Glass

Here's the thing about superhero movies nowadays: They require a lot of glamour, beauty, and shenanigans with just the right amount of cynicism, hope, and nostalgia sprinkled on top in order to be successful.

M. Night Shyamalan's "Glass" avoids most of those completely. And I loved every second of it.

Critics all over are complaining about an anti-climactic conclusion to a phenomenal buildup 20 years in the making. They bemoan the lead characters' lack of flash. They undermine the supporting characters.

And I will tell you that I think it all worked brilliantly.

We should all be used to Shyamalan's process by now. Imaginative worlds with unexplainable phenomena. A handful of characters who are compelling and gripping, a handful of others who are stale and tiresome. Plot twists that are mind-blowing or infuriating.

"Glass" fell short of being a perfect movie for me only because of a couple sound-editing issues and a slight over-reliance on Hedwig.

As the third installment of the "Unbreakable" and "Split" trilogy, "Glass" had some lofty expectations to attain. "Unbreakable" was a methodical trek through David Dunn (Bruce Willis) discovering his powers of strength and a unique version of extra-sensory perception, and discovering the psychopathy of mastermind Elijah "Mr. Glass" Price (Samuel L. Jackson). "Split" took us through the many forms of Kevin Crumb (James McAvoy), a man who's traumatic experience as a child led to his development of dissociative identity disorder (DID), thus creating 24 different personalities known as The Horde. When Dunn appeared in the final scene, we knew the two universes were one. "Glass" brings both storylines to a head, with Mr. Glass acting as the evil genius manipulating his powerful sidekick and provoking the reticent hero.

Willis and Jackson fulfill their roles expertly, but McAvoy's portrayal of The Horde again steals the show. His transitions between personalities are realistically scattered and uneven, and when each individual comes to the light, he is perfect. You instantly know whether you are watching Patricia, Dennis, Barry, or Hedwig, as those are the most prevalent identities. Voice, tone, and mannerisms all sync up automatically, and it's mesmerizing. It's a wonder McAvoy wasn't nominated for an Oscar when he originally played the role.

Hedwig is the goofy, lovable, and appropriately awkward 9-year old identity whose obsession with Kanye West and Drake, dancing, and pleasing the adults in his life make him a crowd favorite. Especially the way he says "Et cetera," including his lisp in pronunciation and the regular misuse of it. While his presence is usually met with giddy anticipation, I felt he overstayed his welcome a couple times. The identity of Dennis led the way in "Split" but definitely took a backseat in "Glass", and the character may have suffered a little for it.

My favorite part of the film was the appearance of M. Night Shyamalan himself. He makes it a point to play a role in each of his movies, and this film was no different. The slight caveat this time is that he made sure to play a consistent character in the universe. He appears as a drug dealer at a stadium in "Unbreakable," then as a tech guy in "Split," making no verbal connection between the two characters. His appearance in "Glass" cements his place, and while it is a quick, non-essential plot point, it is that kind of detail that I find brilliant and worth the trouble. (Along those same lines, Spencer Treat Clark plays Joseph Dunn, David Dunn's son, in both "Unbreakable" and in "Glass," which is incredibly rare for a young actor to reprise an identical role 19 years later. Another detail that is just terrific film-making.)

It is very possible to nitpick certain plot points and to come away less-than-stoked about the ending. But I did not. I walked out of the theater completely satisfied, wishing for it not to end. It was engaging and entertaining start to finish, and that's usually all I ask for when I watch a movie.

Rating: 9.5/10