"Where Movie Critics Get A Taste Of Their Own Medicine!"
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out of 4 stars (PG-13)CRITIC DOCTOR EXAMINES: Ron Wells (filmthreat.com), Jay Carr (Boston Globe), Roger Ebert (Chicago Sun Times), Steven Rea (Philadelphia Inquirer), Lou Lumenick (New York Post), Mike Clark (USA TODAY), Mark Caro (Chicago Tribune), Robert W. Butler (Kansas City Star), Bruce Kirkland (Toronto Sun), Steven Rosen (Denver Post), Vladimir Lacas (AM840 KXNT), Jay Boyar (Orlando Sentinel), Chris Gore (X-Show/FX Channel) and Dave White (ifilm.com).
I use to believe that any movie that had a bad ending wasn't
worth watching - at least not in a movie theater. However, "Unbreakable"
shattered my theory to bits.
"Unbreakable" is a film about David Dunn (Bruce Willis)
who is the lone survivor of a horrible train accident. Not one
scratch. Not one bruise. What does all this all mean? Dunn is
approached by Elijah Price (Samuel Jackson), a comic book dealer,
who seems to know the answer. What follows is an intriguing story,
written by M. Night Shyamalan ("The Sixth Sense"), and
is unlike anything we've quite seen before.
Ron Wells (filmthreat.com) said, "How you react to
this material will probably determine your response to the big
shocker at the end." Indeed! But the shocker, Ron, is not
a positive one. Most movie critics I've read were totally disgusted
by the way this film ended and I join in their frustration. Here's
just a sample of some rants:
If there is ever a Top 10 List made of bad movie endings,
"Unbreakable" will take the number one spot. Why? Ironically,
because "Unbreakable" was so darn good! Of course, there
are those critics who actually liked the film's end - and were
even fooled by it.
Vladimir Lacas (AM840 KXNT) said, "'Unbreakable' has
a shocker of a surprise ending, though the "The Sixth Sense"
has a slightly better one."
Slightly? FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, Vladimir! You are comparing the
MOTHER of all best endings with the worst film finale in history.
The only shocker here is that the same writer fathered both movies.
Jay Boyar (Orlando Sentinel) said about the movie's ending,
"Its overwhelming horror hit me more powerfully than a locomotive,
and that, after I knew what it was, I couldn't believe I had overlooked
it. Days later, I still find myself obsessed with that twist."
When I watched the end of this movie, Jay, it was like I had some
kind of sixth sense. It was no big surprise. It wasn't near as
subtle as "The Sixth Sense" and when the pieces did
fall together - it didn't shock. It fell apart. Why? To say more
would run the risk of giving away too much of the plot. But my
wife got it right when she said, "The end sucked!"
No matter what critics say about the film's end, get your rear-end
into movies theaters and see this film. Chris Gore said
in his segment of "Gorey Details" on the X-Show
(FX Network), "It's friggin' amazing."
This is probably the most negative review I will ever write about
a movie I liked so much. It's an absorbing movie worthy of three
stars. I'd like to say more, but my lips are unbreakable. Just
go see it.
Dave White (ifilm.com) summed the movie up best: "Up
until the final moment, it's a moody, elegant, simmeringly suspenseful
and moving film. But that ending. Damn, that amputated, deflated,
maddening, 'That's IT?!' ending."
"Unbreakable" may break apart in the end, but I will
be eager to see Shyamalan pick up the pieces in a sequel.
I hope this is not THE END.
--CRITIC DOCTOR
© Copyright 2000 by Herb Kane
All rights reserved.
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TITLE: UNBREAKABLE
CAST: Bruce Willis (David Dunn), Samuel L. Jackson (Elijah),
Robin Wright Penn (Megan Dunn), and Spencer Treat Clark
DIRECTOR: M. Night Shyamalan
PRODUCERS: M. Night Shyamalan, Barry Mendel, Sam Mercer
SCREENPLAY: M. Night Shyamalan
U.S. DISTRIBUTOR: Touchstone Pictures
RELEASE DATE: 11.22.00
RUNNING TIME: 107 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13
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