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qot something better brewing, and to me, that
thing is cinema What I believe Shyamalan is qui
etly begging of us with his postmodern master
piece is to become like kids again when we watch
a movie, and simply believe everything we are
told as it is be ; ng told to us and then let it exist
for the sake of itself.
It's foolish to consider the logic of a movie.
It's a movie! There's no need to believe any of it
after the fact. That's the beauty of it. We still,
after an entire century of "evolving" the art form,
try to hold films to some sort of preconceived
logic, and have yet to realize that there is no
logic in doing that. I'm tired of hearing in the
corridor as the garrulous rabble empties the dark
ened theatre, "Why did this happen? Why did he
do this? Why did she do that?" What do you mean
why? Movies are not real. There is no why. There's
only what happens when it happens.
With Signs, Shyamalan continues to test what
we the audience are willing to believe and
reminds us that the joy of going to the movies is
an experiential one. He may have done himself
disfavor with the success of The Sixth Sense.
which won him instant fame because of a gim
micky, though clever, surprise ending that had us
all clamoring to see it a second time. With a
single sigh of the proverbial "Ah-ha!," all of our
whys were answered with the
same intense satisfaction of
scratching a mosquito bite till it
pops open in bloody relief. But
when you've done it, you are
done with it. Now audiences
have come to expect an equally
systematic and satisfying twist
every time Shyamalan's name is
on screen. But then when they're
disappointed with the big sur
prise, they fail to see what's truly
great about his movies, and also
why they get better. When you
watch his movies, just trust him.
Two hours, that's all. He knows
what he's doing.
So there you have it, a year
that for now seems mostly unre
markable, but may in time turn out to be bearing
the seeds of the next big thing—reality movies?
Let's hope not. But in the coming year, don't be
afraid of the daring, always try something new,
trust in Shyamalan, and support the smaller and
better stuff. Athens needs a film scene badly. Just
visit Austin or any such classic city facsimile and
you'll be embarrassed by what they've got going
on. There’s no reason we shouldn't have all that as
well. We have just as many pretentious people as
they do. We are ripe for a renaissance. Film lovers
of Athens, unite! And pass the Moon Mist.
Patrick Franklin
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