If
you approach this film expecting a beautiful
love story with embedded religious and political
themes as opposed to a scary flick with a twist
ending, you will discover a truly magnificent
film!
A
Masterful Storyteller Weaves His Magic Yet
Again.
A Spellbinding Old-Fashioned Yarn.
A Hitchcockian Flare for Mounting Tension &
Drama.
A Beautifully Woven Political Fable.
A Powerful Love Story.
Blind Faith.
And Those We Do Not Speak Of...
There will be NO big spoilers in this review!
I was robbed today... Robbed of a once in a
lifetime opportunity. I was robbed by an idiot
projectionist.
Only a handful of directors have
earned my trust enough to merit an early morning
Friday visit to the local multiplex. Today, I decided
to catch the very first showing of M. Night
Shyamalan's latest thriller, 'The Village'. Not
only that, but the local AMC had a digital
projection copy of the film. I was delighted and
eager to see this long awaited movie.
I sat down in my chair, having decided to skip
the popcorn stand because I am on a diet and
because the line was too long. The screen was
black... the lights were out... and a handful of
other patrons showed up ten minutes early like
me. Then, without warning, the screen lit up
with a scene of some sort. I wasn't sure what I
was watching until twenty or thirty seconds in.
I recognized a familiar face. And then the
realization slowly hit me... I was watching the
very final moments of 'The Village'. The
@#$!!)(@@ projectionist was messing around with
the frame alignment and had accidentally begun
playing the climax of the film. I was furious to
say the least, and after explaining to the
manager what had happened, I was promptly
offered two free passes to any films of my
choice in the coming weeks.
I was reasonably satisfied with the proposal,
but I was utterly devastated to have my first
viewing of this secretive film ruined by some
pimple-popping moron. It is something that can
never be regained unless you live in the world
of Jim Carrey's 'Eternal Sunshine of the
Spotless Mind'.
All that being said... I find it even more
remarkable that, with the big secret given away,
M. Night Shyamalan's 'The Village' still managed
to send shivers down my spine and give me a
million goose bumps. It is his mastery of
storytelling and mood and pace that has made him
such a brilliant director in such a short amount
of time. Very few directors have ever had their
first four major films be this stellar. 'The
Village' may be the best of the lot and is
easily one of the best films you will see all
year.
It is impossible to talk specifically about the
plot without giving anything away. So if I talk
in utter vagaries, please forgive me. In a
village enclosed by mysterious woods, a group of
a hundred or so people reside peacefully. They
appear to be early American settlers, perhaps
pilgrims or an Amish community. The film is very
vague about those details.
William Hurt plays Edward Walker, the patriarch
of this community. He is one of the elders, a
group of adults who act as a council for the
village. Joaquin Phoenix is Lucius Hunt, a quiet
loner who is tempted to enter the forbidden
woods. He is thwarted though by the elders who
teach of creatures that live in the woods. The
creatures are referred to as "Those we do not
speak of..."
Newcomer, Bryce Dallas Howard is Lucius' love
interest Ivy Walker. She is blind but seems to
see and feel more than many of those around her.
She is a feisty girl who recognizes Lucius'
feelings without him ever expressing them
verbally. She feels his presence and associates
him with a color whenever he is near. There is a
touching scene where he finally expresses to her
that he only ever feels fear when he thinks she
may be in danger. Theirs is a burgeoning
relationship that grounds the film with real
emotions.
I will not reveal the plot points in the final
half of the film only to say that due to a
terrible circumstance someone is forced to enter
the woods and travel to get help. The
storytelling techniques that Shyamalan uses in
this film are simply brilliant. Unlike his other
three films, the focus in 'The Village' is less
on the final revelation and "big twist" than it
is on the journey to get there. This film is a
masterclass of screenwriting and plot
development.
If there is one quibble I have with the film, it
is in the character development. The film could
have been thirty minutes longer to give us more
clarity in each of the lead characters. But this
film is more about story and fable and suspense
and mood than it is about individuals. Someday
soon, Shyamalan will develop into a brilliant
creator of characters... He is already a
consummate artist when it comes to creating
story and visuals.
The acting is uniformly good. Everyone plays
their part with stoic aim. The one stunning
standout is the revelation of Bryce Dallas
Howard. The daughter of director, Ron Howard,
delivers one of the best major film debuts in
recent memory. She is the emotional anchor of
this film and those emotions are played out
exquisitely on her gorgeous face. Her portrayal
of Ivy is one of the best performances of 2004.
I think she should be Oscar nominated. It is
clear to me that, if she chooses to follow the
film path, we have found a new great actress for
the coming generation. What a lovely and
inspired find by M. Night!
I loved the ways in which Shyamalan weaves in a
clever parallel to our current political and
religious climate. Without giving anything away,
I want to make note of the use of colors in 'The
Village' to signify danger and the way in which
the villagers are surrounded by fear...
warranted or not! I loved the subtle use of
certain character's names. I found it doubly
ironic when I discovered the source of deception
in the film. This movie is laden with innuendo,
some overt and some tremendously subtle. The
political and religious angles in this film will
make half of the audience nod with recognition.
The other half will probably miss the parallels
entirely until it's been spelled out for them...
and then they will just be resentful. This film
has a marvelous little agenda, which I happen to
agree with, but which isn't necessary to be
aware of in order for the film to work.
I have read some mixed early reviews from other
major critics. Most notably a terribly misguided
review from my favorite critic, Roger Ebert.
There are other reviewers out there who lament
that they saw the twist too far in advance or
that the film was too somber. I am dumbfounded
by their remarks. Did they miss the glorious
cinematography? Did they miss the lovely
interwoven political message (Which I will leave
you to decipher)? Did they miss the tremendous
performance of Bryce Dallas Howard? Did they
miss a carefully crafted story whose tension
mounts patiently? Did they miss the gorgeous use
of strings in the soundtrack? Did they miss the
fact that this film is so much better than the
routine schtick we get week in and week out.
Were their expectations skewed by Shyamalan's
previous outings?
I think that if this was Shyamalan's first film,
the same mediocre reviews would be glowing
recommendations. This is the classiest of his
four great films and his least sensationalistic.
He is maturing with each and every cinematic
venture. If he keeps up this curve for another
20 years, M. Night will soon discussed in the
same breath as Alfred Hitchcock. There are a
handful of better filmmakers out there right
now, but I can't think of a better storyteller
than he.
'The Village' is a first rate film. I highly
suggest that you avoid hearing details or rumors
about this movie before seeing it. I wouldn't
want your virgin viewing experience robbed. I
think time will prove me right over the Roger
Ebert's of this world. This film will stand the
test of time and serves as yet another stepping
stone to greatness for Mr. Shyamalan. 'The
Village' will assuredly contend for a spot in my
Top Ten Films of 2004.
©
Written by TC Candler
Richard
Propes' Comment
A
wonderful story, well acted with a breakout
performance by Bryce Howard...I am left with a
film of simplicity and beauty with a couple
moderate issues that did hinder my enjoyment of
the film to a degree. Yet, I am also left with,
perhaps, my favorite of his films...a film that
I will see again...and a film that will make me
re-evaluate his other films. This is a film that
made me think and feel...and I finished it
satisfied. The performances of Howard and Brody
push this film into the "B" range for me, and
very nearly to a B+...a bit more satisfaction
with the vocal issues, a bit stronger character
development and this would have been an "A"
range film for me.
Jacob
Hall's Comment
n/a
