GLASS (2019) Movie Review
Director M. Night Shyamalan brings together narratives from his previous films Unbreakable and Split, into one final thriller: Glass.
Bruce Willis returns as security guard David Dunn, now older but more experienced with his supernatural abilities, on the trail of Kevin Wendell Crumb (James McAvoy), a disturbed man who has twenty-four personalities. Elijah Price (Samuel L. Jackson), also known by his pseudonym Mr. Glass, is the orchestrator who holds secrets critical to both men.
The focus on characters and less on CGI spectacle may be a disappointment for some, but for me it was a breath of fresh air in this time of pow-pow-save-the-world comic book movie fatigue. It's a tale of morality and mythos which is enjoyable on many levels.
James McAvoy again puts in a crowd pleasing performance, effortlessly jumping from the hilarious child-like personality of Hedwig, to the well mannered Patricia, to the most dangerous of all, 'The Beast'. Bruce Willis as the heroic David Dunn now has an almost Punisher/Microchip relationship with his son Joseph (Spencer Treat Clark), while Samuel L. Jackson as 'Mr Glass' is still the maniacal genius we remember. Of course, a rewatch of the previous films is recommended, you'll be glad you did when you notice the call backs and references in Glass.
The cinematography for the most part leans a little on the unremarkable side, but it picks up during the final showdown. Action may not be the director's strength, but it was well shot. The musical score brings back the memorable themes from both Unbreakable and Split, which I hoped for and was not let down.
Shyamalan tries to spring one or two twists too many towards the end, something that should have been explored much earlier in the series. Despite the love it or hate it ending, Glass is a highly rewatchable, meaty layer of comic book goodness that's a solid closer for an unconventional trilogy.
