8MM (1999)

 

Nicolas Cage Film Fest Movie #8

Synopsis: Hard-boiled private investigator discovers some people are just dying to get into porn!

Blurb From the VHS Jacket: "Directed by Joel Schumacher (The Client, Batman Forever, A Time to Kill), this dramatic story follows one man's obsessive search for the truth about a six-year-old crime - and his ultimate discovery of the truth about himself."

What Did I Learn?: If you ever find what appears to be a snuff film in a deceased loved one’s collection of knick-knacks, throw it in the trash and don’t ask any questions.

You Might Like This Movie If: You've always wanted to see The Machine in action.

Really?: 1) Funny how the villains start shooting each other after Tom Welles (Cage) makes a flippant remark. Wouldn’t they most likely kill him and THEN settle the internal scores? 2) I think it’s a little unlikely that a sleazy porn producer would dare an angry detective to pull the trigger on him.

Rating: 8MM is a creepy, deeply disturbing, but incredibly compelling thriller. While the movie is mostly plot-driven and focuses on Welles’ investigation (alas, the talented Catherine Keener is stuck with a nothing role as Cage’s wife), we also witness his slow, moral degradation when he comes face to face with evil; a line in the film rings true: the devil doesn’t change, he changes you. 8MM is such a good film it almost absolves Joel Schumacher from his role in making those two atrocious Batman movies. 9/10 stars.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0134273/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1