• It’s neither as bad as the metacritic score (64) nor is it as good as the box office suggests (one of the bigger hits of the 90’s (2nd behind only phantom menace in 1999))
  • Shyamalan has an inarguable and contagious self confidence in his filmmaking – it’s personal—set in Philly, his trademark (now) whispering of dialogue—there aren’t a lot of gorgeous shots (there’s a great tracking shot through traffic at the very end with the biker and the ceiling with red balloon is a nice one) but I admire the screenplay construction and payoff
  • Certainly there are touches of Spielberg (work with children) and 1990’s ghost with Haley Joel Osment in an unfunny (mostly) take on the Whoopi Goldberg scenario/character
  • Largely visually quiet
  • Haley Joel Osment and Toni Collette are both excellent—their final scene together in the car is well-earned in its poignancy—the relationship (like his with Wills is well constructed and take it’s time)
  • Recommend but not anywhere too close to the top 10 of 1999