Writer: M. Night Shyamalan
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Cinematographer: Roger Deakins
Editor: Christopher Tellefsen
Composer: James Newton Howard
Lead Actor: Bryce Dallas Howard
Year: 2006
This film has an interesting and unique setting and message, a part of which may be yet for me to grasp. We have a group of people who have chosen to live separated lives from the evil “towns”. They have created for themselves a make-shift setting where nothing tragic is supposed to happen. The threat of horrific creatures dwelling in the surrounding woods scares the young people into staying within the confines of their community.
We don’t bother the creatures, they won’t bother us. This is the understanding. But the sad part is, there was a violation. What they thought was their safety had become their harm when this fragile community’s law was broken. Their last resort for recompense is to cross the border of the forest. Will the innocent intentions of a blind girl restore the peace this village lives for?
The settings are among the strongest elements of this story and film. Apparently set in the 1800, things were not as ‘developed’ in “The Village”. Which was intentional; they are living simply on purpose. The costumes were very well done. The actual village was constructed specifically for the film. It all gives a sense of a set-apart community.
One wonderful thing about this film is the music. I had been listening to James Newton Howard’s score for a half year prior to watching the film (I already had about 120 plays on the OST). The music is a masterpiece in and of itself. So full of feeling and character. A solo violin, played by Hilary Hahn, is the prominent voice of the score.
Lengthy edits are done a lot in this film. The camera rolls and the actors do their thing and keep doing their thing for, as in one case, nearly 3 minutes! That’s a long time when we’re talking about dialog and performance. The very last scene is over 2 and a half minutes long with 10 characters to coordinate (and several background characters). From an acting standpoint, there are a few things to be said.
The way the film is put together with the long cuts, presents a challenge to the actors. They need to be able to hold up to the length of the shot. Adrian Brody played a rather schizophrenic character which was pulled off quite well (and rather comical at times). Joaquin Phoenix was brilliant…enough said. The only one I had a small issue with at times was William Hurt (who played the lead’s father). I thought his performance was a little stiff and theater-ish at times.
Bryce Dallas Howard, the main character in The Village, did some fine work for her part. She plays a sober yet playful young lady with a lot of heart. Her character is as innocent as she is blind. She, along with Phoenix, pulled off what is perhaps the best romantic moment I have seen in a film. The 68 second take, is personal, simple, nuanced, and heartfelt. It is for this film only that she is a favorite actress. Until just recently I didn't know she was the daughter of the successful and skilled director Ron Howard. Is James Newton Howard in the family too? I think not. Not enough red in his hair for one thing.
The Village is an interesting story and a well made film. I would classify it as more of a drama than a thriller or horror, although it does have its scary moments. It’s really unlike any picture I’ve seen.
We don’t bother the creatures, they won’t bother us. This is the understanding. But the sad part is, there was a violation. What they thought was their safety had become their harm when this fragile community’s law was broken. Their last resort for recompense is to cross the border of the forest. Will the innocent intentions of a blind girl restore the peace this village lives for?
The settings are among the strongest elements of this story and film. Apparently set in the 1800, things were not as ‘developed’ in “The Village”. Which was intentional; they are living simply on purpose. The costumes were very well done. The actual village was constructed specifically for the film. It all gives a sense of a set-apart community.
One wonderful thing about this film is the music. I had been listening to James Newton Howard’s score for a half year prior to watching the film (I already had about 120 plays on the OST). The music is a masterpiece in and of itself. So full of feeling and character. A solo violin, played by Hilary Hahn, is the prominent voice of the score.
Lengthy edits are done a lot in this film. The camera rolls and the actors do their thing and keep doing their thing for, as in one case, nearly 3 minutes! That’s a long time when we’re talking about dialog and performance. The very last scene is over 2 and a half minutes long with 10 characters to coordinate (and several background characters). From an acting standpoint, there are a few things to be said.
The way the film is put together with the long cuts, presents a challenge to the actors. They need to be able to hold up to the length of the shot. Adrian Brody played a rather schizophrenic character which was pulled off quite well (and rather comical at times). Joaquin Phoenix was brilliant…enough said. The only one I had a small issue with at times was William Hurt (who played the lead’s father). I thought his performance was a little stiff and theater-ish at times.
Bryce Dallas Howard, the main character in The Village, did some fine work for her part. She plays a sober yet playful young lady with a lot of heart. Her character is as innocent as she is blind. She, along with Phoenix, pulled off what is perhaps the best romantic moment I have seen in a film. The 68 second take, is personal, simple, nuanced, and heartfelt. It is for this film only that she is a favorite actress. Until just recently I didn't know she was the daughter of the successful and skilled director Ron Howard. Is James Newton Howard in the family too? I think not. Not enough red in his hair for one thing.
The Village is an interesting story and a well made film. I would classify it as more of a drama than a thriller or horror, although it does have its scary moments. It’s really unlike any picture I’ve seen.
Posts
1 comments:
"Until just recently I didn't know she was the daughter of the successful and skilled director Ron Howard."
I had NO idea. Granted, I've only seen her in this, but... it's still amazing I didn't know that.
I really appreciated the porch dialogue between Howard and Phoenix as well... as you probably already know.
Post a Comment