Movie Review: THE WEATHER MAN

THE WEATHER MAN

2005

R

"Hello, America."
-- Dave Spritz

The Weather Man is a 2005 dramatic comedy directed by Gore Verbinski. It tells the story of a TV weatherman named Dave Spritz (Nicolas Cage) who is desperately attempting to land a job on the nationally-syndicated show Hello, America. Recently separated - and possibly divorced? - from his wife Noreen (Hope Davis), Dave has a slew of issues that are keeping him from both pursuing his dream as well as being happy as an individual. He is constantly working to impress his father Robert (Michael Caine), an accomplished and awarded author who develops a rapidly-spreading case of lymphoma, leaving Dave little time to gain his ultimate approval. At the same time, he must handle the troubles of his son Mike (Nicholas Hoult) and his daughter Shelly (Gemmenne de la Peña), who are both struggling to find happiness in their own lives. As his world starts to spiral out of control, Dave tries to keep everything together as Hello, America comes knocking at his door.

Since this film was released in 2005, I've always been drawn to watching it. Whenever there proved to be a time, however, I usually dismissed it and chose something that seemed a tad bit more entertaining. Fortunately for the film, I have finally taken the time to sit down and give it a view; unfortunately, I cannot say that all my waiting was worth it.

I'm going to start with the acting because that's where I have the least issue. I know that there are plenty of people out there who are adamantly against Nicolas Cage as an actor, but I do think that he has quite the performing ability when given a proper script and character. One need only look toward films like 2002's Adaptation. or 2005's Lord of War, where he was able to bring forth fantastic performances. Sure, in recent years, he's delved into some questionable roles, but my opinions and views of Cage are not for this time or this post. Rather, I would like to say that he's serviceable here in The Weather Man, but I think he could have brought a little bit more to the screen. Our supporting cast works well, with special mention going to ever-splendid Caine and to the young Gemmenne de la Peña, who proved to be one of the better actors on-screen. Davis and Hoult are okay, but they're not really bringing much. Also be on the watch for a relatively funny cameo from Bryant Gumbel as the host of Hello, America.

No, the issue with The Weather Man isn't the acting; it's the screenplay. The films is billed as a dramatic comedy, which generally fashions some interesting films. Some recent examples of splendid dramatic comedies include the 2011 films Beginners and The Descendants. Where those films - as well as other films in the genre - succeed is in their script and their tone, which is ultimately dictated by the screenplay. The storyline in The Weather Man proves to be just a little too muddled for the audience's attention. There's so many things happening all at once that it's a tad bit difficult to maintain one's focus on one facet of the storyline. Should we care about Dave's job aspirations? Or his attempts to appease his father? Or perhaps we should focus on his failing marriage? There are ways to blend all of these things together, but The Weather Man doesn't find a way to do just that.

One of the biggest problems, however, is the issue of one. As the genre dictates, a dramatic comedy will have ample doses of both drama and comedy. Successful films will find a way to blend the two together in such a manner that keeps the storyline flowing seamlessly. We'll be able to laugh at the dramatic moments, and we'll feel emotion at the comedic bits. That's the sign of a great dramatic comedy. The Weather Man, however, feels a little bit jumpy, almost as though it can't quite figure out which type of film it wants to be. One moment, we're watching a drama. The next, we're delving into drama. And we go back and forth and back and forth, never quite getting that wonderful blend that we so desire. Instead, we're getting a choppy look at a man's life that's filled with dry humor, but it doesn't flow continuously. The film just has a strange feel to it.

At the end of the day, The Weather Man is a serviceable film that doesn't really burst off the screen. I had high hopes for the flick, but I do have to say that it underwhelmed. Still, we're getting a solid performance from Nic Cage, and the movie does have its moments. Just don't expect it to blow you away or anything.

Movie Review Summary

Grade: C

Should You Watch It? Maybe

Movie Review: SEEKING JUSTICE

SEEKING JUSTICE

2012
R


"I represent an organization that loves this city, and we're tired of watching it go to hell."
-- Simon

Seeking Justice is a 2012 action thriller directed by Roger Donaldson that centers around a story of drama and misdirection in New Orleans. On her way home from her orchestra's practice, the young Laura Gerard (January Jones) is viciously attacked and raped by an unknown man. She is rushed to the hospital where her husband Will (Nicolas Cage) soon joins her by her side. As he reels from the situation, he is approached by a mysterious man named Simon (Guy Pearce) who tells him that he and his organization can "take care of" the man who assaulted Laura, and in return, Will would only owe the organization a small favor somewhere down the road. Will reluctantly agrees and soon learns that the man has been killed. While Laura recovers from her injuries, Will is approached by the organization with the assignment to murder an alleged child pornographer. He goes along with the plan but chickens out at the last minute; however, the man he had followed still manages to die. In the aftermath, Will is held accountable for the man's death, but he soon learns that the recently deceased was actually an investigative reporter who had been trying to expose the organization for its real identity. This spurs Will onto a wild goose chase as he tries to fight against the men who have been ordering him throughout the film.

