Unbreakable is such a remarkably powerful film both as far as both production and content are concerned. The story is an ambitious one to sell and it is only after the overwhelming success of Shyamalan's first film that a studio would be willing to greenlight it. It's very slow, more so than The Sixth Sense, and although both leads are superbly underplayed that subtlety is entirely necessary to hold our attention as the plot meticulously unravels.
As Unbreakable opens, we're treated to a quiet moment just following the birth of Elijah (Samuel L. Jackson). Elijah won't stop crying and once a doctor arrives on the scene he examines the newborn to determine that all of his limbs are broken. Post opening credits we're transported approximately 40 years into the future to find David Dunn (Bruce Willis) awaking in a hospital following a train crash. Out of 130 passengers, he is the sole survivor. He doesn't possess a single injury.
The rest of the film is about these two characters finding each other and themselves. Elijah explains that he has a disorder which restricts protein production in his body and as a result his bones break and that he believes there exists a polar opposite in the world: a man who does not break. Given the circumstances it's somewhat reasonable to see why Elijah takes such an interest in David.
Although the core plot is undeniably that of a super-hero movie the focus on display is unlike any other you'll find in a multiplex. Unbreakble has distinct themes of character specific existentialism as both David and Elijah begin to discover their own places in the universe and realise what is expected of them. As with all existential movies Unbreakable is remarkably dialogue heavy and makes extensive use of drawn out conversations to relay necessary information. There are brief examples of flashbacks but they are only utilised sparsely and solely to provide information which could clutter the flow of conversation or feel awkwardly scripted otherwise.
The plot itself isn't anywhere near as 'twisty' as Shyamalan's other efforts. The most odd premise, David's surviving a train wreck whilst suffering zero damage at all, is laid out quite early in the film and for the most part the movie follows the characters progressions trying to determine a truth for the characters to live by. For maybe a half of the film the plot is on stand-still but everything shown has an impact eventually.
This is also a very dynamic film from a technical perspective as well. Certain unconventional shots, such as moving a camera in order to see through the gap between two train seats for instance, are used exceptionally well. Filming a reflection rather than the actual scene is used a few times throughout the running time and creates an feeling of distance from the characters as if you, the audience, are intruding amidst a genuine unscripted moment. On top of such genuine visual treats James Newton Howard's score is as thrilling as any conventional superhero soundtrack and gives an aura of power to scenes that need that extra punch of dynamism to really stir up the emotions that are required.
It's a wonder M. Night Shyamalan only gets recognised for his twists when he can write such great material and translate it to the screen so well. Unbreakable certainly lacks action and urgency but for a genuinely innovative take on the super-hero genre, Unbreakable has absolutely raised the bar.
5/5
Originally posted on Screened.com on March 1st, 2011
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