Snuff films are hard to come by. I have yet to talk to someone that has claimed to see one. In fact, it is doubtful that any such films exist. I have heard rumors that the Israeli mafia and the Russian Jewish Mafia have made a few with the eastern European girls that they have put into white slavery. I wouldn’t put it past these international criminals, but until I see proof I will not believe. Joel Schumacher’s 8mm follows a private investigator as he obsesses over finding out the authenticity of a snuff film. Maybe Schumacher being in the “know” might know something that the general public does not.
I cannot help but like Nicholas Cage as he seems like a swell guy. Despite how serious a role he plays, he still comes out as a goofball that is truly oblivious to the evils of the world. Watching Cage as a private investigator obsessed by something that would most likely burn a hole in his soul can be quite “thrilling.” The private investigator’s response when he finds out the truth is both reasonable and admirable. It is good that at least someone has a logical set of morals instead of believing in “the law.”
The private investigator also hires a porn shop employee named Max California. Max is a guy that wanted to become famous playing music. Instead, he ended up being surrounded by degenerates and human filth. The private investigator can see that Max has intelligence and shows the young lad some respect. I could not help but notice a homoerotic element to their relationship. After all, director Joel Schumacher is an outspoken homosexual and has always had his eyes on the right actors. It also doesn’t surprise me that The Lost Boys is still the directors favorite movie that he’s directed.
Bloated Sicilian James Gandolfini has a role in 8mm as a sleazebag pornographer (“Talent Scout”) who is connected to the assumed snuff film. I believe Gandolfini’s role in 8mm is even more fitting than his role as Tony Soprano on The Sopranos. The way in which Gandoflini’s character excremented words at the private investigator seemed to be a little too natural for the Italian-American. The beating the pornographer took from the private investigator was more than fitting.
8mm is one in a handful of worthy films directed by Hollywood director Joel Schumacher. Unlike most thrillers, 8mm is not insulting to the audiences intelligence like Schumacher’s more recent film The Number 23. The film even features a homicidal fan of Glenn Danzig that wears a mask and goes by the lame name “Machine.” Schumacher has described himself as a “sexual outlaw.” Is 8mm an attack against degenerate heterosexual fetishes of rich old guys? Or is the film just an outlet for the director to present “outlaw” sexual degeneracy in Hollywood? Either way, 8mm is a surprisingly enjoyable thriller.
-Ty E
I was a fan of this film. I've always like Cage whether his movies were good or not. I enjoyed this film. I have always wondered if snuff films are a thing of urban legend. This was an interesting storyline. I thought the cast was great in this one, including James Gandolfini and Joaquin Phoenix.
ReplyDeleteThis was a decent flick. Although I enjoy Cage in a lot of his films, here he reminds of the Cowardly Lion with the mixture of expressions and the way he talks. I dunno... Great write up t
ReplyDeleteIt must have been so embarrassing and difficult for rampagingly heterosexual geezers like Nicholas Cage and James Gandolfini to be on the set with a screaming queen like Schumacher.
ReplyDeleteI love how homophobic the comments on some of these movies are. Peoples sexual orientations do not define their movies. That's like saying Heath Ledger was shit for participating in Brokeback Mountain, even though he was in the dark night. On another note, I actually want to check out this flick. Reminds me a little of Grimm Love, where the girl is investigating the Armin Meiwes case.
ReplyDeleteHey Anonymous, Ledger was heterosexual in real life so he can be forgiven (although he still should`ve been thoroughly ashamed of himself for playing a faggot in a movie), where-as Schumacher is a faggot in real life so he can NEVER be forgiven.
ReplyDeleteThats a hideous picture that Keith posts with his name, the ONLY good thing about Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr was that they were 3 of the most rampagingly heterosexual geezers who ever lived (a fantastically redeeming factor and quality obviously), however in virtually every other way they were also 3 of the most loathsome and odious individuals who ever disgraced the planet with their horrifying presence (especially that abomination Sinatra).
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