Unbreakable

Unbreakable casts Bruce Willis as David Dunn, a Philadelphia-based security guard who solely survives a horrific train crash and subsequently becomes convinced that he possesses super powers – with David’s question to become a bona fide hero aided by Samuel L. Jackson’s Elijah Price. Writer/director M. Night Shyamalan’s penchant for a deliberate narrative is certainly in full effect with Unbreakable, as the movie, though consistently entertaining and occasionally engrossing, progresses at a lackadaisical pace that tends to prevent the viewer from wholeheartedly embracing the material – with the film ultimately faring better than, for example, The Sixth Sense due to its progressively absorbing narrative (ie there’s a sense of forward momentum that was almost entirely absent from that earlier picture). It’s clear, then, that Unbreakable‘s undeniable success is due almost entirely to Shyamalan’s typically sterling directorial choices, as the film, which is as visually striking as anything within the helmer’s body of work, boasts a number of admittedly (and remarkably) enthralling sequences – including, for example, Elijah’s surreptitious pursuit of an armed criminal and David’s efforts at testing just how strong he really is. The less-than-brisk bent of Shyamalan’s execution does, however, ensure that the third act doesn’t quite pack the visceral punch surely intended, which, when coupled with a somewhat abrupt conclusion, cements Unbreakable‘s place as a solid yet erratic endeavor from an unquestionably talented filmmaker.

*** out of ****