Movie Breakdown: Glass

Pre-Screening Stance:

I think that Unbreakable is a solid film, but I’ve never really understood why it has long been heralded as a masterpiece.  Its successor, Split, is pretty great and has seemingly shoved M. Night Shyamalan back into the good graces of moviegoers everywhere, which I get (though you could argue that almost anything would after his woeful run of Lady In The Water, The Happening, The Last Airbender and After Earth).  Now there’s the trilogy-closer Glass.  I think it looks like a healthy mix of Unbreakable and Split, which should make for a good time, but Shyamalan is hard to trust, so I’ll just go ahead and keep my expectations fully in check.

Post-Screening Ramble:

Glass gets off to a strong start.  The Horde (James McAvoy) has kidnapped another group of young ladies, and David Dunn (Bruce Willis) is on the hunt for them.  Before too long (seriously, it’s in the first 20 minutes of the film), they meet, they tussle, they get busted, and then they’re tossed into the loony bin (alongside Elijah Price – Samuel L. Jackson) to be examined by Dr. Ellie Staple (Sarah Paulson).  It’s here where the fun ends and Glass turns into a total disaster.  There’s endless dialogue that explores superheroes, comic books, etc., and not a damn bit of it makes any sense or is even remotely entertaining.  Thankfully, once well over an eternity has passed, the “smart” stuff mostly wraps and there’s a big set piece (full of M. Night Shyamalan’s usual twists) that is almost good enough to make up for the film’s tragically bad midsection, but I was so disinterested by then that I just wanted the damn thing to end so that I could get the hell out of the theater.

Shyamalan’s latest is a self indulgent mess that wastes a couple of nice performances (James McAvoy and Samuel L. Jackson), one good twist, and two hours of your time.  Don’t bother with it.

One Last Thought:

Does Bruce Willis enjoy acting anymore?  I really can’t recall the last time I saw him in something (maybe Looper in 2012?) and thought that he seemed even a little inspired.