Review
The Sixth Sense
- Director
- M. Night Shyamalan
- Year
- 1999
- Rating
- Reviewed by
- Gon Curiel a.k.a. Groucho
- Review date
- Friday, December 01, 2000
The expectation to see it was huge, but fortunately, it didn’t disappoint me at all. As a matter of fact, it became one of my favorites from 1999. I didn’t consider it the best, or even one of the five best, but I certainly considered it one of my favorites. I enjoyed it thoroughly. It scared me to death, and had me thrilled from the beginning to the end. As you may have guessed, I loved the plot twist, and believed it by heart. I needed to see it a second time, which I did. The experience was definitely different. The movie had changed, but was as interesting and thrilling. The movie was a success.
No spoilers ahead!
Child psychologist Malcolm Crowe (Bruce Willis) is recognized and awarded by the people of Philadelphia, right before he encounters a former patient who became a freak after years of suffering due to Dr. Crowe’s incapacity to cure him when he was a child. The experience changes his life. Soon, he takes a new patient, young Cole Sear (Haley Joel Osment), who’s got the same symptoms of the lost patient. This kid is a new chance for Dr. Crowe to redeem his mistake.
While he passes through a difficult moment of his personal and professional life, Dr. Crowe deals with the weirdest case he has ever treated. Unable but forced to deal with the truth, he must understand himself and what’s happening to him before he tries to help anyone else. And that’s the whole point of the film.
Osment’s performance is probably the best by a kid ever. He’s continuously terrified, no matter if he’s mildly happy, joyous or sad. Toni Collette, as his mother, is a wonderful match. Willis is calm and silent but good too.
The ending is a whoa. A fine horror classic from the end of the century with scares of the purest, simplest kind.
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Comments
Morris wrote at 6/22/2002:
I know many people will hate me, but don't get me wrong, I LOVE this movie. I've seen it many times and could see it a lot more and still have fun with it. It's just that I don't think the script is its strongest asset. I could tell you about at least three scenes in the movie that don't make sense once you know the plot twist. And somehow, each time I see it I still feel bothered by details like this. But anyway.... the performances are amazing. Haley, Tony and Willis are superb. And the mood.... and the score... and the direction..... I LOVE IT!
Groucho wrote at 6/22/2002:
Morris, I know we've talked about this in person, but I would really like you to tell us here the plot holes you found in the movie. I don't remember which were those, and probably Jacinda and I can tell you wrong... or unfortunately agree. By the way, have you noticed how Jacinda and I have agreed on many movies lately? Well, it's nice to not be enemies all the time ;)
Morris wrote at 6/22/2002:
Ok, there are two scenes that come to my mind right now:The first one involves Bruce Willis sitting in front of Toni Collette while Haley arrives home. It is impossible to think that he entered the house by his own and was not greeted by her. In that kind of situation it's logical that they must have had at least a tiny conversation or that they should have exchanged a few words. How is it that he didn't find anything weird about her totally ignoring attittude?
The second one happens when Haley desperately yells at his teacher about his past. The next scene shows him punished in a room, but with Bruce Willis. If he really wasn't alive, how come he was advised about what happened or how did he get there specifically at that moment?
I know there might be alot of "if's" surrounding this scenes. The problem is that Shyamalan didn't do anything to explain them and I found them really implausible. But for those who have forgotten.... I LOVE THIS MOVIE! I've just got a few minor quibbles..
Jacinda wrote at 6/22/2002:
Well, you're right about the first scene you mentioned. I didn't think about that. But at least it makes sense that she doesn't talk to him or introduce him. However there are other scenes that are well done. For example the scene in the restaurant. Bruce doesn't move a thing - not even the chair that he sits on and I loved the way his wife said "Happy Anniversary" to herself. Moreover they used the colour red as symbol for the supernatural (the doorknob, the balloon, the red dress the mother wears at the funeral..)There might be some flaws but we all love the movie ;)
Groucho wrote at 6/22/2002:
Well, my dear Moe, now I remember that you mentioned those scenes before. I've got my arguments too like I did before.On both cases, you gotta remember that dead people see only what they want to see. You mention those but you're forgetting that the whole film is filled with such situations, in which this guy is ignored by everybody except Cole (Haley) and he's always there in the precise moment. I mean... he knew he was having problems with his wife, but come on... they didn't talk to each other at all! You think he didn't notice that? Well, he didn't, but not because he was an idiot, but because he didn't want to notice, he didn't want to aknowledge the fact that he was dead. I believe he was always with Haley but only made himself present when his presence was logical in a way.
I did think that the first scene you mention was kind of illogical but not because of Willis not noticing Toni's silence but because of her being there without doing anything. Not everybody sits in the living room just doing nothing. Besides, she was not the kind of woman who does that. I give you that one, but only in that aspect.
Anyway, we're not so wise in the ghost subject, so I guess we'll never get to an agreement. I'm glad that we all kinda liked this movie, though. I'm eager to see it again!
Morris wrote at 6/22/2002:
Hey Grouch, your arguments are actually really strong. The thing is that if what you say is actually correct, don't think of me as close-minded, but then I consider it to be a cheap way from Shyamalan to get out of trouble throughout the entire movie. This gets me back to my first statement, in which I said that I didn't think the script was THAT clever.On the other hand, I was really glad Jacinda mentioned the scene in the restaurant, because that scene was brilliant! The way all the dialogue made sense even if Bruce was dead or he wasn't and the way each character interpreted it. Loved it!
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Jacinda wrote at 6/22/2002:
This movie is certainly very special due to the incredible performances of Haley Joel Osment and Bruce Willis. I just saw it again on DVD. I figured it would be in a way boring because I knew about the ingenious plot twist. Even though it was a completely different experience it was still enjoyable.In fact if you know what is really going on you can search for hints and clues which is a lot of fun. You keep asking yourself how you could overlook them. It's only then when you realize how skillfully Shyamalan crafted his script. Brilliant!