Get Smart, like M. Night Shyamalan!

I STILL have a backlog of reviews to write on some independent movies that came out within the last year.. stick around for that I suppose.

- GET SMART – [2008]
Dir:Peter Segal; Star:Steve Carell, Anne Hathaway (PG13)
Another spy-spoof, a la Naked Gun or Austin Powers, following agent Maxwell Smart in his naive endeavors to prevent terrorists from using nuclear weapons on an American city, along the way he meets and works with sexy agent Hathaway. Carell is well cast as the intelligent but.. inexperienced Smart, and is nicely complemented by Hathaway’s sexy brute force. Many gags play off of cliche’s of the old spy flick genre or stupidity in general, which is surprisingly fresh and funny for the first half. This eventually grows old as the film lulls in the second half, with a rather unimpressive climax and a dearth of real laughs. What makes Get Smart significantly better than other spoofs is that the production quality allows the action to feel exciting enough as if it belongs in an action movie, instead of a silly comedy, so it all really works on two levels. Inconsistent but genuinely funny when it hits its mark.

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Okay, I’m a hug fan of director M. Night Shyamalan, the acclaimed and frequently disparaged writer/director of such psychological thrillers as The Sixth Sense and Signs. His brand of film making is genuinely unique, and each of his movies is in many ways completely different from all of his previous efforts. A few things do however tie them all together: they all have a surreal and eerie chill about them, which is often extremely frightening, and they all deal with human interaction as a society, community, or group when faced with supernatural, odd, or unexplainable occurrences. For any M. Night fan it is always fascinating to discover how he decides to explain the unexplained, and how this process affects humanity. Because of this, all of his films carry serious or grandiose messages and themes that speak about the human mind, typically on a group level. This makes his work have an intellectual side to it that is consistently interesting and thought provoking, unlike most other modern thriller material. Many (actually, Most) movie critics hate M. Night Shyamalan with a fiery passion; they always expect him to make a film like his breakthrough The Sixth Sense, and anything that strays from the pattern is garbage. This is unfortunate, as he is often trying something new with each film he makes. Many note his films as having a “trashy” quality like any old B-horror movie, without noticing the effect it has on the movie experience as a whole. In essence, the haters do not approach an M. Night movie the same as the fans. The fans go in with no expectations, as they know his work is always different (but united by similar methods), and they know that there will be so much going on behind what is directly portrayed, and will actively seek it out. In the end, they accept the film for the statement it is, and are quickly absorbed in the eerie scene that Shyamalan paints. Here are my reviews of most of his films. Keep in mind, probably the majority of people who see these films will like them less than I, but those who appreciate his intellectual vitality and unique contributions to the art will be more likely to agree. He’s a singularly unique talent in an age of mass commercial appeal. When one finishes watching an M. Night Shyamalan movie for the first time, they tend to see the world in a different way… if they embrace his different approach. Oh and this whole rant is prompted by the recent release of Shyamalan’s latest thriller, The Happening.

- THE HAPPENING – [2008]
Dir:M. Night Shyamalan; Star:Mark Wahlberg, Zooey Deschanel (R)
Gotta love that title… Anyway, the latest Shyamalan flick follows high school science teacher Wahlberg, his under-confident wife, and the people they meet as they try to escape a mysterious airborne phenomenon (initially believed to be a terrorist attack) that causes people to have the urge to commit suicide. A welcome return to form after 2006’s bedtime story Lady in the Water, this one draws you in and keeps you in a consistent state of fear and panic, that is if you’re willing to let it. Many people with false expectations or an inability to put down some reservations will probably be unable to become entranced by the moment that Shyamalan presents. It’s quite effective at creating a sense of urgency and doom, aided by an acute air of mystery and supernaturality that exists in most of his films. Underneath the surface is a compelling examination of human behavior when confronted with a disastrous yet unknowable force, as well as social dynamics, the scientific process, human environmental impact, and the current state of the human mentality. It contains a great dose of anthropology/sociology/psychology for those willing to identify it. His focus here is on the GROUP, or the COMMUNITY and how it changes and is affected by unknown prospects. If you let it, The Happening will reel you in with its fascinating premise and put you in the shoes of its characters (very diverse and compelling as usual) through the most terrifying of times as they race for survival against an enemy that cannot be seen. In the end, Shyamalan proposes a unique way of interpreting the human situation on Earth, that for all we know (which is perhaps that we really know nothing at all) could one day come true. Gripping stuff for the genre buff.

Older Shyamalan…

- THE LADY IN THE WATER – (2006 – PG13)
Shyamalan bed time story about water nymph who needs Paul Giamatti to help her save human kind from evil dogs… or something. Lacks any mystery, intrigue, or frights, in favor of a mild dark fantasy that becomes more ridiculous and uninteresting with every scene. Still some good sociology, but nothing really compelling anyway. Shyamalan’s worst film to date.

- THE VILLAGE – (2004 – PG13)
One that the critics love to hate, that I find utterly fascinating and surreal. Excellent cinematography and musical score help to establish an eerie19th century environment that really casts an intriguing gloom over the whole picture. The love story and the plotting are also highlights; this one packs some chilling moments, creepy frights, and astounding progressions. A brilliantly anthropological study of isolation and fear. Sure it has its cheese, but I was so lost in the cerebral atmosphere that I embraced these moments as delightful quirks.. Uniquely captivating, to say the least. Arguably (if I can even say that) my favorite Shyamalan film.

- SIGNS – (2002 – PG13)
Packed full of creepiness, aliens, intrigue, and overall eerie goodness. Some of Shyamalan’s scariest moments lie within. Another great study of human social interaction when faced with an unknown power. My main complaint is the story’s over reliance on fate, which dampens the longterm impact of what is otherwise a delicious chill.

- THE SIXTH SENSE – (1999 – PG13)
Shyamalan’s masterpiece is the only of his films to be almost universally liked by critics. This is definitely the creepiest, aided by Haley Joel Osmont’s classic performance and a masterful sculpting of mood. A study of the human mind and social perceptions of irregularity. Frightening, mind-boggling, intense; the now legendary twist is a doosey. Shyamalan’s best film.

I think I’m in the minority when it comes to loving M. Night Shyamalan movies. I went to see Get Smart today with some friends, and afterwards I wanted to see The Happening. When we went to go see it all of my friends decided to leave, so I had to watch it alone.. Haha. I guess most people don’t appreciate compelling ways to discuss greater social messages. Oh well, It’s all good…

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Tags: aliens, anne hathaway, anthropology, comedy, creepy, eerie, film, get smart, M. Night Shyamalan, movie reviews, movies, psychology, psychology movies, sci-fi, shyamalan, signs, sociology, steve carell, surrealism, the happening, the sixth sense, the village

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