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LowComDom Performances Presents
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LowComDom Performances Presents
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Film Review - Signs
It seems like I've seen this movie before. Perhaps that's because I was looking at previews of this film for what seemed a year.
Signs is director M. Night Shyamalan's fifth film. Revolving about Father Graham Hess (Mel Gibson), a man who's faith has been destroyed by the death of his wife, the film holds much promise, but stumbles in the final reel.
All over the world mysterious crop circles start popping up, and Hess's corn field is also hit. What does it all mean? The family falls into a pit of fear as UFOs turn out to be real.
This film is very tightly crafted. There's no lag in the middle of this picture. The pace is not break-neck, but it is constantly moving. The shots, too, are well thought out. If the camera is on the floor, you can bet there's a great reason for it to be there.
Where Shyamalan's films seem to have trouble, and Signs is no exception, are in the endings. The conclusion of this story is an incredible cop-out. In a movie that avoided cheap tricks, it's as if the writer/director got tired and said, "Here's a quick way out!" When it is finally time to see the aliens from the UFOs they look so bad that Shyamalan appears to have photographed them out of focus.
The truth is the aliens are not needed to tell this story. The real story is Hess's loss of faith, and his road to being healed. Gibson's immersion in the character is the strength of this picture. The rest of this is just titillation to get us to sit on the edge of our seats.
Should you see this? Well, it's not a bad movie. It's just that cop-out ending I couldn't stomach. Yeah, this is worth seeing.
Film Facts
Directed by M. Night Shyamalan
Released in 2002
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Reviewed by Mongo
