M. Night Shyamalan has had to live up to high expectations ever since his first film, “The Sixth Sense,” which had a plot twist that packed a punch. For many moviegoers, successive films have been disappointing.
“Lady in the Water” takes viewers to The Cove apartment complex where Cleveland Heep (Paul Giamatti) acts as the building manager, killing bugs and associating with the residents. He also has a prominent, embarrassing stutter and his fair share of secrets.
A new arrival, movie critic Harry Farber (Bob Balaban), has moved in and as Cleveland is showing him around while reminding other tenants that swimming in the pool after dark is against the rules.
That night, Cleveland catches a glimpse of someone jumping into the pool and goes to investigate. He finds Story (Bryce Dallas Howard), a woman who claims she comes from a blue world. Obviously tired, and scared, Cleveland takes pity on the girl and lets her sleep on his couch. Before heading off to sleep, she mumbles “Narf,” which intrigues Cleveland.
He goes to Young-Soon (Cindy Cheung), a club-hopping, smart Asian tenant, to find out what exactly a Narf is. Young-Soon lets him know that it’s actually a bedtime story or myth her grandmother used to tell her.
A Narf is a water nymph that only comes to the world of man to help protect the human race in some way. They only have a short amount of time in this world before they must go back to their own. There are vicious creatures called “Scrunts” -- that look like wolves, but can blend into grass -- that would do anything to stop a Narf from returning to her world.
Story needs the help of the Cove’s tenants to get home. Amongst the residents, there will be a writer, a protector, a guild, an interpreter and a healer whose destiny is to help Story otherwise she fails in her mission.
Shyamalan fought hard for “Lady in the Water.” Disney hated the script, Giamatti almost turned down a role that was written for him and the critics have been brutal. Did all the trouble really pan out for him?
“Lady” is a thrilling fairytale full of danger, intrigue and funny moments, but there’s something missing. There’s a good plot line, likeable characters and great acting, but the viewer is left with the inner conflict -- whether the film is likable or not -- because it’s hard to put a finger on that absent movie element.
Once again, Shyamalan reuses an actor in a following film (like he did with Bruce Willis and Joaquin Phoenix). Howard takes on the role of water nymph, but of all the characters, Story is the one that the audience may care the least about. Her role is like “The Village” part deux; she plays it like she is once again blind wandering through the forest. Story does evoke imagery of Ariel from Disney’s “The Little Mermaid.” Red hair, hardy speaks, collects regular objects, originally from a water world … maybe the Disney execs didn’t notice the similarities.
Giamatti personifies acting excellence as Cleveland. The role was truly written for him and no one else could have played the stuttering building manager as well. Kevin Costner was being considered and he would have been wrong. Perhaps this is the role that will get Giamatti that lead actor Oscar nomination he was robbed of for “Sideways.”
Shyamalan has never been one to second guess his audience’s intelligence and dumb down a movie. For “Lady,” he sort of does. Through an imagery based, cave painting-esque opening, the story of the Narfs is explained to the audience, but the rest of the movie centers around Cleveland figuring out the Narfs so he can help Story. An interesting piece of footage perhaps more appropriate as a DVD extra since it is ultimately redundant.
“Lady in the Water” is a bedtime story, but it won’t put audiences to sleep. It’s not where near Shyamalan’s best or greatest film, but he’s a true storyteller.
For more on M. Night Shyamalan and his movies, check out Heather's OMC ETC. blog, The Appeal of M. Night Shyamalan.
“Lady in the Water” takes viewers to The Cove apartment complex where Cleveland Heep (Paul Giamatti) acts as the building manager, killing bugs and associating with the residents. He also has a prominent, embarrassing stutter and his fair share of secrets.
A new arrival, movie critic Harry Farber (Bob Balaban), has moved in and as Cleveland is showing him around while reminding other tenants that swimming in the pool after dark is against the rules.
That night, Cleveland catches a glimpse of someone jumping into the pool and goes to investigate. He finds Story (Bryce Dallas Howard), a woman who claims she comes from a blue world. Obviously tired, and scared, Cleveland takes pity on the girl and lets her sleep on his couch. Before heading off to sleep, she mumbles “Narf,” which intrigues Cleveland.
He goes to Young-Soon (Cindy Cheung), a club-hopping, smart Asian tenant, to find out what exactly a Narf is. Young-Soon lets him know that it’s actually a bedtime story or myth her grandmother used to tell her.
A Narf is a water nymph that only comes to the world of man to help protect the human race in some way. They only have a short amount of time in this world before they must go back to their own. There are vicious creatures called “Scrunts” -- that look like wolves, but can blend into grass -- that would do anything to stop a Narf from returning to her world.
Story needs the help of the Cove’s tenants to get home. Amongst the residents, there will be a writer, a protector, a guild, an interpreter and a healer whose destiny is to help Story otherwise she fails in her mission.
Shyamalan fought hard for “Lady in the Water.” Disney hated the script, Giamatti almost turned down a role that was written for him and the critics have been brutal. Did all the trouble really pan out for him?
“Lady” is a thrilling fairytale full of danger, intrigue and funny moments, but there’s something missing. There’s a good plot line, likeable characters and great acting, but the viewer is left with the inner conflict -- whether the film is likable or not -- because it’s hard to put a finger on that absent movie element.
Once again, Shyamalan reuses an actor in a following film (like he did with Bruce Willis and Joaquin Phoenix). Howard takes on the role of water nymph, but of all the characters, Story is the one that the audience may care the least about. Her role is like “The Village” part deux; she plays it like she is once again blind wandering through the forest. Story does evoke imagery of Ariel from Disney’s “The Little Mermaid.” Red hair, hardy speaks, collects regular objects, originally from a water world … maybe the Disney execs didn’t notice the similarities.
Giamatti personifies acting excellence as Cleveland. The role was truly written for him and no one else could have played the stuttering building manager as well. Kevin Costner was being considered and he would have been wrong. Perhaps this is the role that will get Giamatti that lead actor Oscar nomination he was robbed of for “Sideways.”
Shyamalan has never been one to second guess his audience’s intelligence and dumb down a movie. For “Lady,” he sort of does. Through an imagery based, cave painting-esque opening, the story of the Narfs is explained to the audience, but the rest of the movie centers around Cleveland figuring out the Narfs so he can help Story. An interesting piece of footage perhaps more appropriate as a DVD extra since it is ultimately redundant.
“Lady in the Water” is a bedtime story, but it won’t put audiences to sleep. It’s not where near Shyamalan’s best or greatest film, but he’s a true storyteller.
For more on M. Night Shyamalan and his movies, check out Heather's OMC ETC. blog, The Appeal of M. Night Shyamalan.
Originally from Des Plaines, Ill., Heather moved to Milwaukee to earn a B.A. in journalism from Marquette University. With a tongue-twisting last name like Leszczewicz, it's best to go into a career where people don't need to say your name often.
However, she's still sticking to some of her Illinoisan ways (she won't reform when it comes to things like pop, water fountain or ATM), though she's grown to enjoy her time in the Brew City.
Although her journalism career is still budding, Heather has had the chance for some once-in-a-lifetime interviews with celebrities like actor Vince Vaughn and actress Charlize Theron, director Cameron Crowe and singers Ben Kweller and Isaac Hanson of '90s brother boy band Hanson.
Heather's a self-proclaimed workaholic but loves her entertainment. She's a real television and movie fanatic, book nerd, music junkie, coffee addict and pop culture aficionado.
