Login
Initial Thought: I didn't really know anything about this before watching. All I knew is that Nicolas Cage and Willem Dafoe are in it. I don't expect much from it to be honest. I don't think it was in many theaters or for even that long.
Characters/Acting: Willem Dafoe was the best thing about this. He played his part well. It's definitely a different way for him to go as an actor in my opinion. Christopher Matthew Cook was pretty good as well. He had a few interesting moments that proved to show a deeper character than what belongs in this sort of movie though. Nicolas Cage I find to be quite annoying, but here he really pissed me off. Throughout the movie his character constantly says he has been told he looks like Humphrey Bogart! Hell to the no! I can't believe they would disgrace my favorite classic actor that way. They even try to say he sounds like him at one point. There are some other actors here and there that are decent and even some recognizable. Really though they are the only ones that really get any focus.
Story: I hated hearing the narration as told by Nicolas Cage's character. It was just plain irritating. The opening was an interesting precedent of things to come. I didn't even know what would happen which was good. Too bad it didn't stay that intense or interesting. It has moments that were unexpected and different. It runs a little long for no sense. The ending itself is pointless and dark.
Writing/Directing: I have seen a few of Paul Schrader's movies The Canyons and Dominion: The Exorcist Prequel. This guy even wrote Taxi Driver! I have never heard of writer Matthew Wilder however. This duo does not work well together. Maybe it would have worked better with someone who wasn't Nicolas Cage (at least someone who could be considered as similar to Humphrey Bogart) as well as a different director.
Final Thoughts: I knew this wouldn't be all that good going in, but it managed to piss me off. Some of the ideas are just plain stupid. Now it's not the worst thing I have seen. It has cool moments spread throughout. Two out of the three main actors were good enough in their parts. It's just really not worth the time.
