The "Unbreakable" Spirit of M. Night Shyamalan

It doesn't matter how many times you make fun of his lesser work or say, "what a twist," there is no one making movies like M. Night Shyamalan. In spite of a career that had Newsweek donning him the next Spielberg at one point, the filmmaker's hubris could sometimes get the better of his worst tendencies with empty projects like "The Last Airbender" or the Smith family sci-fi vehicle "After Earth." But for the most part, Shyamalan remains one of our most consistently interesting storytellers, with his work born of a wholehearted sincerity that's hard to find nowadays. He's a marquee filmmaker, akin to Christopher Nolan, whose original concept filmmaking still captures the attention of the moviegoing public. There's a bold curiosity to Shyamalan's work, always leaving the viewer on edge for what wild idea he has whipped up next. Although it was the global phenomenon "The Sixth Sense" that launched him into stardom, it was "Unbreakable" that cemented him as someone to keep coming back for. Shyamalan showed he could not only improve upon his craft but transform how we look at an entire subgenre. The film arrived only a few months after "X-Men" emboldened the comic book movie blaze that "Blade" kickstarted. But where both of those movies were relatively straightforward adaptations of colorful heroes kicking down the comic panels for the big screen, "Unbreakable" ponders a possible fantasy of gods and monsters embedded within our terrifically mundane existence. What if an extraordinary being emerged out of disaster completely unscathed and how no idea how to process it? What if a fragile person with a vivid imagination aspired to look at said disaster through a much darker lens? Such is the dual personal dilemma of "Unbreakable," which gives new meaning to the comic book origin story. Bruce Willis, in one of his greatest performances, plays stadium security guard David Dunn, the lone survivor of a fatal train crash that rocks Philadelphia. His newfound fame catches the eye of Samuel L. Jackson's cunning Elijah Price, a comics art dealer who fundamentally believes superhuman beings live amongst us, unaware of the powers they possess. Since Elijah is as brittle as they come — born with bones that can shatter like glass — he hypothesizes that David — born with a tremendously strong immune system — exists on the other end of the spectrum. David Dunn even shares the classic comic book name alliteration in the vein of Spider-Man's Peter Parker. But what does it mean to bring stories of the fantastical into our reality? Superhero comics have often been compared as a contemporary answer to Greek mythology and "Unbreakable" brilliantly plays upon that. Shyamalan's heroes and villains are flawed and internally lonely people trying to leave some kind of impressionable mark on the world, to make their existence all worth it. "Unbreakable" poses the dilemma of David's stagnant, mundane life needing a little fantasy to realize his inner potential, versus Elijah manufacturing his own wish fulfillment on the backs of innocent people because he sees no place in the world for himself that doesn't involve that. It's a deeply sad development that Jackson plays to perfection. You hang on his every word and the confidence imbued within them. "Unbreakable" serves as a reminder that being a superhero is a pretty sad existence, rife with danger, loss and burdensome responsibility that indirectly involves everyone you hold dear. Shyamalan's screenplay not only gives enough room for David to process his feelings alongside Elijah's prophesizing, but with his estranged wife (Robin Wright) and imaginative son (Spencer Treat Clark). We can't save everyone, but it's imperative we do what we can. A criticism often lobbied upon Shyamalan is his on-the-nose dialogue and off-kilter performances, which are often a make or break depending on the actor. Here is a case, however, where you have Jackson's gravitas and Willis' subdued vulnerability working hand in hand to create a captivating balance of the scales. As a filmmaker, Shyamalan creates a soft, but oppressive mood that lingers over ordinary character conversations. David's flirtation discussion on the train from behind the seats, Elijah discovering his first comic book, the striking color symbolism, "Unbreakable" is undoubtedly his masterpiece. It's worth checking out "Split" and "Glass" to round out what Shyamalan has labeled the "Eastrail 177 Trilogy," if you're interested in seeing how this world unfolds. But even with the extra elaboration, the world, characters and setting of "Unbreakable" wholeheartedly stands as one of the greatest movie of its ilk that still feels ahead of its time. Shyamalan pays respect to those who possess an innate kindness that urges them to help people, despite the flaws that prevent them from seeing it, and, as that perfect gut punch of an ending shows, those who possess the urge to hurt people in the name of fighting for validation of their skewed worldview. "Unbreakable" is currently streaming on Max. Are there any streaming projects that you would like to see me cover? Shoot me an email at moviemoxie1@gmail.com and be sure to let me know! Be kind. Stay safe. If You Liked "Unbreakable," Then Try These: . The Sixth Sense - The hit thriller that made Shyamalan remains one of the greatest ghost stories ever made. Even beyond its iconic twist, "The Sixth Sense" sees the Philadelphia-based filmmaker exploring his city as a living graveyard littered with tormented spirits, with a select few gifted people able to see beyond the terrifying veil. The sincerity in Shyamalan's character work is not to be undervalued. . Brightburn - Prior to "The Boys" running with the evil "Superman" trope, "Brightburn" delivers B-horror movie thrills with the wicked corruption of an intergalactic kid posing as an old-fashioned farm boy, who decides to use his powers to spread bloody chaos. Often plays like an off-brand comic book series getting its own adaptation. . Chronicle - It's a shame that the "Fant4stic" fiasco led Hollywood to turn their back on Josh Trank because "Chronicle" is a whole lot of fun. Where a lot of studio-made found footage movies at the time kept to a standard formula, this turned its eye to superheroes with a thrilling, funny and clever subversion of the genre, in which three teenage boys document the progress of their newfound superpowers and the strife it brings to their group dynamic.