In the wake of “The Sixth Sense”, American director M. Night Shyamalan once again takes Bruce Willis into the realm of fantasy and psychology. At the crossroads of these two paths, the garment is illustrated here by its symbolism: it reveals the identity of its wearer, even if it means stealing the spotlight from the big stars of the film. Decryption.
(Cover photo credit: Bruce Willis in “Unbreakable”, 2000 - IMAGO / Everett Collection)
THE PITCH: FANTASY, PSYCHOLOGY AND COMIC BOOKS
Philadelphia, early 2000s. David Dunn is a security guard. He leads an ordinary life with his wife and son. However, something is clearly eating away at him from the inside: a strange sadness mixed with loneliness and identity confusion.
Who is he ? And how is it that he is the only survivor of a terrible train accident that occurred on the New York-Philadelphia route? This is what a strange man nicknamed “the Glass Man”, passionate about comic books and superheroes, intends to discover...
“Unbreakable” is one of M. Night Shyamalan's best films, and some even consider it one of the most exciting films about the world of superheroes.
Accustomed to the fantasy universe, the American director reunites here with actor Bruce Willis: as in “Sixth Sense”, we discover new facets of acting, more dense and psychological. Also in the cast: Samuel L. Jackson, Robin Wright and Spencer Treat Clark.
FOR OR AGAINST THE SUPERHERO STYLE IN CINEMA?
You know: for several years now, superhero films have monopolized the highest places at the box office. This is not without consequences, whether positive or negative, in particular on the relationship that we can now have with the 7th Art. But in this very codified register, as in any other genre, there are good and bad films.
At our level, we must admit that this greatly changes our perception of cinema costumes. They are in fact more technical, even downright technological. While they leave room for the most futuristic imagination, they are also less likely to inspire our daily outfits . However, the subject is far from being devoid of interest and technical clothing could even become a vital issue for the future. In Reel, we have already looked at Spider-Man here:
Whether it's superhero movies or costumes, the advent of the genre in cinema is one of the debates of our time, and you certainly have your own opinion on the subject. By the way: tell us , because it interests us particularly!
Of course, “Unbreakable” is not a Marvel-style epic adventure. It is a more interior film: it is interested in the origin of superheroes, and even more in the quest for identity of its characters. As you will see, this search for identity passes and is also explained by style .
To go further, break preconceived ideas and understand a little better the origin and meaning of superheroes, you can take a look at the very enlightening book by historian William Blanc: “Superheroes, a political history ".
WHAT YOU NEED TO SEE IN STYLE…
Is Bruce Willis in your personal pantheon of cinema style ? If it's not the first name that commonly comes to mind, we still find interesting ideas and outfits in his career. In “Unbreakable,” it’s not so much the form that matters as what his wardrobe says about his character.
We first discover him in a suit and tie. The formal style is not his thing and it shows: the tie is very nonchalantly tied, the cut is not the best and the combination of dark and yellowed ecru does not make you dream.
Everything suggests that he has just taken his only suit out of the closet and that it is not from yesterday. For the rest, his everyday wardrobe is relatively common and functional.
So yes, David Dunn lacks panache , freshness and even joie de vivre. But he searches for himself and tries to understand who he is. It is precisely this quest that the film shows. On the clothing side, this results in very obvious contrasts (cuts, colors, style) once the character of Samuel L. Jackson comes into play. One does not seem to exist without the other.
You will therefore probably have difficulty seeing anything other than the wardrobe of these two characters who are both opposed and united at the same time. But if you look more closely, you will still find floral shirts or a nice trucker-style leather jacket at Robin Wright.
The costumes are by Joanna Johnston. She worked a lot with Steven Spielberg but also with Robert Zemeckis. The Adventures of Marty McFly for example, that’s her. In short, three good reasons to see “Unbreakable” again through clothing?
1. SCOPE AND FIT, TWO COMPLEMENTARY WORLDS
In a caricatured way, we could present the two main characters of “Unbreakable” as two extremes who attract and repel each other at the same time. The parallel with their clothing style is interesting in more than one way.
On one side, David Dunn played by Bruce Willis: a man in distress, who mainly wears loose, casual and very ordinary clothes: jeans, t-shirts, shirts and workwear-inspired jackets .
The cap is his default style accessory. There is nothing that really stands out or that would suggest that this man has an appetite for style or particular powers.
On the other Elijah Price, the character played by Samuel L. Jackson. Despite his fragile physical condition, he demonstrates a singular confidence. His clothes are both more tailored and stylish than those of his on-screen partner: turtleneck sweaters, a long coat and leather gloves, stronger colors .
Her outfits alone have something fantastic about them. Has his diligent reading of comic books influenced his way of dressing? Possible.
In everyday life, we are sometimes tempted to contrast fitted outfits with looser outfits . Like the characters in “Unbreakable”, we can see two different visions of the world.
Except that in practice, we can switch from one to the other as we wish, as long as we choose our clothes in the size that suits us best.
Unless it is a matter of will, there is no competition between the two. These are two complementary approaches , which can also meet specific needs . For example, fullness has its place in summer, regardless of questions of style. If the latter scares you, Jordan invites you to try it here:
For the style and thrill of the poncho, however, you can go to brands like Norwegian Rain. In the meantime, admit that it changes you a lot and that Bruce Willis suddenly goes from “annoying” to “intriguing” status. Does this mean that it’s the poncho that makes the superhero ?
This is the magic of this piece: it is both the source and the end of the mystery. If you're interested in the secrets of waterproofing , it's here . And if you are ever like Bruce Willis looking for clothing that will keep you dry while enhancing your style , a suggestion here or more generally here:
3. NEW PROOF OF THE SUPER POWERS OF CLOTHING
Of course, some additional answers are missing on the major role of Bruce Willis' poncho . But out of respect for those who have not yet seen the film, we will not reveal all the keys to “Unbreakable” here. On the other hand, we can once again emphasize the power of clothing and its meaning in cinema .
Yes, Bruce Willis wears the cap and the hood at the same time . But another detail should definitely intrigue you: his poncho actually changes throughout the film. There are in fact several versions, from the shortest to the longest.
This poncho has the particularity of lengthening as its wearer's powers are revealed. How is it possible ? If you still don't believe in the superpowers of clothing, some explanations here:
… TO CREATE INSPIRING OUTFITS
The clothing contrasts between the characters of Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson are obvious. But their differences are no less inspiring, in their own way. Look for example at the two outfits in the photograph below. We only see them partially but we can guess quite well the stylistic path traveled :
On the left, Bruce Willis displays a decidedly casual look with workwear accents. We can see bleach jeans, a red t-shirt, perhaps a checkered shirt and a sort of honey-mustard-colored work jacket . Minimal risk taking.
On the right, Samuel L. Jackson demonstrates more daring and originality . Is this a new master of color ? In any case, you need a certain amount of confidence to dare to wear purple shades, especially with a suit.
If you haven't yet tried this nuanced technique of monochrome , David gives you some advice here . As for purple, superhero or not, who among you feels ready to try the adventure?
