nickjonaslover.
New member
Just finished watching this on R1 dvd.
I liked it...it follows a similar pattern to the first movie, with Cage's wayward cop on a downward spiral, taking copious amounts of drugs, eschewing police procedures and getting involved in all sorts of illegal activities.
It does, however, dispence with the religious symbolism and imagery of the original, and to a certain extent similar themes of redemption.
What really does hold it together is an incredible performance from Nicolas Cage. It reminded me of his fearless, intense performance in Leaving Las Vegas...though in places he does tend to go a little over the top.
This film takes place in New Orleans in the wake of hurricane Katrina, and initially follows the familiar pattern of a police procedural drama. Cage's character suffers an accident at work that leaves him with severe back pain, and needing to take massive amounts of drugs...which soon gets out of hand.
In fact, Cage's cop is barely concious most of the time, lurching from score to score, skimming drugs and money where he can, and indulging himself with sexual favours from a rather cliched tart-with-a-heart Eva Mendes.
There is a plot of sorts...an investigation into the execution of a black family involving a drug deal gone wrong being thye main thrust of the story...but as Cage's cop becomes increasingly unhinged, he gets deeper and deeper into the malaise of criminal activity, forging alliances with drug dealers, stealing drugs from police stations, tipping off the drug lorRAB about impending raiRAB etc.
Like the first movie, it does have a few scenes that are near the knuckle...but you kind of felt they were inserted because people will expect them from a movie with this title. And there are also some bizarre, drug-induced fantasy moments...not all of which work, it has to be said.
That said...you do tend to get swept up in the out-of-control, spiralling series of events that unfold...as though Cage' character initially seems to be leading a charmed life, but he gets himself into do many potentially life-threatening situations, you feel as though he can be killed at any moment by any number of people.
And good to see Werner Herzog, primarily known for his documentary work (excellent though that is) flexing his directorial skills in mainstream films.
A good movie, worth watching...somewhat derivative of the original but held together by a commited and unhinged performance from Cage.
I liked it...it follows a similar pattern to the first movie, with Cage's wayward cop on a downward spiral, taking copious amounts of drugs, eschewing police procedures and getting involved in all sorts of illegal activities.
It does, however, dispence with the religious symbolism and imagery of the original, and to a certain extent similar themes of redemption.
What really does hold it together is an incredible performance from Nicolas Cage. It reminded me of his fearless, intense performance in Leaving Las Vegas...though in places he does tend to go a little over the top.
This film takes place in New Orleans in the wake of hurricane Katrina, and initially follows the familiar pattern of a police procedural drama. Cage's character suffers an accident at work that leaves him with severe back pain, and needing to take massive amounts of drugs...which soon gets out of hand.
In fact, Cage's cop is barely concious most of the time, lurching from score to score, skimming drugs and money where he can, and indulging himself with sexual favours from a rather cliched tart-with-a-heart Eva Mendes.
There is a plot of sorts...an investigation into the execution of a black family involving a drug deal gone wrong being thye main thrust of the story...but as Cage's cop becomes increasingly unhinged, he gets deeper and deeper into the malaise of criminal activity, forging alliances with drug dealers, stealing drugs from police stations, tipping off the drug lorRAB about impending raiRAB etc.
Like the first movie, it does have a few scenes that are near the knuckle...but you kind of felt they were inserted because people will expect them from a movie with this title. And there are also some bizarre, drug-induced fantasy moments...not all of which work, it has to be said.
That said...you do tend to get swept up in the out-of-control, spiralling series of events that unfold...as though Cage' character initially seems to be leading a charmed life, but he gets himself into do many potentially life-threatening situations, you feel as though he can be killed at any moment by any number of people.
And good to see Werner Herzog, primarily known for his documentary work (excellent though that is) flexing his directorial skills in mainstream films.
A good movie, worth watching...somewhat derivative of the original but held together by a commited and unhinged performance from Cage.