movie minute

Dead In The Water: The film Lady In The Water by M. Night Shyamalan started out as a story he told his children and the film is reflected as such. It stars Bryce Dallas Howard (yes, Ron's daughter) as Story (how appropriate) who is a Narf from the blue world and she has a penchant for jewelry and makes pithy statements and likes to parade around wearing nothing but a t-shirt or just nothing at all. Paul Giamatti plays Cleveland "of the hills" Heep (definitely one of the strangest named characters of all time), the super of an apartment complex who discovers Story swimming in the pool late one night. Story is there to help an unsuspecting tenant discover his potential, his destiny and then, and only then, can she be whisked back to her world (a heroine no doubt) on the wings of an eagle. However, there is an ugly and evil creature who likes to hide in the grass who is stalking Story and will stop at nothing to destroy her before she can make it back home. Shyamalan does have an interesting story; all of us are connected and what happens to one person happens to us all. The problem with this film is that there are too many unanswered questions: Why does Story's hair change from red to blond? How can Cleveland stay underwater for so long without breathing? Why does he stutter? Those are just a few questions. The biggest problem with this film, and you may have heard already, is that Shyamalan cast himself in a pivotal role; one that is not small either. I've no problem with the "Alfred Hitchcock" syndrome, however, the director better be a damned good actor to put him/herself in an important role. Shyamalan is not such an actor, he's not even good. The good news is the Giamatti and Howard give moving performances. Giamatti hits another homerun and Howard could have a long and prosperous career; she has "it." In the end the movie is not as terrible as the director's own Unbreakable but it's not even close to the caliber of the movies The Sixth Sense, Signs, or even The Village. Out of a possible 5 bags of popcorn, I give this film 1 1/2 bags.

paul