Mike's Old Favorites: Unbreakable 5/5
Me and Punchface thought, since this whole revolution in movie critique is just getting underway, that it would be beneficial to spend some time writing reviews of old movies that we love. This will help give you a better sense of the kind of things we love, and maybe show you some cool flicks you've overlooked in the past. Plus we just love talking about great films. In that vein, here's my review of a great movie: Unbreakable.
I had forgotten just how awesome this movie was. Basically, the plot revolves around two characters. One is David Dunn (Bruce Willis) who is the sole survivor of a horrible train accident. The other is Elijah Price (Samuel L. Jackson) who has a rare disease causing extremely low bone density (he suffers injuries all the time). While David is in the midst of a struggling remnant of a marriage, Elijah (who is a little out there, and has an extremely strong affinity for comic books) comes into the picture, thinking David is the living archetype of what gets exaggerated into traditional comic book superheroes.
The plot may sound strange, but at it's heart is a powerful story of a broken man coming to terms with who he is, the choices he's made, and what his life is about. The film is written, produced and directed by M. Night Shyamalan, the man behind "The Sixth Sense," "Signs," and "The Village." Despite what you think of his other work (to be discussed later) it's obvious that the man knows how to use a camera. The cinematography here is amazing, creative, and symbolic. The movies themes are represented and developed even in the camera movement--there are themes of upside-down images, as well as constant use of reflected images to reinforce certain ideas. This is not at all ground-breaking, but it's just that it's done so well. The script is nearly flawless, never overbearing, never cheesy, and never unbelievable. The actors bring it alive in incredible ways. The movie is perfectly cast in all places. Bruce Willis is an amazing actor, and this movie shows him do things that prove it beyond a shadow of a doubt. This is a far cry from the action hero in the Die Hard series.
This is a distanced, troubled, yet emotionally vulnerable broken man, played wonderfully and ever so believably by Willis. Jackson is superb as well. In fact, even some of the side actors (Robin Wright Penn and Spencer Clark) bring so much to the story. I have to admit that I got teary eyed at multiple times during this film. The actors make you feel exactly what the character feels, in powerful and moving ways.
The score was done by one of my all-time favorite movie composers, James Newton Howard. Check his IMDB file to see the never-ending list of great films he's worked on. He is in top form with this film's score, which, just like the film itself, is powerful, emotional, strong yet vulnerable, and extremely memorable. The use of color in this film is also brilliant. Most of the movie has a particularly dark blue feel, but different characters bring different colors to the movie's palatte in ways that never distract from the story, but enhance it's themes.
Perhaps the reason I go straight to giving it a five (because for many people, it may be a high 4) is because of it's theme of comic books (which I am slightly partial to). Understand, this is NOT a "comic book movie." But there plot revolves around the idea of what comics might represent in the human psyche. It deals with the themes and archetypes of comic books without ever becoming a "comic book film," despite what that classification may mean to you. The Special Edition DVD set contains a documentary where several prominent comic creators talk about the film and its themes. Included are such greats as Frank Miller, Scott McCloud, Will Eisner, Alex Ross (who created some great promo art for the film), Dennis O'Neil, Dave Gibbons, and others. For anyone interested in what comics are, and what they might mean behind the surface, this is a great special feature.
I had forgotten just how great this movie was. I'll be watching this one long after I get old and grey. And to me, thats the definition of a "5". Enjoy!
I had forgotten just how awesome this movie was. Basically, the plot revolves around two characters. One is David Dunn (Bruce Willis) who is the sole survivor of a horrible train accident. The other is Elijah Price (Samuel L. Jackson) who has a rare disease causing extremely low bone density (he suffers injuries all the time). While David is in the midst of a struggling remnant of a marriage, Elijah (who is a little out there, and has an extremely strong affinity for comic books) comes into the picture, thinking David is the living archetype of what gets exaggerated into traditional comic book superheroes.
The plot may sound strange, but at it's heart is a powerful story of a broken man coming to terms with who he is, the choices he's made, and what his life is about. The film is written, produced and directed by M. Night Shyamalan, the man behind "The Sixth Sense," "Signs," and "The Village." Despite what you think of his other work (to be discussed later) it's obvious that the man knows how to use a camera. The cinematography here is amazing, creative, and symbolic. The movies themes are represented and developed even in the camera movement--there are themes of upside-down images, as well as constant use of reflected images to reinforce certain ideas. This is not at all ground-breaking, but it's just that it's done so well. The script is nearly flawless, never overbearing, never cheesy, and never unbelievable. The actors bring it alive in incredible ways. The movie is perfectly cast in all places. Bruce Willis is an amazing actor, and this movie shows him do things that prove it beyond a shadow of a doubt. This is a far cry from the action hero in the Die Hard series.
This is a distanced, troubled, yet emotionally vulnerable broken man, played wonderfully and ever so believably by Willis. Jackson is superb as well. In fact, even some of the side actors (Robin Wright Penn and Spencer Clark) bring so much to the story. I have to admit that I got teary eyed at multiple times during this film. The actors make you feel exactly what the character feels, in powerful and moving ways.The score was done by one of my all-time favorite movie composers, James Newton Howard. Check his IMDB file to see the never-ending list of great films he's worked on. He is in top form with this film's score, which, just like the film itself, is powerful, emotional, strong yet vulnerable, and extremely memorable. The use of color in this film is also brilliant. Most of the movie has a particularly dark blue feel, but different characters bring different colors to the movie's palatte in ways that never distract from the story, but enhance it's themes.
Perhaps the reason I go straight to giving it a five (because for many people, it may be a high 4) is because of it's theme of comic books (which I am slightly partial to). Understand, this is NOT a "comic book movie." But there plot revolves around the idea of what comics might represent in the human psyche. It deals with the themes and archetypes of comic books without ever becoming a "comic book film," despite what that classification may mean to you. The Special Edition DVD set contains a documentary where several prominent comic creators talk about the film and its themes. Included are such greats as Frank Miller, Scott McCloud, Will Eisner, Alex Ross (who created some great promo art for the film), Dennis O'Neil, Dave Gibbons, and others. For anyone interested in what comics are, and what they might mean behind the surface, this is a great special feature.
I had forgotten just how great this movie was. I'll be watching this one long after I get old and grey. And to me, thats the definition of a "5". Enjoy!
posted by Hankinstien at 12:39 PM
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