Lady in the Water (2006)
Genre: Fantasy / Thriller
Duration: 110 minuten
Country:
United States
Directed by: M. Night Shyamalan
Stars: Paul Giamatti, Bryce Dallas Howard and Bob Balaban
IMDb score:
5,5 (108.077)
Releasedate: 20 July 2006
Lady in the Water plot
"Time is running out for a happy ending."
Unassuming apartment complex manager Cleveland Heep is shocked to find a nymph from a fairytale world in his building. It cannot return to its own world. Cleveland and the other residents of the building soon come to the conclusion that they too are part of a fairy tale. However, this fairy tale also has its evil figures, who do everything to prevent the nymph from returning to her own world ...
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Actors and actresses
Cleveland Heep
Story
Harry Farber
Mr. Dury
Anna Ran
Reggie
Mr. Leeds
Goatee Smoker
Young-Soon Choi
Vick Ran
Reviews & comments
ZAP!
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- 5556 messages
- 3676 votes
Fantasy/mystery with touches of horror and comedy, I'd say. Weird video, but I like it. Good roles by Giamatti, Howard, Balaban, but also Cheung, for example. the story came about after much fantasizing on the part of the director at bedtime stories for his child, if I remember correctly. The setting of the apartment complex works excellently.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Shadowed
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- 11562 messages
- 6807 votes
So.
With the exception of two first movies that weren't quite what the rest of Shyamalan's movies were, I think I'm now completely through his directing career. He has managed to make some good films, but this was again a bit of mediocrity for him. That remains a pity.
His very first thriller films were clearly more atmospheric while they managed to maintain a more humane tone. Shyamalan gradually continued to do that, but in this film that combination is less effective. Especially since this is not really a thriller film, but rather an imaginative film with both drama and comedy elements in between.
What Giamatti actually did in this movie is beyond me. As an actor is far too good for this, it even comes across as almost ungrateful. Howard's role clearly needs a little more attention. Giamatti is rather a side character in a film that puts him forward as a leading role. Unfortunately, Howard knows too little to do with the role. It all comes across as wooden and distant.
No bad effects, but a general look that cannot really disguise the lack of atmosphere in the film. I actually think this was supposed to be the answer for Shyamalan to the criticism his previous film received. Where the previous film could not include enough thriller, this one cannot include enough fantasy. Too bad, because the poster promises a very nice fairy tale.
I can't really call it bad. What is particularly striking about the film is that the camera work is a lot more appropriate this time and that the tone always remains consistent. The relationship between Giamatti and Howard ensures that the film always has enough gas to propel itself forward, but the film is also a sign (certainly at the time) for Shyamalan that time was catching up with him.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Fisico
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- 10039 messages
- 5398 votes
It remains a strange director, Shyamalan with whom I have a love-hate relationship. His ideas are pretty good, but they don't always come out (anymore). I'm probably not the only one with that idea.
Here I especially lacked atmosphere and power. Atmosphere, one of those characteristic styles of Shyamalan hardly comes into its own here. As always there is potential, but it doesn't get any further than that. I also read incoherent and vague here, well yes, I can imagine something with that.
I also didn't like the chemistry between Howard and Giamatti, and Giamatti seemed a bit lost. He can't even save the film. Shyamalan himself joins in as well, a little wider than a cameo this time. Bizarre films don't bother me, but be convincing, but unfortunately I didn't have that feeling.
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