Director M. Night Shyamalan: Innovative cinematic imagination. Writer M. Night Shyamalan: (For lack of a better phrase) Starting to slip. In his latest attempt at frightening audiences with his provocative use of realistic imagery, setting and characters, Shyamalan scores big. The incomparable cinematographer Roger Deakins creates a splendidly primitive atmosphere for the actors to portray rural characters set in what appears to be the 19th century. Joaquin Phoenix conveying emotion without words has risen with each film; a far cry from his earlier acting days (i.e.? To Die For?) as the audience begins to accept him in a heroic light. Adrien Brody?s portrayal of a mentally challenged villager is impressive and believable marking his most challenging role since his Oscar-winning performance in ?The Pianist?. Although complementary actors such as Sigourney Weaver and William Hurt made their characters their own, they were all overshadowed by the excellent performance of newcomer Bryce Dallas Howard, the daughter of acclaimed director Ron Howard.

Details out of the way, the story itself was one of simplicity, with basic rules governing the townspeople. ?We do not go into their woods, they do not go into our village?. Red, deemed the ?bad color?, must be buried for it is threatening to those creatures that live in the woods. It seems as though life in the village was one of complete and total fear; leaving room only for passiveness, anxiety and innocence.

Bottom-Line: The film?s plot leaves something to be desired, and many of the surprise twists are extremely far-fetched. Shyamalan however delivers for the first 45 minutes with developing intertwining character relationships while creating a venue where anything can happen. Unfortunately none of his surprises do, thus making this yet another link in the good/bad chain of his films whose predictabilities have been more and more evident that he should focus on his talent as an exceptional director and take a break from writing.

C+






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