Cole Sear (Haley Joel Osment) has a secret. He won't tell his mom, he wont tell
anyone. Then comes along Dr. Malcom Crowe (Bruce Willis). They seem to fit
together, they know each other, they have been through this before.
First, let's go back approximately 9 months. Dr. Crowe has won one of the most
prestigious awards the city of Philadelphia has to offer a psychologist. He is
devoted to his wife, and although he loves her much, she is second in his life to his
work. Late one winter night, a past patient (not completely healed it appears)
breaks into his house and shoots Dr. Crowe in the midsection.
Now, back to Cole Sear. He can see dead people. I'm sure we've seen the
trailers, so I hope this isn't a surprise to you. Rather than confront his fears,
Sean runs from them and takes sanctuary wherever he can find it - usually the church or a
small shrine he's set up in his bedroom. The kids and even teachers call him a freak
because of the way he acts. Cole doesn't want to be called a freak and thus won't
tell anyone his secret. It is not until over 1 hour into the film when he finally
reveals his secret to Dr. Crowe. The first half of the film just sets up this
important point in the movie. Slow? Yes. It doesn't take long from there
to find out how Cole can be helped and how he can help his psychologist.
Whereas the movie is trying towards a psychological thriller or horror perspective, it
fails to achieve either. There are only two frightening scenes in this movie and
when writer/director M. Night Shyamalan tries to get the audience to think or introduce a
psychological element, it seems out of place. I don't want to ruin the movie for you
by revealing any spoilers, but many people liked the ending and say that you couldn't see
it coming, well, I could and I hope that other people can too. As the movie
progresses, though not many clues are dropped, the ending becomes evident. Look for
it - if you see it, good job, if not, you're not alone.
I enjoyed this movie once it got going. Taking over an hour to finally reveal
that Cole can see 'dead people' seems like a long time. At only 1 hour and 47
minutes long, it doesn't leave much time for the conclusion. This film might get you
to think a little about death and mortality, but overall, it's just another thriller that
doesn't thrill.
I have to applaud Bruce Willis' try at this movie, but he just isn't cut out for it.
He's been typecast his whole life as the 'Die Hard' guy and whatever he tries to do
to get rid of that moniker, I just don't think it can be done. Haley Joel Osment
gives a great performance for an actor his age. I criticized (some of) the actors in
American Pie on their abilities and received comments that they're only teenagers and to
give them a chance. Haley, at 11 years of age, gives a much more convincing
performance and is pretty much the only good thing about this film.
Overall, this is an original script which deserves some credit, but it could have been much better.
