by Susan Sackett
Signs (starring Mel Gibson, Joaquin Phoenix, Rory Culkin, Abigail
Breslin; written, co-produced and directed by M. Night Shyamalan; Rated PG-13)
The mystery of crop circles, those geometric patterns that appear with ever increasing
complexity in wheat and corn fields, has pretty much been exposed. Two lads from
Britain — where the circles first began showing up a few decades back – confessed
to making the designs by flattening the crops with boards and ropes. They even
demonstrated it for the media. Soon imitators all across the globe took up the
project. (These are people with way too much time on their hands.)
Even with this hoax having been debunked, the phenomenon has its determined
adherents who refuse to give up their belief in the face of overwhelming evidence.
So it was inevitable that a film about these “mysterious” occurrences would
be made. And who better than M. Night Shyamalan, the director noted for his
plot twists and surprise endings in his films The Sixth Sense
and Unbreakable. Mel Gibson plays Graham Hess,
an ex-priest or ex-minister – it is never made clear why he is called “Father”
and yet has two kids. His wife died in a car accident a while back, and so
he decided to give up his belief in God. But not really. He’s just pissed
at the Deity for being so unfair, so he’s determined to ignore him. This is
a major plot point in this otherwise excellent thriller. Will Gibson/Hess regain
his “lost” faith? Who cares? (Yes, kids, he will – no spoiler here!)
If you can get past the hokey set-up and preachiness about there being no such
thing as coincidence, this movie can be a lot of fun. I was literally on the
edge of my seat several times during some tense scenes.
The aliens responsible for the crop circles are (fortunately) kept from our
view until near the film’s end, and it’s very effective. When we do see them,
they’re a bit Grinch-looking while still menacing enough to give us a good scare.
And that’s what this film is all about, or should be, anyway. Mel
Gibson is effective as the central character, and Joaquin Phoenix as his kid
brother, playing a good guy for a change, is particularly fun to watch – especially
when he’s interacting with the children. Shyamalan keeps the tension high,
and if you ignore the holes in the plot and try not to think too much (you can
do it, Mensans!), you’ll have an entertaining time.