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| Unbreakable |
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  (7/10)
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Runtime: 106 |
| Public Rating: 7.81 (154 votes) |
Director: M. Night Shyamalan |
MPAA Rating:  |
| Genre: Thriller/Drama |
Year: 2000 |
| Writer(s): M. Night Shyamalan |
| Reviewed by: Scott S. |
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David Dunn (Bruce Willis) has survived a deadly train crash leaving hundreds of people dead, and he is the only survivor. Even more miraculously, he is able to walk out of the hospital with not a bruise on his body. This newsworthy story grabs the attention of a comic book collector, Elijah Price (Samuel L. Jackson)who believes David is a real life super hero who can't be harmed.
As the story progresses, David and his son Joseph (Spencer Treat Clark) begin to learn the advantages David possesses. Not only can he not be hurt, he figures out that he has never been sick or injured in his entire life. On top of his perfect immune system and "Unbreakable" body, he has much greater strength than any man his size, and is able lift an unbelievable amount of weight.
The movie plays out like a comic book, setting the stage for the main hero, the bad the guys and ultimately the king villian we learn of in the finale. This unique comic book theme is different and original from the traditional thriller movies.
Still young in his movie making career, M. Night Shyamalan uses the same chilling atmosphere used in the Sixth Sense, and it works well in Unbreakable for the most part. You'll notice his unique method of directing in the movements of the camera and the many angles Unbreakable is filmed in.
Both Willis and Jackson have seen better days, but their performances still hold true and are fun to sit through, even though I still prefer their duo in Die Hard 3 over Unbreakable. Remember the shakiness because of their differences in Die Hard? You'll see a familiar conflict in Unbreakable.
What keeps the movie interesting is the direct parallel between David and Elijah. David is a man who has never been sick or injured, while Elijah was born with every bone in his body broken. Elijah's disease prevents his bones from becoming strong, ergo they break often. The conflicts between the two characters is what drives the movie, David doesn't quite understand why he is so special, and Elijah has to prove it to him.
The reason why Elijah is so attracted to David is because he is the only one to ever survive a tragedy that has plagued their town. Elijah has studied a house fire, a plane crash, and the train accident and concludes that only David could survive anything of that magnitude. Despite the good story and solid script, it isn't enough to keep audiences glued to the screen.
James Newton Howard's score brings Unbreakable to life adding to the chilling atmosphere. You'll appreciate every note just by letting the DVD stay on the menu page. The soundtrack plus the decently paced story will satisfy most Willis/Jackson/Shyamalan fans.
Unbreakable is an overall good thriller but begins to drag here and there. Too much time is focused on David and his quest to prove to himself that he really does have special powers no one else has. The end is worth the wait, with a surprise finish that will probably catch you off guard. Towards the end, David learns about more powers he never knew existed. He is able to see the recent past of someone just by touching that person. His ability to see the crime committed right after it happened is what the movie builds on, until David finally does something about it.
Unbreakable may not display the best of Willis and Jackson, but you can still count on two solid performances as well as give Unbreakable credit for its style not present in the mainstream. Shyamalan looks like a promising director and I look forward to his future releases.
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