Jason Jennings

Starting with the not-so-good, I will concede that “Wide Awake” does sugarcoat, for lack of a better word, some complex questions about life and death. The movie also is a bit contrived in the suppositions of fifth-grader norms and maturity. And many perceive this film as too simple and brand it as vanilla. But the deficiencies of this effort from a young filmmaker are well-obscured by the resounding counterpoint of a cinematic confluence of talent —the acting (and casting), the story-writing, and production design are all amazing. In a word, this is a gentle film. So, some people may call it “boring”. I see it as sublime story-telling that touches on the experiences of grief, hope, mystery, laughter, and of course, love . To me, It’s beautifully simple yet powerful, with some truly stellar acting and one great Shyamalan signature twist ending. If “Sixth Sense” were a tasking run through a haunted forest, “Wide Awake” would be a stroll through enchanted gardens.