THE LADY IN THE WATER (2006)

Directed by M. Night Shyamalan. Starring Paul Giamatti, Bryce Howard, Jeffrey Wright, Bob Balaban, Sarita Choudury, Cindy Cheung, Mary Beth Hurt. Drama/Fantasy. Synopsis: The superintendent of a large apartment complex develops a relationship with a young woman who lives in the water under the pool, a nymph from ancient legend who has an important message to tell. The problem is who gets the message and will she be able to escape the danger that awaits her. 

Every once in a while, despite the ridiculous costs of films (large popcorn, two soda= $14.00) and the ease and comfort of dvd/vhs , you have to take in a flick on the big screen to really get that full cinematic experience. Remember how exciting the movies were when you were a kid? They still have a similar, if reduced, effect on me when I go to the theater, which I only do a few times a year. So, being a fan of Shyamalan, this was a no- brainer for me, since flicks in theaters are such a big investment, I only go when there is something I really want to see now instead of waiting for dvd.

The Lady in the Water has many of the familiar trademarks of a Shyamalan film: a large number of shots over the shoulders of people in conversation, the past of one of the protagonists being slowly revealed and having a major impact on the finale, Shymalan himself in the film, and the suburban Philadelphia setting. But, to me, and I think to many of you who are familiar with Shyamalan films, this one is quite different from his hit films (Signs, Sixth Sense, Unbreakable, The Village). There is, without spoiling it, no twist at the end, no surprise ending that you might expect from him.

Also, this not a psychological thriller or suspense driven movie, it is basically a modern fantasy drama with more humor thrown in than I expected. This is a very talented ensemble cast, but the main characters whom the film revolves around are apartment superintendent Cleveland Heep (Giamatti) and a young woman that Heep finds swimming in the apartment pool after hours and subsequently rescues him when he falls into the pool named Story (Bryce Howard).

Cleveland immediately knows there is something different about Story. First, she claims to be from the "blue world" and hints at a message that she has to deliver. Next, Cleveland, who has a stutter, does not ever do so when he is around Story. Trying to find out if Story is really the nymph from fantasy that she says she is, Cleveland does some research of his own, getting help from the mother of one of his gregarious tenants (Cindy Cheung), and soon believing that the purpose of Story coming up to this world as well as the danger she faces are all right there in the apartment complex.

The entire movie takes place in and around the complex, and almost every scene involves Giamatti engaged with Howard, or one of the interesting cast of tenants in the complex. This includes the taciturn but hilarious new tenant, Mr.Barber (Bob Balaban), the quiet but wise Mr. Leeds (Bill Irwin), the crossword solving genius Mr. Drury (Jeffrey Wright), the gossipy Mrs. Bell (Mary Beth Hurt), the bodybuilder, Reggie, (Freddy Rodriquez)  who only works on the right side of his body, and the bickering brother/sister roomies, the Rans (Shyamalan and Sarita Choudhury).

Each of these characters plays a significant role in ultimately helping Story find her purpose, of course. The acting is very good in this one, as it should be with such a deep cast. Giamatti shows he can carry a film, Balaban was outstanding in his role and stood out in the few scenes he was in. Howard seems perfectly cast as the nymph character...hell, she looks like she lives underwater and away from the sun. I liked her, although those of you who were as impressed as I was with her in The Vlllage should not expect her to best that performance.

I was a little disappointed that Jeffrey Wright, one of the most versatile actors working, did not have more to do with his character. It's a shame when talent like that is wasted on such a small role. Choudhury is also eye catching in her role as the sister of the struggling author (Shyamalan). As for M. Night, you will see a lot more of him than in previous pictures, where he was primarily a cameo guy. In this flick, he gets lots of screen time and his character is, arguably, one of the most important to the story. To me, M. Night and Wright should have switched roles...let the great actor do the important minor role and the director can cameo the less important one. Having said that, I don't want to give you the impression that this is not a good film, it is just a notch-or two- below some of his others. I don't have a problem with him being a little less formulaic and trying something a little different, but the story isn't the greatest or particularly compelling.

Its definitely a feel good, or at least attempt to feel good story, with plenty of symbolism and implication about the importance of everyone and searching for one's true purpose. Nice stuff, but it doesn't keep you on the edge of your seat. Maybe Shyamalan is the "victim" of his own success. Its just not possible to blow everyone away with every film and The Lady in the Water probably will not blow you away.

I wouldn't tell you that you need to rush out and see this film, its worth the wait to DVD, but if you do plunk down your shekels to see it on the silver screen, be prepared for a nice little movie that you will like, but probably won't be talking about years after its release. This is no Sixth Sense.

But, then again, most movies aren't.