The Sixth Sense (1999)
This week on Born to Watch, the boys take on one of the most iconic psychological thrillers ever made in this The Sixth Sense 1999 Review. Released in the legendary movie year of 1999, M. Night Shyamalan's breakthrough film became a cultural phenomenon, launching a career, creating one of cinema's most famous twists, and leaving audiences speechless as they walked out of theatres around the world.
Whitey, G-Man and Damo dive deep into the movie that turned Haley Joel Osment into a household name and gave Bruce Willis one of the most memorable performances of his career. More than 25 years later, does The Sixth Sense still hold up? Does the twist remain effective in an era where spoilers dominate social media? And is this actually M. Night Shyamalan's best film?
The crew discuss their memories of first seeing the movie back in 1999, when audiences had the rare opportunity to experience a genuine cinematic surprise before the internet ruined it. They explore how The Sixth Sense became the second-highest-grossing film of the year, behind only Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, and why it remained one of the most talked-about movies of its generation.
Of course, the discussion turns to Bruce Willis and whether this represents the finest acting performance of his career. Known primarily as an action star through films like Die Hard, The Last Boy Scout and Armageddon, Willis took a very different path with Dr Malcolm Crowe. The boys examine how his understated performance anchors the film while allowing Haley Joel Osment to steal almost every scene he appears in.
Speaking of scene-stealers, there is plenty of love for Haley Joel Osment. The team revisits his incredible performance as Cole Sear and debates his ranking among the greatest child actors in movie history. From his emotional vulnerability to the maturity he brought to the role, it is easy to see why he received an Academy Award nomination at such a young age.
The conversation also shines a spotlight on Australia's own Toni Collette. Her heartbreaking performance as Cole's mother remains one of the emotional centres of the film, and the boys discuss whether she was unlucky not to walk away with Oscar gold. The famous car scene receives particular attention, with everyone agreeing it remains one of the most powerful emotional moments in modern cinema.
As always, Born to Watch goes beyond the movie itself. The crew look back at the incredible films released in 1999, discusses where The Sixth Sense sits among the all-time great thrillers, and compares it with other famous twist-ending films that followed in its wake. They also explore how Shyamalan's success with this movie may have created impossible expectations for every project that came afterwards.
Along the way, there are plenty of laughs, stories, random tangents, movie trivia and classic Born to Watch chaos. From airline horror stories to debates about movie awards, nothing is safe once the boys get rolling.
So does The Sixth Sense deserve its reputation as a modern classic? Is the twist still one of the greatest reveals in cinema history? And where does it rank among the best films of 1999?
There is only one way to find out.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION
- When did you first see The Sixth Sense?
- Did you figure out the twist before the ending?
- Is this M. Night Shyamalan's best movie?
- Where does Haley Joel Osment rank among the greatest child actors of all time?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion.
If you love movie reviews, nostalgia, classic cinema debates and a few completely unhinged tangents along the way, make sure you subscribe to Born to Watch wherever you get your podcasts.
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