I can honestly say I knew nothing of this film as I entered the theater. My mother had mentioned to me that she had seen a trailer for the film and that it looked intriguing, so I agreed to accompany her to the theater. Sometimes, going into a film blind is the best way to experience a new motion picture because you cannot go in with any predisposed notions about the trailer, the cast or the crew. That being said, I do have to say that I was pleasantly surprised with the effort that Seeking Justice puts forth.

The screenplay doesn't necessarily offer anything terribly new, but it does enough to hook the viewer into the storyline and keep them engaged and guessing until the film's final moments. It throws a few twists and turns that I wasn't really expecting, and for that, I have to applaud its effort. It's difficult to bring something completely original to the table in today's cinematic landscape, and although we've seen all these pieces before, I felt as though the screenwriters succeeded in placing them in a different sequence than is the norm for an action thriller. The film's pacing is a little bit scattered. At times, it seems very fast-paced, but at other times, it seems to drag on and on, and you start to check your watch in wonder of how much longer it might take to reach the end credits. If there's any knock against the screenplay, it's the story's pacing, but I realize a lot of that may have to do with the direction than with the screenplay.

The acting is serviceable, but it's really nothing to cheer. Cage offers a better performance than is his standard fare in the past few years, but with how bad he's been recently, that's really not saying much. Still, his character is only laughable once or twice throughout the course of the film, so that's a step in the right direction, I suppose. Jones offers a decent performance as well, but I personally thought her character was a tad bit under-utilized. I thought a little more depth could've been added to Laura Gerard throughout the film, but for what she's given, Jones does well. If anyone steals the show, it's Pearce, whose villain is equal parts intelligent and deranged. It seems in today's cinematic society that many of the antagonistic characters seem to have a warped sense of reality and justice, and Pearce's character fits that mold quite well. Fortunately, he fills the character's shoes and runs with the insanity, and it makes for quite the performance.

I'm sure there won't be a ton of people rushing to their local theater to see Seeking Justice, and I can't necessarily recommend it wholeheartedly. Still, if you have a passing moment, it might be worth the watch. It offers mindless entertainment, and although it's an ultimately forgettable film, I don't think you'll really come out of it all that disappointed. It's better than the rest of the critics are giving it credit, so if you can begin to believe this critic, then you just might enjoy this one.

Movie Review Summary
Grade: C
1 Thumb Up

Happy Birthday, Nicolas Cage!

Today we're celebrating the 48th birthday of Academy Award-winning actor, Nicolas Cage. He made his feature film debut in 1982's Fast Times at Ridgemont High, but he soon began to appear in more and more films in larger roles. He gained larger acclaim after appearances in the 1987 films Raising Arizona and Moonstruck. Cage worked frequently through 1996, when he won his first - and to date, sole - Oscar for his performance in Leaving Las Vegas. He managed to nab another Oscar nomination for his leading role in 2002's Adaptation. Since then, Cage has had a spot of financial trouble, and it has affected the films he's chosen in which to star. He has quickly become the butt of many a Hollywood joke, but at his roots, Cage is a talented actor who happens to be a victim of circumstance. So, for his birthday, I've listed my five favorite of Cage's performances. I hope you enjoy the videos. Once again, happy birthday Nic Cage!

5. Roy Waller
Matchstick Men (2003)


*****

4. Sergeant Joe Enders
Windtalkers (2002)


*****

3. Yuri Orlov
Lord of War (2005)


*****

2. Damon McReady / Big Daddy
Kick-Ass (2010)


*****

1. Charlie Kaufman / Donald Kaufman
Adaptation. (2002)

Movie Review: DRIVE ANGRY 3D

DRIVE ANGRY 3D

2011
R

Drive Angry 3D is a 2011 action film directed by Patrick Lussier. When Milton (Nicolas Cage) learns of his daughter's murder and granddaughter's kidnapping, he sets out to exact revenge on the man responsible for the heinous act: Satanic magic cult leader Jonah King (Billy Burke). Early in his journey, he meets a young woman named Piper (Amber Heard) whom he befriends and takes on his quest for vengeance. As the two continue to track King, Piper begins to question who Milton really is. A series of violent encounters that result in the deaths of many cause her a great amount of concern, but she ultimately chooses to stand by Milton for as long as it takes to retrieve his infant granddaughter. At the same time, however, a mysterious man known only as the Accountant (William Fichtner) continues to stalk Milton, growing ever closer as the film progresses towards its conclusion.

