Digest

This episode of "All the Right Movies" continues its exploration of M. Night Shyamalan's "The Sixth Sense", focusing on the performances of the main cast. The hosts discuss Bruce Willis's portrayal of Malcolm Crowe, highlighting his vulnerability and the challenges he faced during filming, including learning to write with his right hand to hide his lack of a wedding ring. They also praise Haley Joel Osment's performance as Cole Sear, emphasizing his ability to convey complex emotions and the emotional weight he carries throughout the film. The hosts compare Osment's performance to other notable child actors in film history, including Drew Barrymore in "E.T." and Danny Lloyd in "The Shining." The episode then delves into Tony Collette's performance as Lynn Sear, highlighting her portrayal of a mother struggling with grief and the challenges of raising a troubled child. The hosts discuss the film's production, including the casting process and the challenges faced by the actors, particularly Osment's experience with a particularly disturbing scene that was ultimately cut from the film. The episode concludes with a discussion of Shyamalan's writing and direction, acknowledging the film's reliance on the twist ending and its impact on the audience's perception of the film. The hosts also discuss the film's themes of grief, communication, and the supernatural, and how they are woven into the narrative. The hosts then debate whether twist movies depend too much on the twist ending, with some arguing that the twist is a key element that makes the film memorable, while others believe that it can overshadow the film's other strengths. They discuss the impact of the twist on rewatches and how it can affect the audience's perception of the film. The hosts also discuss the film's legacy and how it has influenced other filmmakers, particularly in the horror genre. They acknowledge that Shyamalan has struggled to replicate the success of "The Sixth Sense" and that his career has been defined by his reliance on twist endings. The episode concludes with a discussion of the film's overall impact and its place in cinematic history.

Outlines

00:00:00

Introduction

This Chapter introduces the podcast and its hosts, Luke and Matt, as they prepare to discuss M. Night Shyamalan's The Sixth Sense. They acknowledge the film's iconic status and its enduring popularity, while also teasing the episode's focus on spoilers and behind-the-scenes insights.

00:09:40

Opening Scene Analysis

This Chapter delves into the opening scene of The Sixth Sense, focusing on the character of Malcolm Crowe and his unresolved issues with his wife. The hosts discuss the importance of this scene in setting up the film's themes of grief and communication, and how it foreshadows the film's central twist. They also analyze the scene's use of horror tropes and its impact on the audience's perception of the film.

00:16:58

Malcolm and Cole's First Meeting

This Chapter examines the first meeting between Malcolm Crowe and Cole Sear, the troubled schoolboy at the heart of the film. The hosts discuss the scene's effectiveness in establishing the mystery surrounding Cole and his ability to see dead people. They also highlight the scene's use of location shooting in Philadelphia and its contribution to the film's overall atmosphere.

00:22:11

Cole's Miserable Existence

This Chapter explores the challenges faced by Cole Sear, highlighting his isolation and the difficulties he experiences at school. The hosts discuss the scene's effectiveness in conveying Cole's emotional state and how it foreshadows the film's central twist. They also analyze the scene's use of subtle visual cues and its contribution to the film's overall suspense.

00:25:26

M. Night Shyamalan's Direction

This Chapter focuses on M. Night Shyamalan's direction of The Sixth Sense, praising his ability to guide the performances of his cast and create a cohesive and suspenseful film. The hosts discuss Shyamalan's confidence as a director, his ability to work with challenging actors like Bruce Willis, and his commitment to creating a believable and emotionally resonant world.

00:30:03

The Film's Limitations

This Chapter examines the limitations of The Sixth Sense, acknowledging its reliance on supernatural elements and its tendency to rely on jump scares. The hosts discuss the film's effectiveness as a family drama about grief and communication, but also question its reliance on a twist ending and its lack of clear rules for the supernatural world.

00:36:33

Audience Question and Discussion

This Chapter features a question from a listener about the impact of The Sixth Sense on their viewing experience. The hosts discuss the feeling of being altered by a film and how it can lead to a desire to rewatch it immediately. They share their own experiences with films that have had this effect on them, including The Dark Knight, The Social Network, Badlands, Memento, Fight Club, Seven, The Usual Suspects, The Father, Mad Max: Fury Road, The Blair Witch Project, and Zodiac.

00:46:52

Bruce Willis's Performance

This Chapter delves into Bruce Willis's performance as Malcolm Crowe, highlighting his vulnerability and the challenges he faced during filming, including learning to write with his right hand to hide his lack of a wedding ring. The hosts discuss Willis's ability to convey complex emotions and his dedication to the role. They also share anecdotes about Willis's personality and his interactions with other cast members, including Kevin Smith's stories about his behavior on the set of "Cop Out".

