| SIGNS |
 2002 –
USA
Director: M. Night Shyamalan - Reviewed by Dan
Unfortunately, the suspense is counterpointed by some pretty over-the-top sentimentality. Things start slowly on a Midwest farm where the ex-reverend Graham Hess (Gibson) and his brother Merril (Phoenix) grow lots of corn and raise two kids. Mom died in an accident 6 months earlier, along with the reverend's faith in God. When giant crop circles begin to appear in the fields, and all over the rest of the world, it becomes difficult for the family to believe that they are the victims of a prank. This is the first of many signs which accumulate into a relentless sense of foreboding, and a fine, scary (and just mildly disappointing) climax. Shyamalan learned from the masters, it seems, because he has not reinvented the wheel. The film generated an uncanny level of anxiety and dread in me, even though I've seen all of these techniques before. Shyamalan masterfully doles them out so that a slow but constant crescendo of suspense prevails (even over the sappy parts). I can guarantee you that something in this film will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. Joaquin and Mel work great together. Shyamalan gets a little too cute with the kids sometimes, so I'll refrain from complaining about Rory Culkin. His character is written to be smarter than the adults, which is tiresome and cliché in my opinion, but that's Shyamalan's fault, not the kid's. Culkin does well in the role, but will not be nominated for an Academy Award like a certain other kid that Shyamalan directed. In spite of the sentimentality, the suspenseful ride offers a great rush so I'll give Signs a recommendation. If Shyamalan learns to stick to what he's good at, he could very well become the next Hitchcock. |
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Signs is an exciting, suspenseful and bold attempt to assign meaning to
the
meaningless. The movie cleverly revels in the kinds of coincidences
that
would send most screenwriters back to high school composition class.
But in
this case, Shyamalan has orchestrated a very entertaining argument for
fate, karma and glass slippers. Through dread, he generates hope.
