A Quiet Sensation

Rating: Null/10 (19 February 2002)

Having never got round to see this film at the cinema, but having seen the Sixth Sense when first released, I have waited a long time to the second major work of M. Night Shyamalan. Due to this long wait I had heard much about the film of which the majority was negative. Despite this I still longed to see the film with great anticipation. And on viewing the film I must say my great intrigue was well justified. From the opening moments I must admit I was absolutely hooked.
From the introduction about the worldwide readership of comics until the final twist I sat glued to the screen with a due sense of tension and anticipation eager to find out what would happen next and how the relationship between Mr Jackson and Mr Willis would develop.
Many people have complained that this film was far too slow, but this was a deliberate ploy to build the characters and draw the interest of the viewer. Too often film-makers wish to throw all the information at you at one hundred miles an hour at the start of the film and you end with shallow, characterless figures about whom you have no real care whether they survive or of what they achieve. Unbreakable does not fall into this trap. By building the plot slowly the characters become truly 3-dimensional and there interaction as human beings becomes fully believable despite the comic-book setting.
And do not be put off by the words 'comic-book'. Even if you are not a fan of Spiderman or the X-Men then that makes little difference here as this film is more supernatural drama than comic caper.
Of course without the powerful performances of it's lead figures, Samuel Jackson is as good as ever, while Willis fits neatly into the main role as the hero who just wants to be your average joe. Combine this with a well built atmosphere, some great sets, and great use of the camera and it is hard to see why this film has received so much criticism.
In all honesty I expected little more than a re-hash of the Sixth Sense, which in a way Unbreakable was, but it was also so much more than this. It has been a long time since a film has lingered as clearly in the memory as Unbreakable has today, and for pure impact of the ending only the Shawshank Redemption and Citizen Kane have had a more profound effect on myself (which given the quality of those films is praise indeed).
All in all this film won't be everyone's cup of tea, but if you fancy seeing a film with great characterisation, and an equally compelling plot then I can't recommend a film more highly than Unbreakable. But why believe me, go see for yourself.