Plot
A year after a devastating personal moment, a renowned child psychologist starts treating a young boy with severe mental illness. He harbours a deep dark secret, that even his mother does not know… that he sees dead people.
Direction
Director M Night Shyamalan uses the camera wonderfully – with wonderful techniques.
I particularly enjoyed the way he sets up shots – having characters appear at times without their face being seen. Some examples are when characters are walking up or down stairs, or when they are sitting and the camera is behind them.
There is also lovely set designs – and at times an almost use of ‘negative space’ when there is one character on the screen during some of the wide shots.
He also makes good use of angle shots and solid use of Dutch Angles.
Cast/Characters
Bruce Willis gives one of the performances of his career as Malcolm. He is brilliant as the tortured Dr who is struggling with his past, his current relationships, and trying to fix them for the future.
Hayley Joel Osment is beyond phenomenal as Cole – he nails the tone needed for the characters quite vulnerable – and absolute torment at time he goes through.
Olivia Williams is a little underused as Malcolm’s distant wife. However, this may be a creative choice made due to Malcolm ‘putting work first’.
Toni Collette, who was just 27 when she appeared here – shows why Hollywood was beckoning for her talent. She earned her first Oscar nomination for this, and rightly deserved due to her flawless American accent.
Donnie Wahlberg is almost unrecognisable in a ‘bookended’ role.
Screenplay/Setting/Themes
With an Oscar nominated screenplay – this was one of the best ‘twist endings’ of the 90s (that after knowing the secret, you look for the subtle clues).
There is also a heavy reliance on ‘family’ – both Malcolm and Cole have broken relationships at home. Malcolm with his wife because he became ‘distant’ and Cole with his mother because he can’t bring himself to let her know his secret.
The city of Philadelphia begins its significance to Shyamalan (as he was born there).
One nit-pick I had was the final play in which all of a sudden Cole is given the lead role after being the kid no one really likes earlier on – it doesn’t really fit. I did chuckle at the cameras coming out (they would be smart phones now.
Score/Soundtrack
Sensational score from James Newton Howard, several key moments like ‘Stuttering Stanley’ and both the ‘Vincent and Malcolm’ revelations are powerfully dynamic in their eeriness.
Overall
A great film, and yet anther brilliant one from my favourite year of cinema. 1999. If you haven’t’ seen this. Where were you?
4.5/5
Ryan's Movie Reviews 