Unbreakable

Plot

A suspense thriller with supernatural overtones that revolves around a man who learns something extraordinary about himself after a devastating accident.

Release Year: 2000

Rating: 7.3/10 (131,461 voted)

Critic's Score: 62/100

Director:
M. Night Shyamalan

Stars: Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson, Robin Wright

Storyline
This suspense thriller unfolds as the audience is introduced to David Dunn. Not only is he the sole survivor of a horrific train-crash that killed 131 people he doesn't have a scratch on him. Elijah Price is an obscure character who approaches Dunn with a seemingly far fetched theory behind it all.

Cast:

Bruce Willis
–

David Dunn

Samuel L. Jackson
–

Elijah Price

Robin Wright
–

Audrey Dunn

(as Robin Wright Penn)

Spencer Treat Clark
–

Joseph Dunn

Charlayne Woodard
–

Elijah's Mother

Eamonn Walker
–

Dr. Mathison

Leslie Stefanson
–

Kelly

Johnny Hiram Jamison
–

Elijah Age 13

Michaelia Carroll
–

Babysitter

Bostin Christopher
–

Comic Book Clerk

Elizabeth Lawrence
–

School Nurse

Davis Duffield
–

David Dunn Age 20

(as David Duffield)

Laura Regan
–

Audrey Inverso Age 20

Chance Kelly
–

Orange Suit Man

Michael Kelly
–

ER Doctor

Taglines:
Shattering cinemas soon.

Release Date: 22 November 2000

Filming Locations: Franklin Field – 235 S. 33rd Street, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Box Office Details

Budget: $75,000,000

(estimated)

Opening Weekend: $30,330,771
(USA)
(26 November 2000)
(2708 Screens)

Gross: $249,511,339
(Worldwide)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Did You Know?

Trivia:

The name Elijah is a Biblical reference. Elijah was prophesied to return to Earth to pave the way for the coming of the Son of David, a savior.

Goofs:

Continuity:
Early in the movie David is reading a "Philadelphia Inquirer" newspaper. At the end this becomes a "Philadelphia Telegraph".

Quotes:

Elijah Price:
Your bones don't break, mine do. That's clear. Your cells react to bacteria and viruses differently than mine. You don't get sick, I do. That's also clear. But for some reason, you and I react the exact same way to water. We swallow it too fast, we choke. We get some in our lungs, we drown. However unreal it may seem, we are connected, you and I. We're on the same curve, just on opposite ends.

User Review

Personal Significance

Rating: 9/10


It seems this movie has taken a bit of heat, known by many as
Shyamalan's "worst" film. It is often written off as slow moving, and
the twist at the end as unoriginal and boring. I've heard people say
the acting and camera work was awkward and stale and that the casting
was poor. Ironically enough, as more people begin to dislike this
movie, the more I seem to fall in love with it. This film has a lot of
personal bearing with me, both as a student of psychology and a lover
of movies and just plain art. I feel like I've taken this film under my
wing during its times of criticism, and now I'd like to try and show
everyone what exactly I love about it so much.

Shyamalan really showed a stroke of brilliance by getting Serra to be
his cinematographer and to play around with the aestetics of the film.
I don't know how or where Shyamalan is getting these guys for his
movies, but I definitely love the style of each frame he shells out.
Serra had been involved with predominately foreign films before
Unbreakable. This was his first big American film, and I think you
gotta give a little credit to Shyamalan for that. His unique and
creative touch really added to the direction. In keeping with the
"comic book" theme of the movie, you will notice that almost every shot
is taken as if you are looking through or in between something. Like
the squares of a comic strip. There is also a dark, slightly blue
colored filter used throughout most of the film. This gives the movie a
very bold, but eerie tone. Showing that the world can be a rough and
scary place, but it can also be fought and overcome. It is evident that
time and effort went into every shot. It may not slap many viewers in
the face as brilliant, but it really strikes a chord with me.

As for the score, I am more than willing to argue that this is, hands
down, James Newton Howard's best score of his very successful career.
It is compelling and booming. It's very powerful, but not over-the-top
and excessive. For anyone with the soundtrack, check out 'The Orange
Man' and 'Visions'. These are two of the most powerful pieces of any
film score around. And I stress the word "powerful". Yeah, he's no
Hermann or Morricone, but the emotional weight and emotive power of his
chords and his overall composition are just downright chilling.

The writing and the direction are just as captivating as the score.
Almost every line of dialogue and every scene seems to be placed out on
an island, alone so that everyone can stop and judge it. Some people
might view this as cocky and/or boring direction, but I see it as
daring and unique. Much of Shyamalan's writing is done that way.
('…I see dead people…' '…They call me Mr. Glass…'
etc. etc.) Another aspect of the film that tickles my fancy is the
underlying themes. I do believe, to a certain extent, that people do
have somewhat supernatural powers at times. People have been known to
make miracles and do unbelievable things. Maybe these things could be
'developed' in some way. These theories are, in a way, intertwined with
some aspects of psychology, such as selective attention and
self-actualization. If you care to discuss some of these ideas, let me
know and I will relate them to the film through my eyes. In short, I do
believe there is a superhero in everyone. It may not be through
supernatural powers, but it may simply be through the act of reaching
out to a person in need. Other themes of the movie, like how completely
different people can always be connected in some way and how everyone
has their vulnerabilities and weaknesses are intriguing, yet universal.
From a psychological point of view, Shyamalan really gets inside the
head of OI patients (osteogenesis imperfecta). He then brings this
psyche to the next level with Jackson's character. Elijah, is very
passionate but very tortured and evil. His interactions with Willis
bring depth and focus to both the characters and the story. Certain
scenes in the movie are really quite striking and powerful. The shots
of Willis in his security poncho. The train station scene. Elijah's
breathtaking fall on the stairs and many more speak so loudly to me and
say so much in just a simple clip. For some reason this movie just
speaks to me, like art. If anyone cares to discuss more about this
film, that'd be cool. There is a lotta other cool stuff to talk about
with this movie. Just thinking about it makes me want to watch it a few
more times. It may not be the feel good film of the year, or the
masterpiece that everyone was looking for, but it definitely sits well
with me.