Breakable?
129 Mins. Starring: James McAvoy, Bruce Willis, Anya Taylor-Joy, Spencer Treat Clarke, Charlayne Woodard, Sarah Paulson & Samuel L. Jackson. Director: M. Night Shyamalan.
Break this! 'Unbreakable' had its cracks (whey!). 'Split' left me divided (ooh-rah!). But 'Glass' is a smash (okay, the puns stop here!). It's been almost 20 years. 20 years since this writer saw 'Unbreakable' the one and only time and sniggered at the today Ken Jeong in 'Community' gif ready, "they called me Mr. Glass" line? Almost two decades of the 120 movie, 13 billion dollar man Samuel L. Jackson shouting, "yo, when we making that sequel motherf#####" at twist master M. Night Shyamalan, everytime they crossed paths at the Universal Studios lot. 19 years after he played the brittle bone, wheelchair bound, comic-book obsessed collector of superheroes. Who actually did just that for Stan Lee as he has assembled over 10 Marvel films and counting for his S.H.I.E.L.D. Avengers dossier. And now it's here, first name Mr. Last name...'Glass'. And the signs are all there too. As after being stuck in 'The Village' and 'After Earth' (actually good) purgatory, and then losing himself in the static tube of the small screen 'Twin Peaks' wonder of 'Wayward Pines'. M. Night reunites with 'Sixth Sense' legend Bruce Willis to oversee more than dead people with the epic and emotional end, concluding the terrific Eastrail 177 tragedy trilogy off the tracks. End of the line kid. But it was only two years ago at the end of a local diners bar, being poured coffee at the end of James McAvoy's maddening 'Split' personality powerhouse performance that we saw the Easter Egg catalyst to all of this in the form of Bruce Willis sitting at the end. But now coming to a head with this big-three in place, sitting down in evaluation front of us for this trilogy and superhero storytelling mastermind Shyamalan, this is it.
'Death Wish'? Nah more like 'Die Harder'. Because we see John McLane as a superhero too, like we see his first string-vest outing as a Christmas movie as well. It's not just Professor Xavier and Nick Fury switching wheels as they push each other round the halls of this psych ward here. The boss Bruce is back. And one of the hardest working hard-men in Hollywood shows us he can still bend steel like the fickle will of those who thinks Willis is done. Beside why bet against a hero whose only kryptonite is water? Besides he's got a poncho. It's time to get out the shallow end. Because The Overseer is coming into the light. And the aged, wise and weary conflicted character is back, in all his niched nuances. But it isn't just the 'Pulp Fiction' of 'Vengeance' co-star Samuel L. Jackson pulling all the strings again. But boy does he pull them. As Jackson's purple reign and ruffles of the Einstein afro haired M.G. is far from over. No matter how you try and medicate his mastermind. With an X cerebro this man has the brittle knack of bringing great super powers together, with his responsibility a long time 'Far From Home' this Summer. This character may have broken almost 95 bones. But this actor has broken the box office over a century of times. So don't be skeletal when it comes to the body of his work. Do not underestimate what 'Glass' can do with the reflection of the underrated Jackson. At 70, Samuel L. has been waiting most of the rest of his life for this. And he makes it worth all the years. Happy Birthday mother######!
Pink surrounds the shades of green, yellow and purple as 'American Horror Story' and 'The People Vs OJ Simpson' winning actor Sarah Paulson (who 'Oceans 8' recently reunited with Sandra Bullock to be the emotional catalyst to the meme hype of the social media breaking 'Bird Box' revolution. Seriously you really do need a blindfold to avoid all those spoilers) almost steals the show as the doc mediating and medicating all of this to whose effect? That is if it wasn't for antihero prolific performance of personalities and people from James McAvoy. He has hordes of talent. Splitting the credits of names yet again, you've never seen a henched up James McAvoy like this before when he goes into full hand running and climbing unleashed, Beast mode. Even more than his last mind meld. The P, B and J Patricia (did it...if you want to talk about memes), the Kevin we need to talk to, the guy that seems to not like doing laundry with a great smile, the kid on "rollerschates" with the lisp and so much more etcetera. They all show like an inspired flashbulb flick through even more traits, that show just how definitive an amazing actor James McAvoy really is in all these defining disassociative traits living in his acting head. He's the reason this brain teaser keeps turning through the comic-book pages and how a solo hero turned from a forgotten franchise to a formidable one just two years after the time it takes 9 year olds to become adults with 9 year olds of their own. But Willis, Jackson and McAvoy aren't the only big-three collected in collaboration here. They all need their muse, mother, son, or frenemy. There's Tony Award winning, 'Aint Misbehavin'' veteran Charlayne Woodard (actually five years younger than Jackson). 'Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.' and 'Unbreakable' child star Spencer Treat Clarke (major deserved screen time), all grown up and back with Bruce. And 'New Mutants' standout Anya Taylor-Joy who has been the emotional core of these last two thrillers. But it's the Stan Lee cameoing M. Night Shyamalan who brings all these creepy front door horrors and real world superhero smarts together, shard by shattered shard for his most definitive direction after his senses were dialled to six yet. Eliciting and evoking every emotion, even sympathy for some of these devil villains. Giving a psychological edge to today's power pedestal, grandeur delusional thoughts of other worldy beings hiding in ordinary, cast out citizens something to provoke though about. This is not a cartoon. This is the real world. But still there is more than a cape length worth of room for another superhero saga, timeline chronicle between all that Marvel and DC. Reading in-between the cells of a Dark Knight generation looking for the spangles of the stars and stripes of a real Captain America. Don't believe the critics. We have another case of 'Batman v Superman-Dawn Of (In)Justice'. Time will tell this to be one of today's greats directorial best. This isn't just a homage to the original graphic novel nerds with the comic-book guy from 'The Simpsons' obsessed 'Glass'. This is so much more for the geek generation to really see how comic books almost have a sacred text treatment to them. And those hoping for that King Kong thumping and roaring showdown on the digital Osaka Tower (the real one in Japan "Inspires The Next") skyline of a new Philadelphia Zoo, how about a different animal? Something with more meaning! Then you'll be actually saying, "BEST. Ending. Ever" as this all comes to a comic chapter concluding close of heart...and soul. After a taught 'Unbreakable' and a tight 'Split', the hybrid dual sequel 'Glass' puts all the pieces together to make it all whole. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Filming: 'Split', 'Unbreakable', 'The Sixth Sense'.
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