The Twenty-Third One

This week I have been revisiting one of my favorite directors (writers, producers):

M. NIGHT SHYAMALAN

Every movie I have seen by him, I have loved. I'm just going to highlight my favorites/the ones I own. It is possible the following blurbs contain some spoilers. So, tread carefully.

"See what you have to ask yourself is what kind of person are you? Are you the kind that sees signs, that sees miracles? Or do you believe that people just get lucky? Or, look at the question this way: Is it possible that there are no coincidences?"

When this movie first came out I remember a lot of friends going to see and coming back disappointed. They couldn't believe he showed the alien! It would have been way scarier if the aliens were never shown! My friends went to see this movie expecting an alien movie. With all the horror/slasher movies that have been inundating movie theaters for the past decade or so, Signs fell well beneath a lot of peoples expectations, because what they wanted was just another horror/slasher flick. I would have been disappointed as well.

What I like about Signs was everything my friends did not like. I like how the premise was not the story. Just because there are aliens in the movie, doesn't mean the movie is about aliens. It is about so much more than aliens. It is about a family floundering, trying to find their footing after facing a devastating loss. It is about ordinary people finding courage in extraordinary circumstances. It is about losing your faith and finding it again. It is about miracles.

The main character, Graham Hess (played by Mel Gibson), loses his faith when he loses his wife. The above quote is said by him during a conversation with his brother Merrill (played by Joaquin Phoenix). Afterwards, Merrill claims to be a "miracle man" and Graham, despite having been a Pastor of some sort, emphatically declares, "There is no one looking out for us. We are all alone." And the story progresses from there.

"We can move towards hope, that's what's beautiful about this place. We cannot run from heartache."

and

"Yes, I have risked! I hope I am always able to risk everything for the just and right cause."

I couldn't decide which quotation best summarized what I believe is the primary theme of the story. I lean strongly toward the first one.

Again, after this movie came out there was an uproar among my friends for the same reason as with Signs. They wanted a monster movie, and what they got was a movie about people. That is what I find most spectacular about Shyamalan's movies, not the cinematography (which is beautiful) or the music (which is always, always perfect) but the fact that he seems to understand people; he truly seems to know peoples' reactions, motives, what causes them to rejoice and despair. His movies reflect this understanding and The Village is no exception.

By the time this movie came out I knew Shyamalan well enough to know there is always a twist. I can honestly say I did not see this twist coming. Joaquin Phoenix's character Lucius said it best when he pointed out to his mother (Sigourney Weaver) that "there are secrets in every corner of this village." These secrets lead to questionable decisions on the part of the elders, the ones in charge. They are secrets with the intent to do as the first quotation above states, to run toward hope and away from heartache. Their secrets keep them secure in their decisions until circumstances have them questioning themselves and risking everything.

Outstanding performances here by everyone, Phoenix (who I fell in love with in Signs), Bryce Dallas Howard, Adrien Brody, William Hurt, really everyone was beautifully cast.

"You know what the scariest thing is? To not know your place in this world. To not know why you're here."

I say I love Unbreakable I get one of two looks. Either the person has no idea what movie I'm talking about, or the person is incredulous that I actually like it. But I don't like it, I love it.

There are so many levels to this movie. There is the theme of self-discovery, good vs. evil, reconciliation, and love, be it romantic, paternal, platonic, whatever. All of this is set to the backdrop of comic books.

First of all, as a comic book fan myself, I love that they play such a vital role in the development of both the main characters, David Dunn played by Bruce Willis and Elijah Price played by Samuel L. Jackson.

That said, there are so many different relationships to explore in this movie. You have the strained, almost broken relationship between David and his wife Audrey (Robin Wright Penn), the relationship between David and his son (Spencer Treat Clark), the relationship between David and Elijah, and the relationship between Elijah and his mother (Charlaynne Woodard).

The confidence and strength of his mother helped to shape the person Elijah would become and Elijah in turn opens David's eyes to his own potential, to what is missing from his life. With David's new found self-awareness he is able to open himself up more to his family. I find it so interesting how greatly his relationships suffer simply because David does not know his place in this world. I also find this incredibly true to life, once again an insightful look at how people operate.