After surviving a train crash, a man discovers he possesses superhuman abilities with the help of an obsessive comic book collector.
DRAMA/SCI-FI
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Unbreakable (2000)Written and Directed by M. Night Shyamalan
Starring Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson, Robin Wright, Spencer Treat Clark, Charlayne Woodard |
There was a time when the words "Written and Directed by M. Night Shyamalan" brought with them thoughts of intrigue, mystery, and thrilling suspense. A film like Unbreakable could really only be done by a filmmaker like Shyamalan, back when he knew what he was doing. Unbreakable is one of the most creative and thought-provoking films that Shyamalan ever produced, as it tackles a subject matter that some view as trivial and others see as crowd-pleasing blockbusters: Superheroes, or rather people who inspire them. Led by another surprisingly powerhouse performance from Bruce Willis and a delightfully sinister one from Samuel L. Jackson, it's a wonder this film never got the attention it rightly deserves.
This film begins with security guard David Dunn (Willis) surviving a devastating train crash that killed everybody else on-board. Not only did he survive, but he did so without a scratch. Afterward, he is approached by a comic book collector named Elijah Price (Jackson), who claims that the reason David survived the crash is because he is superhuman and cannot be injured. Over the course of the film, David starts to realize that he's never been sick in his life and he's survived numerous would-be fatal incidents, until he finally comes to terms with his destiny. This is a film that actually creates a realistic world for a superhero to live in. Throughout the film, you understand why David is who he is and why Elijah is who he is. My only gripe with the film is the abrupt and less than satisfying ending that cuts off the action right when the film is getting really interesting. Unfortunately, Shyamalan never made the sequel that needed to happen. Shyamalan's signature twist at the end actually packs a bit of a punch if you've been paying attention. Watching it now just makes me nostalgic for the days when we could rely on M. Night Shyamalan for fresh, original, suspenseful films like Unbreakable. I hope one day he decides to revisit this film and continue the story of David Dunn and Elijah Price. At the very least, it would please his longtime fans, and that's some brownie points he could seriously use. |