Review: Unbreakable Stands Unbroken.
- Feb 24, 2017
- 2 min read
Fresh off the cultural phenomenon that was The Sixth Sense, M. Night Shyamalan delivered what was, in my opinion, his best work ever, in the form of the pseudo-superhero film, Unbreakable.
David Dunn (Bruce Willis) is the sole survivor of a devastating train crash. In a wreck that left 130 passengers dead, he stands alone without so much as a scratch. This miraculous event draws the attention of Elijah Price, a man with a disorder that causes him to have incredibly brittle bones. He believes that David in his polar opposite, a man who cannot be hurt. At first it seems ridiculous but soon enough it becomes apparent that David is more than ordinary.
Unbreakable is not only one my favourite films but is my favourite superhero film. It does something that no other superhero film has ever done. It's human. In a world dominated by men in super suits and aliens powered by the sun, David Dunn is just a man, an extraordinary one but still just a man. He works as a security guard, has family problems and now has to deal with the reality of his situation. Until now he's been normal and he's the perfect parallel to Elijah. Elijah has never had a normal life, instead living in seclusion, afraid to go outside, wickedly smart but unable to walk down the stairs. It's a stark contrast that is never explicitly told but is easy enough to find.
It's not a film that relies on it's action to entertain either, with only a single action scene throughout it's 2 hour run time. It's all about the characters, all of which are superbly acted. Willis is at the top of his game as a character actor and gives a human portrayal of a man who is so much more. Jackson is easily the best part of the film, an individual who is driven, obsessed with finding the truth.
Unbreakable isn't just a good movie, it's a great one. In today's cinematic landscape it stands alone, the only superhero film that tries to be different, and it succeeds. If you haven't seen it, and even if you have, check it out.
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