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- Shyamalan’s Popular-Yet-Polarizing Period Thriller
- Roger Ebert Downright Detested The Village
- Why Ebert Was Wrong About the Divisive Film
As a cinephile who’s spent countless hours dissecting films and their interpretations, I must say that I find myself squarely in the camp of those who appreciate the brilliance of M. Night Shyamalan’s “The Village.” Having lived through my fair share of societal upheavals and crises, I can’t help but see the film as a profound reflection of our collective human desire for community and hope amidst chaos.
M. Night Shyamalan, known for creating movies that spark intense debate due to their intricate plot twists, has directed numerous box office hits such as The Sixth Sense, Signs, Split, and Knock at the Cabin Door (among others). Over his 30-year career, he has garnered two Academy Award nominations and a Golden Globe nod, while amassing global box office earnings of over $3.3 billion with his captivating and intellectually stimulating films.
Roger Ebert was a highly regarded and adored film critic in the entertainment industry, working for the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death at age 70 in 2013. This esteemed reviewer was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism in 1975 and wasn’t shy about sharing his deep insights and opinions on many of Hollywood’s most acclaimed movies. In 2004, Ebert didn’t hold back when expressing his thoughts on Shyamalan’s divisive period thriller “The Village,” but in the years since its release, it seems our views differ from his.
Shyamalan’s Popular-Yet-Polarizing Period Thriller
In a hidden hamlet nestled in 19th-century Pennsylvania, the gripping film The Village boasts an extraordinary cast headed by stars such as Joaquin Phoenix, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Adrien Brody. The narrative unfolds around this small community that lives in constant dread and suspicion due to fearsome humanoid creatures lurking within the nearby woods. To stay alive, they must follow rigid guidelines and never stray beyond the village limits, for venturing out risks triggering violent attacks from these terrifying beasts.
When kindhearted farmer Lucius Hunt (Phoenix) inquires from the elders about venturing into the forest to retrieve vital medical resources from neighboring towns, his request is swiftly turned down, causing him to draw suspicious glances from his fellow villagers. Following his betrothal to Ivy (Howard), a blind yet caring woman whom he has long admired, a resentful Noah Percy (Brody) attacks Lucius in rage and is confined. In an attempt to aid her future spouse, Ivy summons her bravery to venture into the woods in search of assistance and confront the terrifying beings living there.
Roger Ebert Downright Detested The Village
On July 30, 2004, the release of the movie “The Village” left both viewers and critics divided about the Shyamalan production. While many admired its chilling suspense and remarkable acting, others found the director’s signature plot twist and dramatic conclusion disappointing. Notably, Roger Ebert from the Chicago Sun-Times was a vocal critic of the film, calling it a significant misjudgment. He ranked “The Village” as the 10th worst movie of 2004 and even added it to his infamous “Most Hated” list.
Ebert, in his critical assessment, awarded only one star out of four to the movie titled “The Village“. Despite acknowledging Shyamalan as a “talented director capable of drawing stories from emotions”, he criticized him for seeming to have taken a break during the production of this period piece. The esteemed critic was frank in his assessment of the film’s twist ending, where the identities of “Those We Do Not Speak Of” were disclosed. Ebert found this revelation implausible and amusing, as he put it in his review.
To label it as an underwhelming conclusion would be disrespectful not only to climaxes but also to suffixes. It’s a rather unimaginative secret, barely surpassing the storytelling creativity of a plot twist known as “It Was All a Dream.” So dull is this revelation that upon learning it, one might wish to replay the movie just to forget the secret again.
Ebert wasn’t the only critic who was critical towards “The Village.” In fact, it faced harsh criticism from his colleagues despite raking in an impressive $256 million worldwide at the box office. The movie received a mediocre CinemaScore of ‘C’ from audiences and a 43% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, indicating that it was not universally appreciated. As a result, “The Village” became another film in M. Night Shyamalan’s career that sparked debate among critics and viewers alike.
Why Ebert Was Wrong About the Divisive Film
Over the past two decades, “The Village” has continued to garner praise from critics, many of whom consider it among M. Night Shyamalan’s finest works and a hidden gem. Despite its polarizing nature, numerous reviewers have defended the movie, viewing its surprising twist not as a mere plot device but as the essence of the thriller itself. In their 2019 analysis, Vox argues that “The Village” serves to illustrate the hollowness of seeking refuge in an idealized past when dealing with trauma.
Contemporary critics have come to value the film’s breathtaking cinematography, Shyamalan’s skillful direction, and the captivating performances by Phoenix and Howard. They also view it as a hugely misconstrued masterpiece that remains relevant 20 years after its release. The Quietus poignantly stated in their 2021 review: “In today’s climate, with societies becoming increasingly polarized and facing global political and environmental crises, we yearn more than ever for unity and hope, and The Village anticipated this.
Despite Roger Ebert’s harsh critique of the film, it’s debatable and perhaps unfair to heap so much criticism on The Village. Although some viewers were taken aback by the unexpected twist in the storyline, this doesn’t necessarily mean the movie deserved all the negative reviews. In fact, despite criticisms about its unrealistic elements, it became a thought-provoking and introspective film that was worth watching. IGN suggested that the film was marketed as a horror movie when it was not, leading to inflated audience expectations. They wisely pointed out in 2019: “The real twist was that the movie audiences wanted wasn’t the one Shyamalan made.
Rent/Buy The Village on Prime Video.
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2024-11-17 18:02