90s Movie Review - The Sixth Sense

Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Genre: Drama/ Thriller
Runtime: 107 minutes
Year: 1999
Starring: Bruce Willis, Haley Joel Osment, Toni Collette, Olivia Williams, Misha Barton, Donnie Wahlberg, Trevor Morgan

Description: A boy (Haley Joel Osment) who communicates with spirits that don't know they're dead seeks the help of a disheartened child psychologist (Bruce Willis).

Review: You are as good as your last film. That’s something director M. Night Shyamalan experienced. His movie “The Sixth Sense” was never topped. With this movie, the paranormal thriller was given a new life. With this, Bruce Willis also profiled himself as a dramatic actor. Australian actress Toni Collette broke through and child star Haley Joel Osment left everybody breathless. “The Sixth Sense” is a lot more than just a good movie.
“I see dead people” is now a classic film quote. What Shyamalan does well is leave the viewers with a question in the beginning: whether Cole actually sees dead people or if it’s an hallucination. Child psychologist Malcolm Crowe is the only person that can help him. His career isn’t the same anymore, after former patient Vincent Grey who he couldn’t help, shoots him in his own house. Grey kills himself after that. Since then Crowe is trying to lose those feelings of guilt. He sees in Cole the same characteristics as once in Grey. Cole lives alone with his mother Lynn, who works hard to make it all work and doesn’t know what Cole’s secret is. The moment Cole tells his secret to Crowe is chilling every time.
“The Sixth Sense” is filmed pretty sober. Shyamalan fully trusts on his own writing, which is so strong. Not a lot happens in the first hour, but there is a constant threat and tension. Subtle though, with some equally subtle sound effects. The twist at the end is genius and makes a second viewing just as good. Things you didn’t notice before, you see during your second viewing. With most movies that have a twist, it’s not that fun to rewatch the film. “The Sixth Sense” makes that rewatch probably even better.
Bruce Willis is timid in his role, something we hadn’t seen from him before. Toni Collette is great as well. But the star of the film is Haley Joel Osment. So young, yet such a grown up performance. His role is so real, you believe and feel his fear. In my eyes it’s still the best child performance in a movie. He even got an Academy Award nomination for it.
“The Sixth Sense” is one of my favorite thrillers, that captivates me every time. Fantastic work by M. Night Shyamalan.

Rating: 5 / 5

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 159: Mean Creek

Director: Jacob Aaron Estes

Genre: Drama

Runtime: 90 minutes

Year: 2004

Starring: Rory Culkin, Ryan Kelley, Scott Mechlowicz, Trevor Morgan, Josh Peck, Carly Schroeder

Description: When Sam (Rory Culkin) is bullied, his brother (Trevor Morgan) and friends lure the bully (Josh Peck) into the woods to seek vengeance.

Review: Every school has at least one: a mean bully. Sam is the victim of a bully in “Mean Creek”. He wants payback and Sam’s brother and his friends have the perfect idea to get bully George back. They are going on a boat trip and take George with them, but their seek for revenge will change their lives forever.

As a viewer you know that there are going to be losers in this film. Because of the slow buildup the movie loses a bit of drama and tension. The acting by the young performers is very good though. During the trip there is this uncomfortable and strained atmosphere between the kids. There are moments that you like George and moments you just want to slap him. As a viewer you go back and forth, which makes it hard to pick a side. But maybe that’s what director Estes was going for, because both sides are doing something wrong.

It’s the directorial debut for Jacob Aaron Estes and definitely not a bad one. “Mean Creek” has a nice looking cinematography and the film has some really powerful scenes. Funny enough the strongest scene is one shot in complete silence. Very well shot.

“Mean Creek” deals with difficult choices in life: taking responsibility for your actions and trying to cope with the consequences. This has been done before, but the characters were adults. Here it deals with kids and young adults. “Mean Creek” isn’t for everyone, but it’s worth your time.

Rating: 3,5/ 5