Image from Daily Mail UK
M. Night Shyamalan completes his comeback with his latest film, Glass, a good film but not a masterpiece. The plot twists at the end makes sense, and it was surprising. The film has one ending, then a surprise reveal, than a twist. Not once did my mind say, “That’s bull$hit!” Anyone that knows my reviews understands that I like to take down overrated and pretentious films. While Glass stumbles at times with its narrative, it doesn’t try to do too much and there are some wise choices made by Shyamalan along the way when the film could have been derailed.
The premise is interesting and a follow up to an idea introduced in Unbreakable: superheroes do exist and comic books are a true telling of their exploits. In our world, that’s farfetched, but in the world of Glass/Split/Unbreakable, it makes sense. One great choice was not to leave us with an obvious opening for a sequel. Sure, there is some unfinished business for Dr. Ellie Staple, played with sickly sweat danger by Sarah Paulson. Paulson out acted all the superheroes.
Speaking of acting, the three male leads did their part, but none of them live up to their potential. The lesser of the three was Jame McAvoy. His dissociative identity disorder (DID) was overplayed in Glass. The change in alters made little sense most of the time and they should have kept it limited to a few so all identities. It became ridiculous after awhile. By the time I met a new alter, it would leave for another. Only four really mattered: Dennis, Kevin, Patricia, and the Beast, and the film would have been better if those four were the only ones on the screen while the others remain hidden.
Bruce Willis as David Dunn had little to say and the part could have been played by anyone. Samuel Jackson was good for the time he had on the screen where Mr. Glass’s mind wasn’t disabled due to drugs. This film should give him the firm lead over Harrison Ford in all-time film grosses. However, the film wasn’t about the stars, it was about the situation, and in the end, that was okay.
The filming was good, the edits fine, the music, un-noticed. The special effects were limited, mainly to The Beast, and that was an excellent choice. Glass didn’t play like a superhero film as much as it played like a supernatural thriller. And that works.
Rating: Matinee. There were some problems with the logic in the film, and that keeps it from a higher rating. For spoilers and an explanation, read below
Peace,
Tex Shelters
P.S. M. Night Shyamalan needs to stop with the pointless cameos. This one was embarrassing.
Warning, Spoilers!
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Glass Spoilers
If Kevin’s alters can be controlled with flashing lights, why didn’t he put the sheets or the pillow from the bed in his room over his eyes and rush the strobes? They needed to explain that in the film.
Why didn’t Casey (from Split) urge Kevin (one the alters) to turn into the beast at the end of the film to fight the bullet wound and not die?
It served no purpose to have the three superheroes in the same room with Dr. Staple at the same time. Give me a reason, MNS!
Did Mr. Glass convince Dr. Staple, somehow, to bring in Dunn and Kevin? If so, show us how.
Why is Mr. Glass so obsessed with people knowing superhumans exist?
Tex Shelters Online 