VIDEO CAPSULE: The Sixth Sense (10/10)

[Coolkid]

The Sixth Sense is one of the best films ever. Definetly last year's best film!
Excellently cast with Bruce Willis as Dr. Crowe and that kid who did quite well as the part of Cole. For those that haven't seen it, this is about a child psychologist Dr. Malcom Crowe (Willis), who is encountered by a patient who whe he was a child, Crowe couldn't help. Later, he meets a child called Cole who discovers has a disturbing problem. He sees and hears the dead, but as regular people all the time. Even his school has people hanging dead from years ago. The film follows who Crowe tries to help him, until a huge twist at the very end. It's the definite must see twice film!

[JoBlo]

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[PackBacker]

"The Sixth Sense" 2001

Starring: Bruce Willis and Haley Joel Osment
Directed by: M. Night Shyamalan
Written by: M. Night Shyamalan


Plot Summary: Bruce Willis stars as a child psychologist who is trying to help a young boy (Osment) known as the school freak. It turns out not to be a simple case of a lad missing a father figure...the young boy sees troubled spirits who have suffered tragic deaths.

Review: M. Night Shyamalan's only really good film. I'm sure that will draw some ire but I'm going to defend that statement.

"The Sixth Sense" is a tightly woven story that capitalizes on the hallmarks of the thriller genre: darkness, blurred images, and a tingling score. Instead of CGI boos we get sudden movements, beautiful use of shadow, really tight camera shots. Shyamalan keeps the film moving at a brisk pace but allows us small clues into the character's backstories to keep us interested. The ghosts are skillfully executed.

The symbolism is usually subtle and a nice touch to the film. The dialogue isn't particulary witty but it doesn't need to be. At least it doesn't detract from the film. The acting by Osment is superb. Child actors usually are usually detractors- Osment showed a talent that was completely unexpected from a kid so young.

So why is this his only good film? The story is tightly woven with no big ass plot holes ("Unbreakable"). The dialogue doesn't reach levels of absurdity ("Signs"... swing away!). Shyamalan has a beautiful stylistic sense and a creative mind. Both are showcased in "The Sixth Sense" to an incredible degree that made me harken back to excellent thrillers/horror films of the past.

Too often the word "classic" is thrown around with new releases. I'm not quite ready to label a 2 year old film as such but it is a gem in its genre over the past decade and could be bally-hooed for classic status in the near future.

Rating 9/10

[Arathon]

Oh I love this film! Suspenseful and creepy. Arguably the best thriller ever! M. Night Shyamalan did a terrific job, and is a very, very talented writer and director.

10/10