eldiran-24234

Don't believe any of the die-hard Shyalaman fans that glorify this film--this really is THAT bad. Confusing script, bad acting (in some cases dreadful) and as awful a storyline as each of his films have been since the one that ruined him, 'Lady In The Water". The writer-director who made the really wonderful "Sixth Sense", and pretty good "Signs" and "Village" lost his way so thoroughly as a filmmaker, after those 3, that it is hard to believe that anybody greenlights his films anymore. One of the worst downfalls of a talent that I can recall in all of Hollywood history (and I studied Cinema).

Although many hoped that 'Split' might be a return to the competent director who did the incredible 'Sixth Sense' (though actually, it was wasn't--it was just Not-As-Bad as his previous few films), 'Old' is up there (or down there) with his 'The Happening' as a truly awful film in every way. His attempt at humor has always backfired, but here...and the photography, the confusing editing, the dreadful acting (poor. Garcia Bernal). Sad, because it is an interesting story idea, and could have worked in the hands of a better director. Seriously--IT'S THAT BAD.

I was wonderfully surprised when I saw this--I was in UK at the time, and the critics there agreed that while 'Hugo" was a good film with a weak boy lead, this film had a good performance in a weak film, so I went in with trepidation. And its shameful that critics would praise the populace rubblish of so many superhero movies and taint this one--it is Unique, Surprising, Clever, Touching and not at all maudlin or trite or expolitive (9-11 is a sub-character in the story). And the kid IS terrific, as are all the supporting performances by Von Sydow, Davis, Wright, Hanks and even Bulloch (those two 'stars' have only a few minutes each in the film, though their parts are pivitol). Really--give it a try. You have never seen anything quite like it. Another wonderful and meaningful film from director Daldry (and he ireally gets the best out of chld actors)