A different take on a superhero

Rating: Null/10 (7 February 2011)

Few films split movie goers like this one, you either love it or hate it. OK, i will come out early and say it is one of my all time fav films. It can be slow, heavy going in places but it has moments of light you rarely see in cinema.
I think what frustrates many people with the film is that it's not about Spiderman, The Hulk or anything like a comic book hero, just an ordinary man coming to terms with the fact he is anything but ordinary. He cannot fly, shoot webs, he's just... unbreakable.
Willis as David Dunn gives just about the best performance he will ever give, understated, restrained yet just right as a man still trying to deny what he has always known he is. He walks away from it early in his life and enters middle age lonely, his marriage failing and stuck in a menial job as a security guard. He still loves his wife, his son but nothing is working for him any more, he is isolated and alone.
To me, this is where the film works best, as David finds his true self again, he once again finds the people who love him, and he can love back leading to some of the most beautiful, touching scenes I have ever seen in a movie...
The weightlifting scene, David's son putting more and more weight on
David carrying his wife back to their bed, ' I had a bad dream', 'It's over now'
David showing his son the newspaper report of his actions at breakfast.
Nothing dramatic, just played with a wonderful subtleness missing in many films today, played with the eyes and all the better for it.
Not a perfect film, but I love it, oh, and don't forget a wonderful soundtrack
Simon