Lady In The Water

Rating: PG – Contains Supernatural Themes.
Duration: 105 mins.
Genre: Suspense & Thriller, Fantasy, Supernatural Thriller.
Actors: Bob Balaban, Mary Beth Hurt, Sarita Choudhury, Jeffrey Wright, Paul Giamatti, Jared Harris, Freddy Rodríguez, Bill Irwin, M. Night Shyamalan, Bryce Dallas Howard.
Director: M. Night Shyamalan.
Release Date: Available Now.

‘I see dead people.’

The Sixth Sense had one of the most unexpected twists in modern movies, and it made M. Night Shyamalan and overnight success.

The biggest problem of course, was how does one follow a movie as good that? Shyamalan followed it up with Unbreakabled, Signs, The Village and now Lady in the Water.

All in my view, good, solid movies. But alas, most movie critics, and movie goers decided that Shyamalan was loosing his touch, that his movies didn’t have the pre-requisite mind blowing twist any more.

The problem is that Shyamalan seems to be evolving, growing as a filmmaker. The Village had a great twist, in reality it had several, but it also introduced a social commentary, and had an aspect of fantasy and folklore.

So we come to Lady in the Water, a different direction for Shyamalan. Rather than a twist in the movie, he looks to creating a modern mythological tale. A tale that brings hope for humanity; a humanity that has lost touch with innocence.

It’s this search for the re-awakening of innocence that gives Lady in the Water it’s charm. Of course, if you’re a hardened cynic, you’re going to miss the point, and that’s the point.

Brilliant storytelling that is lost on most of us.

What shouldn’t be lost on anyone is the stellar performance by Paul Giamatti and the supporting cast. I’ve always enjoyed seeing Giamatti since American Splendour, and he has a knack for picking interesting roles.

Ok, so lady isn’t the perfect movie, but lets give the guy a break and enjoy his movies for what they can be, not what they have been. Don’t let yourself become the hardened movie critic that finds his demise in this movie, be the people who re-discover their true humanity.

Food for thought:
Can innocence lost ever be found again?

Rent or Buy?
Buy it, everyone should have a M. Night Shyamalan collection.