--- Kevin Burton Smith <
kvnsmith@colba.net> wrote:
> Although it treads some of the same ground as 8MM,
I
> preferred this
> one. It's unpleasant at times, but it feels
real.
> Has anyone seen it?
> I'm not even sure if it's available in the
States,
> though it does
> seem to be available in Europe and Canada, at
least.
> Maybe check the
> foreign, or art film section?
> --
>
I agree with you on this one. 8MM is a good noir film, and
forget all the fuss the American "critics" made about it. I
posted a message 1 year ago (exactly! on 16/10/99), that did
not echo any discussion, but it was right in the middle of a
silent passage of the list.
I reproduce it here: QUOTE: I recently saw '8MM' by director
Joel Schumacher, and must admit I liked it a lot, even if
this film is not without some defects.
To my surprise, when I was looking last week for more
documentation (after having seen the film), I discovered that
most of the US critics villipended it with an enthusiasm
close to pure hate... The tedious ones just despising the
film and its maker in one go.
I personally think that the subject taken for this film
(snuff SM movie making) is far from just appealing
commercially, I should even say on the contrary. And it is
not a myth (unfortunately) as some wants to believe.
So, what is so shocking for these critics...? Filming?
Cannot, as it was very good and above normal Hollywood
products. Actors? well, even if I consider Cage as underused
since a few years, and miscasted most of the time, he is
basically a great actor. Apart maybe for 5 minutes, he's
doing the most of the central character.
Graphically kinky? Give me a break... Schumacher was clever
enough to avoid that major trap. The SM scenes are grim,
debilitating, gloomy but certainly not kinky nor graphically
explicit.
The script could have been more focused at the end, about his
central idea of evil as part of the human race... yes,
certainly so. [THIS IS MY COMMENT- eb] But are we sure that
for instance showing Cage for the rest of his life trapping
sadistic murderers and killing them in a way that allows him
to see them die slowly, could have been acceptable by the
public at large...? On the other hand, there were enough
"clues" in the film showing Cage was contaminated by the
evil. And, fortunately! we escape an explanation involving
psycho serial killer(s) or supernatural forces. So, maybe
this is Schumaker's sin: he is really not
"deviant-correct" with is bloody film!
And, yes the film did not go to the ultimate end of its
purpose and exploration, and it is perhaps the major reproach
we could cast. But not as the critics seem to believe, by
pointing to the 'lack of credibility' (as per their opinion)
of Cage's character. I'm convinced that most of them reacted
by fear of the real subject of this film.
There are 3 to 5 minutes unnecessary in this film, but IMO it
is a very good Noir film that could have been a great film if
a little bit more focused on its subject.
UNQUOTED
Well, I still adhere to this comment.
E.Borgers Hard-Boiled Mysteries http://www.geocities.com/Athens/6384
Polar Noir http://www.geocities.com/polarnoir
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