Elijah Price is an intriguing individual. Born with a disease that limits his ability to heal, or more precisely, aids his ability to become injured, he sets out on a journey to find his opposite; the one that need not heal, the one that doesn't injure as he does. In comparison, security guard David Dunn goes about his everyday life with little knowledge of his sick record, of the fact that, throughout his entire life, he's barely a scratch to his name. The chance meeting of the two only comes about when David (Bruce Willis) becomes the sole survivor of a horrific train accident that sees him walk away unharmed, whilst each other individual fails to walk away at all.
It is from this point that Elijah questions David, questions him as to whether he is in fact the opposite that he's been searching for all his life, the one with the superhero characteristics, the one that simply can't be harmed by any means. As would be expected, David sees this as simply the act of a crazed individual, an individual that has spent a third of his life investing in the
beliefs of comic books and all that they bring. But with persistence, Elijah seemingly convinces David that he may well be the man at the other end of the spectrum, the one he so desperately seeks.
From the director of the Sixth Sense comes Unbreakable; a film depicting the journey of self-discovery on the part of two individuals, Bruce Willis and Samuel L Jackson. Willis plays David, an ex football league star who's career was so harshly cut short by a car accident many years back, whilst Jackson is nothing short of excellent as the somewhat questionable Elijah; an individual alternatively known as 'Mr Glass', due to his fragile nature. It is with that said that the journey begins; is David really the one Elijah's been seeking for so long? will David be drawn into Elijah's somewhat shoddy mindset?
Upon finding a suspiciously placed note under the windscreen wiper of his car, David Dunn sets off to the previously undiscovered 'Limited Edition' comic book store in search of some answers. There he encounters Elijah, an individual obviously short of a marble or two, but an individual that asks questions of David, questions David hadn't previously considered. Exactly how many sick days had he previously taken from work? Exactly what previous injuries had he suffered? The answer to both; none. Elijah poses it to David that he is in fact the one he seeks, the one at the other end of the spectrum to himself….the one that cannot be harmed, as if in comic book superhero fashion.
The encounters with Elijah lead David to thusly question himself. After all, this is a guy that, having never previously taken a sick day, also chooses to work in the security profession, conveniently as protection to others; and upon admitting to himself that the very injury that supposedly finished his football career was in fact flawed, he begins to see Elijah's perspective on things - maybe he is in fact 'the one' that the wheelchair bound individual seeks after all. In fact, Elijah's theories go so far as to cause David's son to pull a gun on him, in a vain attempt to prove his invincibility.
Jackson is exceptional as Elijah; a character that, on closer inspection, is a troubled individual who's rough past has caused his somewhat questionable present. His fragile state that thusly caused him to rely on comics for comfort throughout his childhood, leads to his questioning of both himself and David. What we discover is that there's far more than meets the eye with regard to Elijah, he's not all he seems, and that's something that becomes all to apparent in Mr Shyamalan's now trademark twist; but of course, I'm not one for ruining things.
On the other hand, Willis turns in a relatively sub-par performance throughout; looking remarkably blank in expression for nigh-on the entirety of the film. I suppose one could say, that as the seemingly 'unofficial' sequel to the Sixth Sense (ah c'mon, the similarities are all to obvious), that Willis himself is reading from the same script, failing to do anything wide of the mark. In terms of a support cast, Robin Wright Penn is well cast as Audrey, David's long term partner, who has to watch his transition from relatively normal husband, to self-questioning obsessive; whilst Spencer Treat Clark does an amicable job as Willis' son, brought into the situation whilst encountering Elijah.
Unbreakable is, as with any other Shyamalan picture, a trick of the mind. It lulls you into one way of thinking, only to differ in perspective once you encounter it's twist (generally situated just before the ending). The performances on the whole, are sound; Jackson is the stand-out as the questioning Elijah, whilst Willis is amicable in the part of David, a security guard who probably wished he'd never encountered the comic book shop owner. The storyline is strong, and whilst it meanders along at snails pace, it eventually gets somewhere; somewhere that, if not reasonably 'new', still makes for interesting closure.