When I first heard about this movie, I had the automatic - and now seemingly standard - reaction that many an individual has for a Nicolas Cage venture. Because of his slew of financial troubles over the past few years, Cage has elected to sign onto any film that will give him a chance, and it almost begs one to wonder whether he actually reads scripts anymore. Still, I was bored enough to give this one a gander today, but I'll tell you know: I honestly wish I could have those two hours of my life back.

To be fair to the actors, they're not really given much to work with. Even for a movie that begs the audience to abandon any sense of logic or reason, Drive Angry is just a little too over-the-top. I get that the filmmakers were going for the whole "grindhouse" '70s flick feel, but I just couldn't get into it at all (and I'm a huge fan of grindhouse-style features). The plot was pretty predictable and the dialogue was a tad bit stale, but not atrocious. I think the fact that it was easy to understand exactly where everything was going took a little bit of the mystery away from any of the twists and turns, if you even want to call them that.

The acting wasn't much better, with Cage headlining a cast that essentially mails in their collective performances. When Amber Heard is the best actor on-screen, there's something wrong (and I mean no disrespect to Miss Heard, who actually did relatively well with her role). Cage gives us another stinker of a performance, as has become the norm of the past few years. It's truly heart-breaking to see the levels to which this Oscar-winner has stooped, to the point where it's almost painful to keep making fun of him. I know that there's a good actor locked somewhere inside that front he puts up every day, but aside from his supporting role in 2010's Kick-Ass, he hasn't been relevant as an acting force since 2005's Lord of War. Fichtner has a couple of decent moments, but he doesn't get enough screen-time to be considered a scene-stealer. If anyone has to take the loss here, it's definitely Burke, whose performance was the epitome of chewing the scenery.

Ultimately, the real selling point of this film as a failure is the fact that it couldn't keep my interest. The action scenes weren't all that compelling, and when you can't get any excitement out of an action-based flick, you're going to lose your audience. The CGI and the 3D are rudimentary compared to some of the other visual effects we've seen in 2011, so that's just another knock against the film as a whole. Overall, I'd say it's probably not worth your time to give this one a viewing. I know that Nic Cage has some real acting chops buried deep inside him somewhere, but Drive Angry 3D is not the film that brings them back to the surface.

Movie Review Summary:

Grade: D1.5 Thumbs Down

Movie Review: THE ROCK

THE ROCK

1996
R

The Rock is a 1996 action film directed by Michael Bay. The film follows the terrorist plot of General Francis Hummel (Ed Harris) who goes to extreme lengths in order to force the government into compensating the families of soldiers killed during secret black ops missions. He and his team of similarly disgruntled Marines take hostages on the island of Alcatraz in San Francisco, setting up base inside the famed prison. They soon inform the government of their demands: a sum of $100 million dollars that will partially serve as reparations for the aforementioned families. If the money is not delivered, the Marines will launch four missiles containing a highly toxic chemical into the heart of the city, an attack that could cost hundreds of thousands, if not millions of lives. In an act of desperation, the government quickly calls leading FBI chemical biologist Dr. Stanley Goodspeed (Nicolas Cage) to help defuse the weapons. However, when issues arise concerning the prison's layout, FBI Director James Womack (John Spencer) reluctantly agrees to call upon a man named John Mason (Sean Connery), the only man ever to escape Alcatraz prison. After crafting a deal that would allow Mason to go free after helping with the operation, both he and Goodspeed head into the prison with a group of Navy SEALS to help stop the Marines' plot.

Although the plot we're given is a little bit on the straightforward and simplistic side, it never fails to turn even the slightest bit boring. Michael Bay has long been considered one of the lesser directors on the Hollywood scene, bringing more style than substance to any of his films. However, The Rock does serve as a bit of an exception, in my opinion. The screenplay is rather well-written, not taking it self too seriously but never really delving into anything too silly and rote. In a way, it lets the action do the talking rather than being mired in strange twists of logic or anything of the like. It's straightforward in that we have a man with a warped sense of justice who is out to kill innocent lives battling against men who will do anything to stop him. It's good versus evil, end of story. Although, you can easily argue that our "bad guy" really isn't all that bad, but you'll have to watch the movie to see exactly what I mean.

