Unbreakable (2000)

Director:

M. Night Shyamalan

Writer (WGA):

M. Night Shyamalan (written by)

Release Date:

22 November 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Shattering cinemas soon.

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Comic Book | Survivor | Train | Sole Survivor | Superhero

Awards:

2 wins & 9 nominations

Cast

Bruce Willis	...	David Dunn
Samuel L. Jackson	...	Elijah Price
Robin Wright Penn	...	Audrey Dunn
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
David Duffield	...	David Dunn Age 20
Laura Regan	...	Audrey Inverso Age 20
Chance Kelly	...	Orange Suit Man
Michael Kelly	...	Doctor Dubin

Also Known As:

No Ordinary Man (USA) (working title)
Untitled M. Night Shyamalan Project (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic elements including some disturbing violent content, and for a crude sexual reference.

Runtime:

106 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital EX | SDDS | DTS-ES

Certification:

Canada:14A (British Columbia) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Alberta/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Brazil:12 | Iceland:14 (original rating) | Iceland:16 (video rating) | Philippines:PG-13 | Japan:U | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Denmark:11 | Finland:K-14 | France:-12 | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:IIA | Hungary:16 | Ireland:15 | Netherlands:12 (re-rating) | New Zealand:M | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:12 | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | UK:12 | USA:PG-13 (certificate #37802)

Filming Locations:

Franklin Field - 235 S. 33rd Street, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Company:

Touchstone Pictures

Trivia:

As in comic books, the main characters have their identified color schemes. David's is green and Elijah's is purple. They show up in their clothes, the wallpaper and bed sheets in their houses, Elijah's note to David, and various personal items, among others.

Goofs:

Continuity: When David's son attempts to shoot David to prove David is unbreakable, David grabs the gun from the table using his left hand (with his wedding band on) in the close up shot, but in the master shot, we can see he used his right hand to grab the gun.

Quotes:

David Dunn: I wanted to ask you a question. It's gonna sound a little strange, just think about it for a second, okay?
Audrey Dunn: Okay.
David Dunn: When's the last time I was sick? Do you remember?
Audrey Dunn: Um, I don't know. It's been a while.
David Dunn: I haven't been sick this year, I know that.
Audrey Dunn: Okay.
David Dunn: Do you remember me getting sick?
Audrey Dunn: Um... not a specific day. What - what's this about?
David Dunn: Audrey, do you remember me ever getting sick? In the three years we lived in this house? In the old apartment? Before Joseph was born? Before we ever got married?
Audrey Dunn: I - I can't remember.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Le goût du néant (2007)

Soundtrack:

No Guts

Very subtle. Requires multiple sips to get the full measure.

This movie will be the curious nugget in the collection of Shyamalan films. It is great to see young writing and directing talent that is carving a niche away from the usual fair while running with the big boys and girls. Entering the mainstream was achieved through his kick-off blockbuster, The Sixth Sense. If you are among the small cadre of people who figured out The Sixth Sense's twist before the ending, salute! Unbreakable continues Shyamalan's unorthodox view of things by crafting a more 'mortal' superhero drama. Unlike Peter Parker (Toby Maguire - Spiderman) who completely emerges as Spiderman (web-slinging and building-hopping) within about 30 minutes of the whole movie, David Dunn (Bruce Willis) is discovering his more subtle but extraordinary abilities for the whole movie, with some help from his friends and foes. Being able to stick to and vertically climb a building wall is a fairly noticeable attribute (why it would occur to somebody to try it escapes me) but never being sick in one's life may actually escape one's attention. People develop mindsets that prevent them from recognizing certain things until a suggestion changes that condition. In this movie, being the sole (uninjured) survivor of a train crash is a pretty strong suggestion. From there you watch the revelation unfold. Yes, there is a villain but I won't spoil the movie for those who have not ventured to try it. If you have been avoiding it after poor recommendations from others, forget about The Sixth Sense and give it an undivided attention DVD viewing.

Be patient and let it take you. I liked its subtle power. It implies a certain superhero quality in all of us.