Justin and I saw Split on January 21, 2017! Normally, January isn't known for having solid movies, but every now and then you get one that delivers. Split fits right into that category. It's a movie that definitely has many layers, which is apropos for the title of the movie. It's a thriller that keeps you thinking. You are immersed in the story and characters on screen. Split will make you feel many emotions while watching it, which is the intention of the movie. M/ Night Shyamalan is a director that always keeps the audience in mind. He always tries to connect them to the story. The story revolves around DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder) & what human beings are capable of-whether it's good or bad.
James McAvoy is one of the best actors in the industry. I've been a fan of his work for at least a decade. His performance here is absolutely amazing! His ability to switch between the personas he has is intriguing to watch. It also shows how incredible of an actor McAvoy is to delve into something so complex and succeed with flying colors. Whether he's playing Dennis, Barry, Hedwig, Ms. Patricia, etc, each personality has a memorable scene or storyline that pulls the audience in. McAvoy's talent really sold the physical and mental manifestations of the split between who you are and what you can become. I think this will end up being one of the best male performances of 2017. The therapy sessions were phenomenal scenes-great dialogue scenes explaining his issues and how he is trying to protect himself at the same time.
Another part of this movie that deserves praise is Anya Taylor-Joy's Casey Cook. ATJ is a bright, young talent with a tremendous future. She knows how to act, sell expression, & obviously looks great. She has "it" and I think her work here proves she is a break out star. This will be the role that helps launch her further. She does so well here selling fear, intelligence, & survival (which actually connects really well to the title as she is split in her own way as we watch her story). ATJ's interactions with McAvoy show an actress that knows what she's doing on screen. The close-up of her eyes in several scenes show how much raw talent she has. I love Casey's scenes with Hedwig. They portray Casey as the adult caring for the child, while also showing she is trying to think one step ahead of the looming Beast. At the same time, both Casey & McAvoy's personas kind of share a kindred spirit to me. They both know they're different in some way, which is why I think Hedwig and some of the other personas open up to her on occasion. While McAvoy commands the screen, ATJ helps anchor it to really sell the emotional layers of the movie. She was incredible in a physical way as her action scenes were some of the most memorable moments of the movie as well as an emotional way dealing with McAvoy's personas.
ATJ's character of Casey is important to show that all of us are split in some way, but while it might hinder us and bring us down, we can persevere, fight back, and embrace our differences knowing it's not necessarily our fault. We all have our own beast inside of us. It's how we deal with it that helps to define us. I think that message was sent through multiple ways here. Casey was able to find a way to deal with the Beast as she's been dealing with the Beast most of her life. It's conveyed so well in a physical and emotional way. McAvoy is trying to bring forth, but hold back the Beast, while Casey is trying to quell the Beast she grew up with and the Beast inside her.
This movie definitely deserves a 5/5 for two excellent performances by James McAvoy and Anya Taylor-Joy, the complexity of the plot, the directing that took us right into the mind of our main characters, the music, & proof that January can produce great movies! I'd like to also point out it was great to see Jessica Sula from Skins in this movie!
