3 posts shown.
northernmoose26 said:The story kicks off with some real momentum, but honestly, it just kind of loses steam halfway through. The ending felt incredibly cheap—just this forced, happy little resolution where the girl ends up marrying a junkie with a wrecked back. Suddenly, all his massive problems just evaporate in five minutes flat. It’s ridiculous. I also thought Nicolas Cage gave a pretty weak performance here; it felt somewhat artificial to me. I really feel for Val Kilmer, though—watching him sink into these totally minor roles is just sad. And I couldn't wrap my head around his reaction during that arrest at the end. When he suggests they just kill the guy and grab the drugs 😕😕! Like, what does he have to do with that stash? He wasn't even involved in those "operations" with the lieutenant.
Eva Mendes is way too stunning to be playing a streetwalker; she looks more like someone who'd marry a tech billionaire. This role just doesn't fit her at all. Plus, there were a few scenes that left me scratching my head—I honestly don't see the point of them. 🤷
On the bright side, the movie doesn't lean too heavily on the old version, which is a plus. But let's be real: the original was much better, which isn't exactly a shocker. My rating: 4/10.
But isn't that exactly the point? On one hand, you have Nicolas Cage—a complete loose cannon who pulls off millions of risky stunts. Then you have Kilmer, who probably spends the entire movie sitting in some boring office, gathering his courage and overthinking his tactics, hoping Nicolas Cage will actually agree to go along with it and completely wreck his life... hahaha. To me, that scene was brilliant.
I have to admit, I didn't express myself very clearly before.
The character is completely unrealistic, but he’s meant to be that way. In reality, anyone of us facing massive debt and the threat of being killed... we'd probably just fold and run, or take out a huge loan just to stay afloat. That’s the beauty of it: our protagonist does whatever the hell he wants without a single thought for the consequences. Wouldn't we all love to be that reckless sometimes?
For me, the biggest turning point happens about 25 minutes in. Just when you think Nicolas Cage is actually working the case, he suddenly grabs that pair coming out of the disco and starts using drugs and getting intimate with that guy's girlfriend... all while the porn is playing in the background.
Some people mentioned that the movie jumps from scene to scene like they aren't even part of the same film, and this is exactly where you see it. Personally, I love that. The intention was clearly to shock the audience and keep you guessing what's coming next.
But I have to bring up that lizard business again... I honestly think the director included that just for himself. I highly doubt even 2% of the people watching this movie will actually enjoy it.
It’s almost as if he’s drawing inspiration from that wild Tom Green flick. 🤣
I'll be brief. I am absolutely floored by this film; I truly believe the filmmakers achieved everything they set out to do.
In my opinion, this is Nicolas Cage's finest performance. What struck me most was how unpredictable every single moment felt—aside from that initial jump into the water, you simply never know what's coming next.
From start to finish, Cage's character never pauses to reflect. There is no introspection, no contemplation of fate, and zero remorse... he is the pure, unadulterated embodiment of a man lost to addiction. It is shocking, darkly humorous, and absurd... for me, it was nothing short of fantastic.
And that scene with the five-minute shot of the lizard... you either love it or you hate it. I was particularly captivated by the way Val Kilmer and Nicolas Cage stared through the window during that entire stretch. I can't wait to watch this again.