1) the way Mel Gibson loses his faith and gains it back, it's so crude that you really can't believe it; I would say that those specific moments are overacted (if compared to the rest of the movie) and the chosen shots are... excessive and "loud".
2) Shyamalan choose, of all possible actors, Mel Gibson as a main character for a movie that "apparently" states there is a God: and Shyamalan is a sarcastic S.O.B. ;-)
3) this monologue, which is always quoted as the thematic concept of the movie: "People break down into two groups. When they experience something lucky, group number one sees it as more than luck, more than coincidence. They see it as a sign, evidence, that there is someone up there, watching out for them. Group number two sees it as just pure luck. Just a happy turn of chance. [...] Are you the kind that sees signs, that sees miracles? Or do you believe that people just get lucky? Or, look at the question this way: Is it possible that there are no coincidences?” I don't see the word "God" there. I hear someone talking about the miracle of a perfectly crafted and structured story. IMHO, of course.
4) I watched many other Shyamalan movies: the man likes so much "structure" that sometimes he forgets he has characters to develop. He likes the "perfect geometry" of the script and the perfection of his shots (and he's Hitchcock real heir, on this specific matter) and that's it. Something Nolan does too, sometimes.
5) I listened to many Shyamalan interviews and... let's say he thinks greatly of himself. ;-)
A lot of great thoughts here. I've only seen the film once. It never really resonated with me. But I feel as if I have to give it another go now...
To support my take:
1) the way Mel Gibson loses his faith and gains it back, it's so crude that you really can't believe it; I would say that those specific moments are overacted (if compared to the rest of the movie) and the chosen shots are... excessive and "loud".
2) Shyamalan choose, of all possible actors, Mel Gibson as a main character for a movie that "apparently" states there is a God: and Shyamalan is a sarcastic S.O.B. ;-)
3) this monologue, which is always quoted as the thematic concept of the movie: "People break down into two groups. When they experience something lucky, group number one sees it as more than luck, more than coincidence. They see it as a sign, evidence, that there is someone up there, watching out for them. Group number two sees it as just pure luck. Just a happy turn of chance. [...] Are you the kind that sees signs, that sees miracles? Or do you believe that people just get lucky? Or, look at the question this way: Is it possible that there are no coincidences?” I don't see the word "God" there. I hear someone talking about the miracle of a perfectly crafted and structured story. IMHO, of course.
4) I watched many other Shyamalan movies: the man likes so much "structure" that sometimes he forgets he has characters to develop. He likes the "perfect geometry" of the script and the perfection of his shots (and he's Hitchcock real heir, on this specific matter) and that's it. Something Nolan does too, sometimes.
5) I listened to many Shyamalan interviews and... let's say he thinks greatly of himself. ;-)
Thanks for all this. I'll reread before I rewatch!
Tutto molto giusto, dona un punto di vista nuovo al film.