“Glass” is a 19 year in the making sequal to both M. Night Shyamalan’s “Unbreakable” and “Split” the surprise hit from 2 years ago, unleashing “The Beast”, provided James McAvoy some awards buzz and officially reignited Shyamalan’s career (allowing him to put flops “The Last Airbender” and “After Earth” in the past, granted I liked both of those as well).
Bruce Willis reprised the role of David Dunn eager to search for McAvoy’s Kevin Wendel Crumb – the man with the multiple personality disorder who embodies 24 different people.
“Glass” picks-up just a few weeks after “Split” left-off. Dunn and Crumb’s worlds intersect,when they are taken to a Philadelphia psychiatric facility for evaluation. Dr. Ellie Staple (played by Sarah Paulson)is trying to convince these two; along with Samuel L. Jackson’s Elijah Price (a.k.a. “Mr. Glass”) they aren’t “superheroes” at all that they are simply normal humans with delusions of grandeur.
To say I was excited about this is an understatement easily top 5 most anticipated of 2019 for me. I loved the opening with the intro to David Dunn; James Mcavoy again is the main draw here as he transfers between multiple personalities with ease. Samuel L. Jackson once he becomes active is excellent.
I loved the color and the technique and how they did the psychiatric facility. The way they filmed this was spot on. The screen time among the three main characters is not shared equally. Halfway through you will wonder, as I did, why the film is titled “Glass” when we’ve barely spent any time with the brittle boned genius. But, in the end, it’s Willis who draws the short straw when it comes to screen time. Its clear Shyamalan’s intent was to create another showcase for McAvoy’s popular Beast character.
David doesn’t have much of an ark this time around he goes back and forth on the idea of him not being a superhero. Even though the intro shows him looking for Crumb with the assistance of his son playing his version of Alfred, which was great.
Elijah Price is a mute for the 1st 1hr or so but once he starts interacting with Crumb and trying to convince him to meet with the beast all of their scenes are spectacular.
One thing I didn’t get in regards to Crumb he has several very smart personalities and while they were in the room with the lights forcing them to transfer to a less hostel one, I kept wondering why one of them didn’t just cover their eyes somehow try to escape. It made for some great scenes but never the less.
I love the concept of the comic book story and how people should be embraced for their differences and how that expands. The most interesting storyline involves Casey (“The Girl the Beast Let Go” in “Split” – reprised by Anya Taylor-Joy) re-entering Crumb’s life.
I loved the deleted scenes that they used from “Unbreakable” it really added to the story. At 1st glace I though that was the best de-aging I’ve ever seen then I realized what they did.
In the end I wasn’t happy with what happened to David it felt rather anti climactic. The other twists I loved, it worked very M. Night Shyamalan way to do it.
PG-13 for violence including some bloody images, thematic elements, and language
REVIEW SCORE/B
