LADY IN THE WATER
I think most people’s problem with Lady in the Water is it’s either not enough of a fairytale or it’s too much of one. I can understand that frustration, but when you sit down in a theater you expect the film to take you into a world of its own creation, not a world of your preconceived ideas.
So the question really is “Does M. Night Shyamalan create an interesting fantasy for his story to take place in?” The answer is yes. Is it the world in which we live? No. Is it the Wonderful World of Disney? Nope. What you have is something that is more akin to an actual Grimm fairytale, where there is real danger and death is actually possible. Those stories take place in an area in between reality and fantasy, where if you wander off your trail of bread crumbs you could end up in a witch’s oven (unless you can shove her in first).
This is where Shyamalan’s story takes place and it couldn’t possibly be illustrated better than it is by the apartment complex in which it is set. All of the residents live in what appears to be a 70s era building that overlooks the deep blue pool, while apartment manager Cleveland Heep (Paul Giamatti) lives in what can only be described as a cottage. Not only is it a cottage, but it’s a nestled in the edge of a forest resting directly in front of the apartments. The juxtaposition of those two settings should set you up for the story in which it takes place.
That story involves Cleveland Heep, a good hearted but weary apartment manager, who after falling in the pool is rescued by a nymph-like creature called a Narf, named Story (Bryce Dallas Howard). She tells Heep that she is on a journey and has come to find someone who will end up changing the world. Once this is done, she is to return to where she came from, but a vicious creature known as a Scrunt stands in their way. Heep enlists the residents of the complex to help piece together Story’s, well, story and help her get home.
The residents are all played by a solid supporting cast, who make each of their characters just over the top enough to be exactly what they are, characters. While on the subject of the supporting cast it is important to note that a lot has been said about the fact that Shyamalan has such a large role in his own film. I don’t really get this, since he does a pretty decent job in the film itself. George Clooney has only directed two films and he had significant roles in both, yet I don’t see everyone getting up in arms about it.
Both Giamatti and Howard do excellent jobs in their respective roles. I really think that Giamatti could take any part he’s given and turn it into gold. Having said that, I don’t think anyone other than Howard could have embodied the role of Story any better than she.
The direction itself is quite good. In a time when people call it style to use quick cuts and shake a camera all around, it’s nice to see a director who actually does have a sense of style. Very few people working today can place their camera as perfectly as Shyamalan
Even though I really enjoyed this film, there are some problems. The metaphors are heavy handed enough to barely be called metaphors. Come on, her name is STORY. The matter in which Cleveland gets the clues to get Story home is really just a contrivance to keep the plot going. Bob Balaban’s character is distracting and pretty much superfluous. And the red herrings just seem somewhat arbitrary.
If you go in expecting the Sixth Sense or some semi-horror flick, you’re going to be disappointed. This movie takes place somewhere between a fairy tale and reality, and even with its faults, Lady in the Water is just enough fantasy to help me forget there are far worse movies I could have gone and seen. I’m looking at you John Tucker Must Die.
The Grade
- Story: C
- Acting: B-
- Visuals: B
- Originality: B+
- Enjoyability: B
- Overall: B-
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