Lady
in the Water is the latest film from M. Night Shyamalan, and like most Shyamalan
films, it isn't exactly the picture you might be expecting it to be. Lady in the
Water is a bedtime story. A fairy tale as it were, but the film does not whisk
the audience away to some awe inspiring fantasy world (although it should be noted
that a couple of scary creatures do enter our world). Rather the entire movie
takes place in a Philadelphia apartment complex called The Cove.
Superintedant
Cleveland Heap (Paul Giamatti) is a quiet, unassuming man with a stutter who discovers
a Narf (a mythical creature often referred to as a sea nymph) living in The Cove's
swimming pool. Heap is rescued by the Narf (played by the angelic Bryce Dallas
Howard) after an unfortunate accident, and before long, the two strike up an unusual
bond. The Narf explains that her name is Story and she's entered Cleveland's life
with a distinct purpose, one that she's reluctant to explain.
Heap
seeks answers and gets some from an elderly Asian tenant, an old timer with a
world of knowledge collected from years of strange folk tales and bedtime stories
told to her when she was a little girl. Before long, Heap comes to realize that
Story has a strange connection to several of The Cove's tenants
Shyamalan
based this film upon a bedtime story he used to tell his children, and if it's
a pre-existing fairy tale, I've certainly never heard it, and this benefits Shyamalan
because he's able to make up rules as the film goes along. This means it's virtually
impossible to point out flaws, which pretty much allows Shayamalan to make up
whatever crap he wants, whenever he wants. It isn't exactly challenging storytelling.
The
essence of Lady in the Water sort of plays like a Shyamalan smorgasbord. It incorporates
many of the themes and situations that have flavored his previous four movies.
For instance, the color red usually symbolizes something sinister going on (as
was the case in the Sixth Sense). In this case, red happens to be the eye color
of a bizarre wolf like creature called a Scrunt. We also get a couple of characters
who are desperately trying to find their purpose in the world (a theme explored
in Unbreakable). In addition, we have Cleveland Heap, a man who has all but lost
his faith and struggles with the grieving process (Signs anyone?). Finally, we
have odd creatures that appear to dwell in the nearby outer perimeter of the apartment
complex (just like the monsters in The Village). Yes, there is a certain level
of familiarity to be found in Lady in the Water.
At
the same time, Shyamalan has fused several genres including comedy (check out
Freddy Rodriguez as a nutty tenant who only works out with one side of his body),
drama (I love the obvious but effective common bond between Heap and Story), horror
(the Scrunt has a couple of effective scenes that reminded me of something right
out of An American Werewolf in London), and tragedy (Heap's past reminded me of
scenarios in both Shyamalan's Unbreakable and Terry Gilliam's underrated Fisher
King) all while paying homage to various films he's clearly loved through the
years including E.T., Splash, and just about every Alfred Hitchcock film you can
name.
Shyamalan
is taking a big time beating from various film aficionados because of the self
indulgent nature of Lady in the Water. For example, he hasn't only written in
a character who will change the world as we know it with a tale called The Cookbook
(I assume that title is an ode to the classic Twilight Zone episode To Serve Man),
but he's actually opted to play the character himself. Now I have no problem with
a little self indulgence (Shyamalan isn't the first film maker to engage in a
little vanity fare). The problem with Lady in the Water is the underdeveloped,
heavy handed mechanics of it all. Take for instance, Bob Balaban's role as a snobby
film critic who resides in Heap's building. This could have been a hilarious sub
plot, but as presented in Lady in the Water, it's a gimmicky, heavy-handed, one
trick pony. V for vendetta at the numerous critics who've attacked Shyamalan over
the years (I'm not one of those critics). Even the dialogue Balaban speaks as
he's standing in the presence of a salivating Scrunt feels forced and contrived.
It could have been a great moment if it weren't completely one dimensional.
Shyamalan's
writing style is overbearing. There's far too many things being explained through
words, a fairy tale shouldn't rely on exposition at all - fairy tales should be
visually driven. I tired quickly of Young Soon constantly translating elements
of her grandmother's tales to an eager Heap. Partly because it got dull, but mostly
because Cindy Cheung is positively awful in the role.
Having
said that, there were many things I really admired about the movie. I enjoyed
how all the characters in this film are quick to believe Heap's tale of a Narf
living in The Cove's swimming pool. Some might argue that this is a ridiculous
conceit, but the movie is essentially a fairy tale, and sometimes, you just have
to go with it. That's what all the characters in this film do. I also enjoyed
the angelic Bryce Dallas Howard as the mysterious Story and the terrific Paul
Giamatti as Cleveland Heap. Yes we've seen Giamatti play the lovable schlub many
times before (see Sideways or American Splendor just to name two), but he really
excels at it. There's also a certain sweetness to him here. Look no further than
a scene in which he exhibits childlike behavior so that he might earn the trust
of an elderly Asian tenant. Props to James Newton Howard for another stirring
score, and to the effects department for creating mythical monsters that are far
more effective than the aliens in Signs and the pseudo-beasts in The Village.
In
the end, Lady in the Water is a frustrating film. Incredibly frustrating. But
in a way, it's strangely fascinating. Fascinating like a train wreck is fascinating.
I'll give it that. I was more intrigued by Lady in the Water than I was by The
Village. This film doesn't feel hellbent on leading up to a big twist ending.
In fact, there is no twist ending at all. The tone of the movie is consistent
throughout. Sadly though, Lady in the Water is chalk full of ideas and themes
that are never truly realized. I can see why Disney honcho Nina Jacobson was confused
by it. Shyamalan is a major talent, but perhaps he should have taken the constructive
criticism and used it to better his project instead of suggesting that some people
just don't get it. Clearly, the box-office revenue indicates that a lot of people
don't get it. And they didn't get fired. I got it, and while I didn't hate it,
I certainly didn't love either.
