. So really the overall movie is quite subtle and slow, with some action and an intelligent plot. If that's your type of thing.
I really enjoyed this movie. I have seen it several times now and it gets better and better, which is a good sign. I have no specific liking of Shyamalan films (I liked Sixth Sense, but not Signs) but despite this, this is a great telling of a standard story but from a different perspective. Bruce Willis and Samuel L Jackson are fabulous in the movie, and very well directed. The only acting complaint I have relates to Bruce Willis's son who just spoils some scenes, whether it be through poor acting or direction. The plot is reasonably clever, perhaps a little laboured, but I guess this is necessary for the average cinema audience. The film also has an original feel to it. Also the music which remains suitably in the background for some of the film comes to the fore as a great theme when relevant. 5/5