Eight MM . Tucson Weekly . 03-15-99

Eight MM

DIRECTED BY: Joel Schumacher

REVIEWED: 03-15-99

The premise of an investigator hired to determine the authenticity of a snuff film is intriguing and full of potential. Unfortunately, this character drama revolves around an unsympathetic, two-dimensional protagonist and is told in a strikingly conventional manner. Tom (Nicolas Cage) is in almost every scene, yet we learn very little about him as he navigates a porn underworld in order to locate the makers of the film. Mostly he death marches through his investigation, occasionally grunting to his wife (Catherine Keener) on the phone or getting tours of XXX-rated flea markets from Truman Capote-reading skin trader Max (Joaquin Phoenix). And I don't know what director Joel Schumacher (St. Elmo's Fire, The Lost Boys) did to his star, but poor Cage was so very sleepy he could barely keep his eyes open during most of 8MM. Me, too.

--Higgins

Interviews
Eight MM

Capsule Reviews
Eight MM
Eight MM

Other Films by Joel Schumacher
A Time to Kill
Batman & Robin
Batman Forever
Flawless
Lost Boys

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Strange Cargo
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Strange Days

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