The Village

the-village-poster
Originally uploaded by Struthers.

You know there's going to be a twist and that's why most people shucked out their twelve bucks for M. Night Shyalaman's fourth film The Village. And if you see this film and are disappointed then I think you're just asking for a little too much.
With more than a little nod toward Danny Boyle's "The Beach", The Village is about the holding together of an idyllic but fragile agrarian community as the sinister world outside threatens to encroach.
Shyamalan (director, writer, cameo) has pulled together a wonderful cast who absolutely eat up the difficult nineteenth century dialogue without it ever becoming distractingly obvious. And it is good dialogue, that traverses everything from ideological speeches, to grand statements, uncomfortable confessions of love, and intimate moments.
The real surprise in this film is the discovery of talent within the Howard household. Bryce Dallas Howard (Ivy), daughter of pedestrian director Ron, (Ed TV, Backdraft) delivers a stunning performance as a blind girl who of course has a wisdom beyond her years and physical abilities. She provides to be a personal challenge for the taciturn Lucius (Joaquin Pheonix), a village elder in waiting and love interest, they are where the real movie is happening.
Sigourney Weaver and John Hurt also stand out as elder members of the pilgrim community trying to best handle a crisis which threatens to destroy their community. It is the fear that comes from what is close and not understood (the war on terror), rather than the 'impending destruction' films of the past decade.
Shyalaman has proven himself to be a technically excellent filmmaker, more than adept at adapting his own material, and unlike the more plodding Unbreakable, the tension and anxiety are maintained as well as the pace, and there are of course the plot turns that we've come to expect.
Into the woods.

Three and a half stars.