Brilliantly Disappointing

Rating: Null/10 (24 November 2000)

Nothing disappoints me more than a film that sucks me in, only to leave me hanging. and by saying this i do not mean that i dislike endings that require the audience to step back and think outside of the frame. rather, i am referring to film that set you up so fantastically for a plot twist or "surprise ending," and when they finally give it to you, it doesn't feel like enough. such is the case with Unbreakable.
Willis and Jackson portray two of the most interesting, wonderfully constructed characters i have ever had the good fortune of seeing on the screen. the parallel between the two men is outstanding, and each developing moment is potent and usually unexpected.
having said that, i felt totally dissatisfied at the end of this film, when the final piece of Jackson's character is revealed to us, and the film ends so suddenly. not only is this final twist in the plot the most interesting part of the entire film, but upon revealing it so many more questions need to be answered, or at least explored, that the film feels like it needs a "to be continued..." at the end of it (which, by the way, i am not condoning). but instead, you get a freeze frame of Willis walking away from Jackson and then a bunch of worthless text on the screen. Shyamalan needed to reveal the "ending" at the end of the film's second act, and explore this revelation throughout the third act... so much time was spent dealing with the character of the wife and their marriage that could have been spent preparing the audience for the ending, which would then not have to come at the very end. it just seems like Shyamalan wanted to give this film a sixth sense-esque ending so badly that he failed to step back and wonder if it would be better take a different approach. like i said, i am only so disappointed with this film because i had begun to fall in love with it long before the film was over, and once i was hit with such a cop-out ending, i felt betrayed.
i recommend this film to everyone and regard it as a fine motion picture. it could have, however, been outstanding