|
Having lost his faith due to the death of his wife, Episcopalian minister Graham Ness (Mel
Gibson) fears for his children's safety when he discovers gigantic circular patterns in his cornfield, believed to have been the work of hostile extra-terrestrials.
Director M. Night Shyamalan (known for Wide Awake, Sixth Sense and Unbreakable
) seems to be living up to his reputation as a "modern day Hitchcock" and "the next Spielberg." Despite the occasional use of transition devices and visual effects,
this film proves that basic camera movement and shot composition are still effective means of cinematic brilliance. Shyamalan is unique and heartwarming, making the
viewers "feel" something, even if they don't really notice it on screen. A master at suspense, Shyamalan excels in creating tension in the viewer through the extraordinary use
of ordinary things—like a butcher's knife as mirror, shadows suggesting a hostile presence behind the door, half-filled drinking glasses left lying around everywhere.
Gibson's performance is convincing in its intensity, matched by those of Phoenix, and the children Morgan (Rory Culkin) and Bo (Abigail Breslin)—altogether they contribute to
the deftly woven emotional tapestry that enhances the expression of the film's message.
Like a pilot that sees rough weather ahead, the film asks us, "What do we do?" Do we see an
unusual phenomenon as an obstacle and a threat? Or, do we see it as a miracle and opportunity that would challenge us to climb above the dark clouds? Nothing in this world is
pure coincidence; everything has a purpose no matter how inconsequential it may seem. Moviegoers expecting an "ET" story in Signs
will be in for a surprise. It is not about aliens—it is about a man's struggle with faith, about his anger for a God who has hurt him. The value of Signs
is in its positive message: it shows that despite the despair that gnaws at a man who has turned his back on God, God is still God and can cause miracles to happen. Even if man gives up on God, God does not give up on man.
(Date reviewed: August 30, 2002)
|
