No. 66 (2021) OLD. AUGUST 16th.

 

Film No. 66 (2021)  August 16th.  4:00 PM  EVENT CINEMAS  VMax  No. 9,  Innaloo.

"We never leave each other, nothing separates us, no matter what". (Maddox reinforces their bond with  brother Trent ).

I'm not sure I look forward to the next M Night Shyamalan project with quite the same enthusiasm as I used to. After THE SIXTH SENSE my enjoyment for his films has gradually waned. OLD has done nothing to change my thinking. M Night  continues to impress with his introduction of new ideas, it's his delivery that grates. In the case of OLD, it's  mostly the clunky script that fails.

So let's start with what is good about OLD; the idea. We are introduced to a family, during their first day on holiday at a tropical resort in an un-named country . They are at odds with each other over how to spend their first day. The resort manager convinces them that a secluded beach nearby, might make for the perfect start to their vacation. The beach is idyllic; the secret to Shyamalan's time alteration concept which takes our collective minds into a new dimension. M Night is always to be commended for the mental challenges he offers his audiences. He says as much when ever he discusses his films.

His camera work is intriguing. Never giving away what the characters are seeing until it's vitally necessary. Part of the M Night  puzzle here lies in the behaviours and characteristics of each player. We know there has to be a reason Dr Charles (Rufus Sewell) is erratic and his wife Chrystal (Abbey Lee) is extravagantly vain. Guy (Gael Garcia Bernal) and Prisca (Vick Krieps) are not happy together and one has a health issue. There is a point to every hook Shyamalan baits. 

With so much information and a time trope which means physical change has to affect the actors at regular intervals, was there too much information? And how could a satisfactory ending evolve when so many loose ends need tying together? There is a clever twist in the tail but the tale overall didn't satisfy my tastes. I'm not an M Night tragic, however, the devotee should definitely check out what M Night Shyamalan has to offer up in OLD. 8GUMS.

PS. It cannot be forgotten that a high profile film-maker who stumps up his own money, shoots and releases a film (OLD) all the while with COVID hanging over the world, deserves to be commended. All cinema lovers salute M Night Shyamalan.