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Split – 2016 Shyamalan
- I don’t want to go overboard and call it narrative genius but it’s certainly captivating cinema and all three narrative strands (the young girl flashbacks, doctor and McAvoy, and McAvoy and captive 3 girls) are riveting
- After many disastrous movies I’m encouraged about the recent trend for Shyamalan. The visit wasn’t archiveable, but it was nonetheless his first film that didn’t smack of self-importance (god those pregnant pauses were/are unbearable) and split is just a far superior film that continues that trend. He might not be Nolan or Spielberg but he’s now 47 years old with 3 archiveable films that are entertaining and consistent
- Again set in Pennsylvania like all his work
- McAvoy does a prodigious work here
- Editing of the uncle approaching the young Anya Taylor-Joy character is a great scene
- Parallel editing in the finale is well done as well
- Moves (and missteps a little) going from like a Thomas Harris-like novel to a straight werewolf horror/superhero movie and I didn’t care at all for the finale- plenty of flaws
- Like all of Shyamalan’s work I need to see it again but for now I feel confident enough to put it in the archives though it doesn’t crack or come all that near to the top 10 of 2016
- Recommend
Drake2017-05-23T16:34:18-04:00
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Hey Drake! What do you think is the best performance given in a Shyamalan film?
@Matthew- interesting- not a question I’ve thought of before. What do you think? You asking here because its James McAvoy? I may lean towards Samuel L
I actually asked here because it’s the first page that popped up when it typed in “Shyamalan cinema archives”. I did however just watch this one tonight for the first time and it’s a damn impressive film. The writing is so tight, all 3 separate narrative threads are building a (sort of) labyrinth. I am not a Shyamalan completionist (I have not seen Glass (thought I am very curious to see where Shyamalan’s little superhero thing is heading) The Visit, Old, couple of the other smaller ones), and I have not seen Unbroken/Sixth Sense/Signs in 5-6+ years and my recollection of them is very rusty, so take this with a grain of salt, but yes McAvoy would be my pick for now. When you say Samuel L which film is that for? Glass? I know he’s in Unbreakable but if I am recalling correctly that’s too small of a role to be the answer to this question here
Anyways while we are on Shyamalan, did you catch Trap? Did it make the archives? I’d put it below McAvoy’s work, but I was a fan of Hartnett there as well
@Matthew-Clearly he means Unbreakable when he meant Samuel L. not Glass.
@Matthew- Gotcha- it would be Samuel L. from Unbreakable
Did you see Knock at the Cabin(2023)? I hope this one sneaks into the archives on the strength of Batista’s unique and brilliant performance and the setting.
@Malith- I have seen it- did not quite make the archives
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