Recommended - Yes
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Thank You
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Production Year: 2002 - Thriller - Director: Bharat Nalluri, Rob Bailey, Andy Wilson - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Matthew MacFadyen, Keeley Hawes, David Oyelowo, Peter Firth, Jenny Agutter, Lisa Faulkner
Thriller - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Timothy West, Neil Morrissey, Tara Fitzgerald, Annette Crosbie, Pauline Quirke, Rob Brydon, Denise Van Outen, John Thomson, Kevin Whately, David Suchet
Production Year: 2002 - Thriller - Director: K.C. Bascombe - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Jesse James, Rachel Skarsten, Charles Powell, Linda Purl, Kevin Zegars
I think it's watchable. Not great but watchable. Now that picture on Ciao is all wrong!
Spiderkid 21.10.2005 12:47
Great review, I did enjoy this film even though it never really hit the big time in terms of success. Jackson's performance is awesome (the scene with the subway staircase still sends shivers down my spine) and Shayalman has the ability to find find young actors for his child parts who punch well above their weight. Overall though I thought the final 'twist' was flawed and the rest of the film makes less sense in the light of it. But it's an enjoyable ride nonetheless. Cheers Tom
jesi 17.10.2005 12:16
I know you have written this review very well - however, it made me feel that I knew too much about the film already to want to see it - even though I had never before heard about it. Somehow you have managed to insert more of the story than I wanted to read. - .................................................................................................................... - does that answer your question? I know it's a very fine line to tread and cross - similarly I have NOT seen Sixth Sense (but I HAVE read the book, so I think I understand where you may be coming from on this) - .................................................................................................................... - when I look up a film review to make a purchasing decision I like to know how long it is, what general classification it carries (and possibly why), if it is based on a book how closely it follows the book, a bit about the scenery/set/characterisations, whether the plot is complicated; whether easy to follow or not; WHETHER there are surprises (but not WHAT the surprises might be, or even hints) - .................................................................................................................... - this wasn't over-long - but I did feel it might have had a few plot-spoilers in it which would be wise to delete - and that there was a little summary of basic info it lacked - .................................................................................................................... ~ ♥ ~ jes ≈≈≈≈{; -)-{{::::: |||||< ♥♥
InUnbreakable, writer-director M. Night Shyamalan reunites withSixth Sensestar Bruce ... more
Willis, comes up with another story of everyday folk baffled by the supernatural (or at least unknown-to-science) and returns to his home town, presenting Philadelphia...
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Oscar-nominated writer/director of 'The Sixth Sense', M. Night Shyamalan, has created ... more
another unique mind-shattering suspense thriller. Bruce Willis stars as David Dunn, the sole survivor of a devastating train crash. Samuel L. Jackson co-stars as Elij...
InUnbreakable, writer-director M. Night Shyamalan reunites withSixth Sensestar Bruce ... more
Willis, comes up with another story of everyday folk baffled by the supernatural (or at least unknown-to-science) and returns to his home town, presenting Philadelphia...
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Are you listening to that voice that is telling you what you should be doing in life? M. ... more
Night Shyamalan director of 'The Sixth Sense' presents Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson in the story of one man'‚´s date with destiny. Bruce Willis and S...
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Advantages: Stars Bruce Willis and Samuel L Jackson. Good idea for a story line. Disadvantages: To slow for me, also left me with questions and wanting more more more!!!
niclemamy 29.06.2001 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Unbreakable (DVD)
Advantages: Fast-paced plot that comes full-circle. Excellent bonus features. Disadvantages: May turn off those expecting an exact replica of the Sixth Sense.
freeelkind 23.07.2002 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Unbreakable (DVD)
Advantages: Fast-paced plot that comes full-circle. Excellent bonus features. Disadvantages: May turn off those expecting an exact replica of the Sixth Sense.
freeelkind 23.07.2002 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Unbreakable (DVD)
Advantages: most of their music videos are featured, they tell the Westlife story in their own words Disadvantages: doesn't include all of their videos
![Unbreakable (2 Disc Collectors Edition) [DVD] [2000]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78538352.jpg "Unbreakable (2 Disc Collectors Edition) [DVD] [2000]")
Oct 12th, 2005
exceptional by (3%):
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helpful by (1%):