I think the casting is also top-notch. We get an all-star cast with the likes of Oscar winners Connery and Cage and Oscar nominee Harris. Those three alone make this movie worth watching. Yes, Nicolas Cage does know how to act, and this film serves as evidence. I know he's been mired in a lot of drivel in the past few years, but once upon a time, he was an Oscar winner, so you better believe he's got some sort of talent. Connery is simply Sean Connery, almost playing off himself and his career bravado (in fact, we even get a quip about how John Mason's training came from British Intelligence - clever clever, Mr. Bond). Harris does well as a conflicted man; we're never truly sure if he's completely prepared to do what he's planned to do. We also get some good performances from the likes of John Spencer, David Morse, William Forsythe, Michael Biehn and John C. McGinley.

To be honest, the only real issue I had with the film was the musical score, which was composed in a collaboration between Hans Zimmer, Nick Glennie-Smith and Harry Gregson-Williams. Now don't get me wrong - the music composed for the film is actually very, very good and it fits the piece well. However, it does steal a little too directly from a previous film's score. That film, 1991's Backdraft, was also composed by Zimmer, so we can see where the parallels may have come from. The only problem was that whenever I heard the bit that sounded like the Backdraft score, I was immediately transported back to that film. That's not good for The Rock. To be fair, most people wouldn't recognize this little hiccup, but considering Backdraft is a personal favorite, there was no way I was going to miss that slip.

Despite that, The Rock is still a great action film that definitely deserves a watch if you haven't already seen it. Dispel any current thoughts you may have about Nicolas Cage and just enjoy the ride. It doesn't require much brain-power, but it'll make up for it with guns and explosions all that other guy stuff that we love to watch.

Movie Review Summary:

Grade: A-
2 Thumbs Up

Movie Review: SEASON OF THE WITCH

SEASON OF THE WITCH

2011
PG-13

Season of the Witch is a 2011 action thriller that was directed by Dominic Sena and stars Nicolas Cage. When crusaders Behmen (Cage) and Felson (Ron Perlman) desert from their forces, they make their way back towards their homeland. However, they are recognized in a small town, and in order to avoid the punishment for desertion - in a word, death - they agree to accompany a young monk named Debelzaq (Stephen Campbell Moore) to a monastery as he escorts a young woman (Claire Foy), who has been accused of witchery, to her place of judgment. Debelzaq believes that this woman, Anna, is responsible for the onset of the Black Plague that has recently taken the country in its grasp. Along with another knight (Ulrich Thomsen), a swindling guide (Stephen Graham) and a well-meaning altar boy (Robert Sheehan), Behmen and Felson set forth on their quest to find the monastery and commit the woman to her fate.

I'd like to start by saying that I had no real expectations going into watching Season of the Witch (which I shall call SOTW, henceforth). It was originally to be released in March of 2010, but after finding an unfavorable level of competition, Lionsgate elected to push the release to either September or October. Well, September and October came and went, and still no SOTW. Finally, it was granted a release in the first weekend of 2011, making it officially the first piece of garbage to grace our screens in the new year. And yes, I mean garbage.

To be fair, it's nowhere near the worst movie I've ever seen (trust me, I've seen some pretty bad flicks). Our screenplay isn't horrendous, but it's rote and cliché and leaves no room for any imagination. SOTW was supposed to be a supernatural action thriller, but it left out the most important piece: it's not exactly thrilling. In fact, it's terribly dull. There are some action scenes - but they're very few and far between - but they don't do much to rouse the audience from their seats with interest. That's not really a good thing for any type of action movie. The worst insult a film like this could get is that it's dull.

I'd love to take the time to berate the acting in the film because, although it's not terrible, it's just not very good. I think we've all become accustomed to seeing Nicolas Cage in terrible movies (What happened, Nic?! You're an Oscar winner!), and this simply follows the same vein of his recent career path. Perlman is good in his role, providing a little bit of comic relief from time to time, but he can't do enough to save the movie. I think my biggest issue with the acting was that a number of the characters could not find it in their hearts even to attempt a British accent. I mean, we are talking Crusaders here, and we do have a setting in that general area, considering we're dealing with the Plague. But Cage and Perlman and Graham and Sheehan don't even seem to be trying. A British accent isn't that hard to do, and to be honest, I'd have rather heard terrible accents than none at all. I just didn't realize that American accents had come around centuries before the settlement of the Americas. (And no, I'm not bitter.)

If anything's going for the film, it's the musical score. It fits the sweeping landscape well, and had the screenplay and acting been a little bit better, the music would have perfectly accentuated this type of quest. Atli Örvarsson, who also scored 2008's Vantage Point and the just-released-today The Eagle, does well this time around.

All in all, SOTW isn't really worth your time, unless you're into being bored with a movie. Considering that goes against the entire concept of cinema, I don't think many people will share that sentiment. You should probably avoid this one like the Plague (pun intended).

Movie Review Summary:

Grade: D-
2 Thumbs Down