Glass (C+ or 2.5/4 stars)
'Glass' is the 3rd part of a trilogy that writer/director M. Night Shyamalan began with 2000's Unbreakable, continued with Split in 2017, and focuses on the possible existence of super-beings in the real world. This film picks up some time after Split, with dissociative identity disorder/multi-personality Kevin Wendell Crumb (James McAvoy) now dominated by the superhuman Beast and, he is kidnapping teen girls, once again. Ultra-strong security guard David Dunn (Bruce Willis), who works with his son, Joseph (Spencer Treat Clark), has become Philadelphia's Batman, of sorts – a vigilante who roams the streets delivering swift justice. He's on the hunt for Kevin Crumb and, when he finds him, there's a smack down that ends with both of them being taken into custody; then transported to a maximum-security asylum where they're locked in rooms alongside a 3rd special prisoner – Elijah Price, aka Mr. Glass (Samuel L. Jackson).
The 3 of them are to be treated by Dr. Ellie Staple (Sarah Paulson), a psychiatrist who specializes in "superhero delusions". Her big goal is to convince them that there is a stark difference btwn. comic books & reality; and that no one in the 'real world' has the type of superpowers they inhabit. All the while, Kevin's former victim, Casey (Anya Taylor-Joy), goes to see him & discovers a connection to his 'original' personality. But even though Mr. Glass is seemingly catatonic, there's a plan afoot. Dr. Ellie Staple underestimates these 3 men and, while she lectures {on & on & on}, Mr. Glass spruces up, teams-up with 'The Beast', & sets up a crazy asylum-bound situation that forces David Dunn's hand into the fray.
I found this overlong, talky Shyamalan flick to contain too many half-formed ideas & too many meta references about superhero 'stuff'. It never really gels. That said, it IS watchable, the last act is 'somethin' else' ... and, just like 2017's Split, I was drawn to James McAvoy's stunning performance -- so it wasn't all bad. One of the other problems I have with 'Glass' is Sarah Paulson's character. Despite playing a critical role, her Dr. Staple is not interesting, & she monotonously babbles on too much; pontificating about her philosophy of what's real & what isn't to poor effect {just GET on with the action!}. Also, while I always enjoy Anya Taylor-Joy, her existence as Casey in this film, along with Joseph, and Elijah's elderly mother (heavily make-upped Charlayne Woodard) didn't jive with me this time.
Glass' "grounded" superhero elements are not overly impressive – Shyamalan's ambitions exceed his abilities, here. The action scenes aren't as well choreographed as the usual fare; lacking some unique shots & some verve. Really, the whole movie lacks verve and narrative propulsion. Interaction btwn. the 3 leads is disappointingly minimal. This being a Shyamalan film, there are some twists, but they're not on the level of his Sixth Sense, The Village, etc. Clever red herrings aside, it's just disappointingly straightforward. And even though I liked how everything 'wrapped up' (both literally & intellectually) ... I missed the visceral satisfaction that one craves for a conclusion such as this.
Bruce Willis is okay here, but he's not given much to do. He basically just comes across as world-weary & nonplussed most of the time. Ditto Samuel Jackson - who doesn't even speak 'til late in the game -- and what is Samuel L. Jackson without his flowery dialogues? But James McAvoy is the saving grace of 'Glass' & blew me away again with his deliciously over-the-top portrayal. Not only does McAvoy use his compact, dynamic physicality to good effect, but when you combine that with all the manic, mulitple personalities that he inhabits - jumping from one to another in rapid succession - it's just something to behold. Furthermore, it's not even schticky, because he brings emotion & gravitas to the role -- he's a "bad guy", but you feel for him, too.
For me, despite Shyamalan's clean directorial technique & solid production values, 'Glass' just didn't hit the mark the way it could have. I liked it a liiittle more than 2000's Unbreakable - which, despite my issues with it, offered a neat twist to the then-developing superhero genre; creating his own mini-superhero universe. But 'Glass' is nowhere near as exciting or engrossing as Shyamalan's 2017 offering, Split. I loved the 'promise' of the end of Split, where Shyamalan teased bringing Bruce Willis & Sam L. Jackson into this storyline; he just didn't deliver on the promise. So as I said earlier, 'Glass' is watchable, aided by McAvoy, but is too underwhelming & gets lost within with its own superhero mythos to warrant high praise.
The 3 of them are to be treated by Dr. Ellie Staple (Sarah Paulson), a psychiatrist who specializes in "superhero delusions". Her big goal is to convince them that there is a stark difference btwn. comic books & reality; and that no one in the 'real world' has the type of superpowers they inhabit. All the while, Kevin's former victim, Casey (Anya Taylor-Joy), goes to see him & discovers a connection to his 'original' personality. But even though Mr. Glass is seemingly catatonic, there's a plan afoot. Dr. Ellie Staple underestimates these 3 men and, while she lectures {on & on & on}, Mr. Glass spruces up, teams-up with 'The Beast', & sets up a crazy asylum-bound situation that forces David Dunn's hand into the fray.
I found this overlong, talky Shyamalan flick to contain too many half-formed ideas & too many meta references about superhero 'stuff'. It never really gels. That said, it IS watchable, the last act is 'somethin' else' ... and, just like 2017's Split, I was drawn to James McAvoy's stunning performance -- so it wasn't all bad. One of the other problems I have with 'Glass' is Sarah Paulson's character. Despite playing a critical role, her Dr. Staple is not interesting, & she monotonously babbles on too much; pontificating about her philosophy of what's real & what isn't to poor effect {just GET on with the action!}. Also, while I always enjoy Anya Taylor-Joy, her existence as Casey in this film, along with Joseph, and Elijah's elderly mother (heavily make-upped Charlayne Woodard) didn't jive with me this time.
Glass' "grounded" superhero elements are not overly impressive – Shyamalan's ambitions exceed his abilities, here. The action scenes aren't as well choreographed as the usual fare; lacking some unique shots & some verve. Really, the whole movie lacks verve and narrative propulsion. Interaction btwn. the 3 leads is disappointingly minimal. This being a Shyamalan film, there are some twists, but they're not on the level of his Sixth Sense, The Village, etc. Clever red herrings aside, it's just disappointingly straightforward. And even though I liked how everything 'wrapped up' (both literally & intellectually) ... I missed the visceral satisfaction that one craves for a conclusion such as this.
Bruce Willis is okay here, but he's not given much to do. He basically just comes across as world-weary & nonplussed most of the time. Ditto Samuel Jackson - who doesn't even speak 'til late in the game -- and what is Samuel L. Jackson without his flowery dialogues? But James McAvoy is the saving grace of 'Glass' & blew me away again with his deliciously over-the-top portrayal. Not only does McAvoy use his compact, dynamic physicality to good effect, but when you combine that with all the manic, mulitple personalities that he inhabits - jumping from one to another in rapid succession - it's just something to behold. Furthermore, it's not even schticky, because he brings emotion & gravitas to the role -- he's a "bad guy", but you feel for him, too.
For me, despite Shyamalan's clean directorial technique & solid production values, 'Glass' just didn't hit the mark the way it could have. I liked it a liiittle more than 2000's Unbreakable - which, despite my issues with it, offered a neat twist to the then-developing superhero genre; creating his own mini-superhero universe. But 'Glass' is nowhere near as exciting or engrossing as Shyamalan's 2017 offering, Split. I loved the 'promise' of the end of Split, where Shyamalan teased bringing Bruce Willis & Sam L. Jackson into this storyline; he just didn't deliver on the promise. So as I said earlier, 'Glass' is watchable, aided by McAvoy, but is too underwhelming & gets lost within with its own superhero mythos to warrant high praise.