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review of The Lady in the Water

I haven't done a lot of film "reviews" lately. That's mostly because I haven't been seeing many current films, choosing to do DVDs at home, rather than risk rude patrons at a movie theatre. I mention that because Wallace and I had to switch seats three times at the theatre where we saw the film here reviewed because, apparently, many people thought it was some kind of summer splatter-fest film).

The Lady in the Water, written and directed by M. Night Shyalaman IS NOT A SPLATTER-FEST FILM. It is, as advertised, a "bedtime story," though perhaps a little too suspenseful for children. A bedtime story for adults, then, to help us dream of another, more peaceful world. A message well worth hearing at this moment in time.

Part of my motivation for blogging about it is I'm afraid this film is not going to get the audience it deserves (and my two or three readers will, of course, tip the balance), once everyone finds out this film is NOT A SPLATTER-FEST FILM. It is, instead, a very suspenseful story, using very simple, even child-like elements, with a message of universal peace and understanding. I wish more Hollywood films had such non-gore appeal.

The tightly-plotted, well-written, M. Night Shyalaman story is what was got me into the theatre (unlike many viewers and critics, the supposedly-sub-parThe Village made a Shylaman fan out of me). That, and his imaginative directorial style. He does not disappoint. In fact, he supplements his writing and and directing credits with a substantial (more-than-cameo) acting job that I found impressive (though he does make himself...but I better not, in case you want to actually see the film).

The set is really well-done, though it didn't make me think suburb of Philadelphia. The special effects, especially the dastardly scrunk, are, of course, a highlight. Very realistic and something, at least, for the splatter-fest crowd (the Tartutic were kind of disappointing: like anorexic Ents). The acting, especially Paul Giamatti as Cleveland Heep, is top-notch. I especially liked Bob Balaban, as Harry Farber, in this movie, playing a cynical, pop-culture-weary film critic, who sounds like many of the academics I encounter--self-reflexively, ironically post-modern, even in the face of...well, you'll have to see the movie.

And kudos especially to Freddy Rodriguez, who, if he really did buff up one side of his body and not the other in order to play the freakish but benevolent Reggie, deserves a special award. If not, the award goes to the make-up, special effects folks.

I found the movie website well-done, with great navigation design, high-quality visuals, innovative multimedia, and good information. I liked the film-book tie-in, though maybe the site was a little too synergistic for my tastes (with all the links to Lady in the Water-related sweepstakes offers). I wonder how much Shyalaman was involved in the website design (or the movie trailer, for that matter)--I would think it would be hard for such an auteur to keep his hands off!

Posted by jeb at August 2, 2006 4:21 PM | TrackBack