It's official: Paul Giamatti could make reading the phone book high drama. He sinks his teeth into the lead role in M. Night's so-so fairy tale with the ferocity of a rogue Scrunt, and never lets go. Ditto the rest of the fine supporting cast who...
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It's official: Paul Giamatti could make reading the phone book high drama. He sinks his teeth into the lead role in M. Night's so-so fairy tale with the ferocity of a rogue Scrunt, and never lets go. Ditto the rest of the fine supporting cast who treat this somewhat underwritten story with the seriousness of Shakespeare. But don't write Shyamalan off just yet...there are some genuinely gripping moments in this film, some great atmospheric touches, and some deftly handled humorous asides. This guy definitely knows his stuff as a director(he's not a bad actor either)- this just was not his finest hour as a writer.

ok movie, but the story is i think more for bedtime-stories for children no older then 10 years old

Symbolism, in literature, is like trying to swallow lug nuts, in hopes that enough will build a truck. Imagine then how hard it is to convey an entire story based on metaphor, symbols, vague and obtuse concepts in less than two hours?
The...
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Symbolism, in literature, is like trying to swallow lug nuts, in hopes that enough will build a truck. Imagine then how hard it is to convey an entire story based on metaphor, symbols, vague and obtuse concepts in less than two hours?
The movie Lady in the Water, even points fun at its' symbols by introducing a jaded self absorbed film critic whom finds himself embroiled in the plot, that's how deeply symbolic this movie truly is.
The deeper theme is beautiful, that we all have a purpose, a point, and finding that purpose is a pretty rough and tumbled road as so passionately explained by one of the characters (that was really a great scene, his unsure fear was played so well). It is these deeper themes that course through this movie that really make it worth a sitting.
The general story is so-so, only because it plays so heavily on the predictability of old fashioned story telling that there is nothing to wonder about. Shyamalan does manage to introduce some new twists to this sort of genre by leaving some things simply open ended and his general ability to capture darkness so well: dark world, dark man, dark life.
This is truly a fairy-tale with a modern approach.
I found P. Giamatti his classic self and was very touched by his pained and troubled heart. It is a terrible life the one of regret and sorrow, especially in the face of believing oneself responsibly for all things involving loved ones. That is one of the open threads the story leaves us to wonder, does Mr. Heep get reconciliation from his part in this grand opera? My heart hopes he does, but the dark barren world they live in makes me wonder and sickens my soul some.
A good effort, worth a watch as long as you are not expecting the Sixth Sense.

This movie is so under-appreciated! I think it's a great movie. Not mind blowing, still great!

Definitely worth at least a rent.