Shymalan impresses again....

Rating: 10/10 (10 August 2005)

Over the past few years, a new name has entered the forefont of science fiction: M. Night Shymalan. His powerhouse ghost drama The Sixth Sense, with it's now-legendary twist ending, was an impressive thriller that made me nervous right from the opening credits. Now we have Unbreakable, a slow and deliberately paced mystery that manages to be one of the best "superhero" films I've ever seen.
The thing with this movie is that it understands comic books. It understands the fans and their obsessions, and it understands the mythology behind superheroes. Bruce Willis is once again the everyman, and he shows he is not just an action actor. There's real drama here, and Willis plays it really well. Even more impressive is Samuel L. Jackson, who, over the years, has gained a reputation as the "big and bad black dude". Here, he's restrained. He's quiet, he doesn't raise his voice, and he doesn't curse much. It's a remarkable performance from this normally fiery actor. Robin Wright Penn combines the right mix of love and exasperation as Bruce Willis's wife, and Spencer Treat Clark, as their son, is another kid actor that Hollywood needs to look out for.
Many people don't like the ending to this movie, but you know what? I thought it was appropriate, and it actually shocked me. Shymalan is like Stephen King; he finds unease in everyday objects. Unbreakable is an impressive feat.