00:49:01

Haley Joel Osment's Performance

This Chapter focuses on Haley Joel Osment's performance as Cole Sear, emphasizing his ability to convey complex emotions and the emotional weight he carries throughout the film. The hosts discuss the challenges of casting a child actor in such a demanding role and how Osment's performance exceeded expectations. They compare Osment's performance to other notable child actors in film history, including Drew Barrymore in "E.T." and Danny Lloyd in "The Shining." They also discuss the casting process and the challenges faced by Osment, particularly his experience with a particularly disturbing scene that was ultimately cut from the film.

00:57:53

Tony Collette's Performance

This Chapter highlights Tony Collette's performance as Lynn Sear, emphasizing her portrayal of a mother struggling with grief and the challenges of raising a troubled child. The hosts discuss Collette's ability to convey complex emotions and her dedication to the role. They also discuss the casting process and the challenges faced by Collette, including her initial reservations about playing a mother figure.

01:04:15

The Second Act

This Chapter summarizes the second act of the film, highlighting the deepening of Malcolm's problems at home and his blossoming relationship with Cole. The hosts discuss the film's iconic imagery and the emotional impact of Cole's struggles at school and his confession to Malcolm in the hospital.

01:19:44

M. Night Shyamalan's Writing and Direction

This Chapter delves into M. Night Shyamalan's writing and direction, acknowledging the film's reliance on the twist ending and its impact on the audience's perception of the film. The hosts discuss the film's themes of grief, communication, and the supernatural, and how they are woven into the narrative. They also discuss the film's production, including the casting process and the challenges faced by the actors, particularly Osment's experience with a particularly disturbing scene that was ultimately cut from the film.

01:38:52

The Third Act

This Chapter summarizes the third act of the film, highlighting Malcolm's journey towards belief and resolution as he listens back to the Vincent Gray tapes. The hosts discuss the film's iconic imagery and the emotional impact of Cole's struggles at school and his confession to Malcolm in the hospital.

01:46:09

Analyzing the Third Act

This Chapter delves into the third act of the film, focusing on the emotional impact of Cole's resolution and the final scene between Cole and his mother. The hosts discuss the film's use of understatement and the effectiveness of the close-up shots in conveying the characters' emotions. They also praise Tony Collette's performance in the car scene, highlighting her ability to convey a range of emotions in a short amount of time. The hosts also discuss the film's themes of grief, communication, and the supernatural, and how they are woven into the narrative.

01:54:42

Twist Endings in Film

This Chapter delves into the debate about whether twist movies depend too much on the twist ending. The hosts discuss the difference between a twist that fits in with the narrative and a twist that feels like a cheap trick. They also discuss the impact of twist endings on rewatches and how they can affect the audience's perception of the film. The hosts share their own opinions on the twist ending in "The Sixth Sense" and how it affects their overall enjoyment of the film.

01:58:37

The Sixth Sense's Success

This Chapter discusses the success of "The Sixth Sense" at the box office and its critical reception. The hosts discuss how the film was initially overlooked by critics and how it became a sleeper hit. They also discuss the film's legacy and how it has influenced other filmmakers, particularly in the horror genre. The hosts acknowledge that Shyamalan has struggled to replicate the success of "The Sixth Sense" and that his career has been defined by his reliance on twist endings.

02:07:04

All the Right Movies Ranking

This Chapter concludes the episode with the hosts sharing their final thoughts on "The Sixth Sense" and giving it a score on the "All the Right Movies" ranking. They discuss the film's strengths and weaknesses, and how it compares to other films they have discussed on the show. The hosts also share the scores given by their listeners on social media, and they discuss the film's overall impact and its place in cinematic history.

Keywords

Q&A

• What are the main themes explored in "The Sixth Sense"?

  The film explores themes of grief, communication, and the supernatural. The characters are all dealing with loss and trauma, and they struggle to communicate their feelings to each other. The film also explores the nature of the supernatural and the possibility of life after death.

• How does the twist ending affect the audience's perception of the film?

  The twist ending changes the audience's understanding of the events that have transpired and the characters' motivations. It also raises questions about the nature of reality and the possibility of life after death. The twist ending has been widely praised and debated, and it has become one of the most iconic twist endings in cinematic history.

• What is the legacy of "The Sixth Sense"?

  The film has had a significant impact on the horror genre and on the use of twist endings in film. It has also inspired other filmmakers to explore themes of grief, communication, and the supernatural. The film's success has also had a mixed impact on M. Night Shyamalan's career, as he has struggled to replicate the success of "The Sixth Sense" and his career has been defined by his reliance on twist endings.

• Do twist movies depend too much on the twist ending?

  The hosts debate this question, with some arguing that the twist is a key element that makes the film memorable, while others believe that it can overshadow the film's other strengths. They discuss the impact of the twist on rewatches and how it can affect the audience's perception of the film.

• What are the strengths and weaknesses of "The Sixth Sense"?

  The film's strengths include its strong performances, its effective use of suspense and psychological elements, and its exploration of complex themes. However, some critics argue that the film relies too heavily on the twist ending and that it lacks a clear sense of logic and consistency in its depiction of the supernatural.

Show Notes