8MM Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES
You can't prepare for where the truth will take you.
You are never prepared for the truth
Be careful when you kill a monster, that you don't become one yourself
Some doors should never be opened
A small, seemingly innocuous plastic reel of film leads surveillance specialist Tom Welles (Nicolas Cage) down an increasingly dark and frightening path. With the help of the streetwise Max (Joaquin Phoenix), Welles relentlessly follows a bizarre trail of evidence to determine the fate of a complete stranger. As his work turns into obsession, he drifts farther and farther away from his wife (Catherine Keener), family and simple life as a small-town private eye.
| Nicolas Cage | Tom Welles |
| Amy Morton | Janet Mathews |
| James Gandolfini | Eddie Poole |
| Anthony Heald | Daniel Longdale |
| Catherine Keener | Amy Welles |
| Joaquin Phoenix | Max California |
| Peter Stormare | Dino Velvet |
| Chris Bauer | George Higgins/Machine |
| Myra Carter | Mrs. Christian |
| Jenny Powell | Mary Ann Mathews |
| Anne Gee Byrd | Senator Michaelson |
| Jack Betts | Butler |
| Luis Oropeza | Archive Director |
| Rachel Singer | Neighbor |
| Don Creech | Mr. Anderson |
| Joel Schumacher |
6.00 out of 10 (21397 votes)
Visitor Reviews
Disturbing movie - should have been X rated
posted on 18 Aug 2009This movie is intense, to say the least. It is a rather disturbing psychological thriller, in which we see Nick Cage change from being a family man, nice guy to being an avenging angel. The sleaze portrayed in the movie is necessary to show what he is working with, but folks, this movie is NOT fit for kids to see - period. Hell, I'm 50 years old and I'm not sure I'm old enough to see it.In addition, Nick Cage only plays one character in all his movies. It takes him a while to get into his character at the beginning and it does drag. In addition, there are some scenes that just totally suck. Bad writing, bad acting. All in all, it wasn't worth the admission fee. Give this one a miss.
A good thriller and a better Cage
posted on 18 Aug 2009On the good side the thriller has rhythm and a Nicholas Cage whose performance is never above the lines. On the bad side I see only the end of the film where, following already seen American patterns, the good kills the evil, a private justice, the old western law, something that in Europe would have probably seen the arrival of the Police or far less violence. In the Italian version (120 min) there is violence, but the thing that mostly disturbs is the environment shown, an environment that is probably not only fruit of the director imagination: It is sad to see how far can human mind go and that should induce people to think. So a good film that forces to think and opens a window over an obscure world.
Maybe I´m a pervert for saying this, but --I LOVE THIS MOVIE
posted on 08 Aug 2009Screenwriter for 8MM is Andrew Kevin Walker, who also wrote the awesome Se7en. Even if I hate comparing these two films (everyone does it...damn), I have to admit that these two films have much in common. The atmosphere of realistic disgust, great plot, great acting, and EXCELLENT ending. Both films also break many Hollywood cliches. Now for 8MM itself. Unfortunately, I still havent seen Leaving Las Vegas (damn me...Nicolas Cage is my favorite actor and I haven't seen his Oscar role), but Nicolas Cage´s Tom Wells MUST have been his next best performance to LLV at least. Other actors did a great job as well (Joaquin Phoenix as Max California or Peter Stormare as "Jarmusch of porn" Dino Velvet). Joel Schumacher did a good job as well (almost as good as David Fincher). The music was stunning....exotic rythms from Arabia...that's what I call a refreshing music after all those Horners, Zimmers etc. I can't help myself, but since I´ve seen 8MM I have to think about it. Like Max said : "There are things, that you're going to see, that you can´t unsee. They get in your head and they stay there." In short....a dark, depressing and all around awesome thriller. In my opinion 8MM IS better than Se7en. Definitely worth seeing.
Wasted potential
posted on 08 Aug 2009Disturbing images; but empty of substance. Promising gritty realism, this film delivers visually, but fails colossally to achieve any plot points. The audience is submerged into a dark detestable world, but this world ultimately becomes simply another angle on the traditional horror formula. But worse: IT NEVER TRIES TO DELVE INTO ITS VILLAINS. SPOILER- Why do these guys do those things? Cuz they're BAD. Literally no time is spent developing the bad guys; they're just scum. I'm not saying I wanted to care about them, but how about casting some light on these important (pseudo)characters? Even remotely?I expected more. "Silence of the Lambs," "Seven": these movies bring you into the minds of monsters. That's why they're important and unforgettable.8mm had the potential to mimic true horror but wasted it by going the easy route of manipulative shock-value drama. What a disappointment.
A Misunderstood Morality Tale
posted on 23 Jul 2009I can see how 8MM would be viewed by many as a movie about depravity. In many ways, it is. Some of it is even naive. Its portrayal of the adult film industry is not realistic - or rather, it shows that side of the entertainment business as it might have been three decades ago. I mention this because it begins with the truth that, for all intents and purposes, snuff films are simply a modern myth. It then goes on to portray certain aspects of the porn business in ways that are also myth.Aside from that plot flaw, I found it to be one of the best studies of a man trying to do the right thing in a long time. It questions how far one is willing to go and how much one is willing to give up to find the truth. It asks whether the life and death of a young tramp from the wrong side of the tracks is worth bothering about.Nicolas Cage is excellent, as always. [And Sean Penn, as another of your ex-friends, I don't care if you think Nick no longer acts.] And Joquin Phoenix, in a supporting role, shows that he is destined to become one of the best actors of his generation. He so physically transforms himself for his role as a Hollywood punk that he is hardly recognizable.I really thought this was an intriguing movie. It's subject matter will make it repellant to many viewers. Also, it is too serious to be called an entertainment.
One Of Schumacher's Better Efforts.
posted on 23 Jul 2009Every time I think of Joel Schumacher I cringe. Is Batman & Robin really so bad that it makes me want to disregard the rest of his films? He's not a bad director, hell I enjoy some of his work, yet I still cringe when I hear his name. Let's take a look at 8MM, something that is the polar opposite of B&R.It stars Nic Cage as a private investigator, hired to find out if the content on an 8MM tape found in a safe of a recently deceased millionaire is real. The tape is referred to as a snuff film, which is a pornographic film that ends with the murder of the female. So, already we have ourselves a pretty dark and disturbing film here. Yet, as I watched it I felt that is played it a little too safe.Upon research you will find out the writer and the director had a falling out over the film. The studio wanted it to be a bit lighter, and the director agreed. While the writer, who also wrote Se7en, wanted to keep the gritty disturbing feel he had originally wrote. The final product is a film that tries to be more hardcore then it actually is.Nic Cage really seemed to be playing by the numbers here. He is more monotone then usual I thought and didn't really seem invested in his character. Joaquin Phoenix on the other hand immerses himself into this world. Playing the sidekick who is smarter then he looks. The supporting cast also includes James Gandolfini, doing what he does best and Peter Stormare. Both stretch out beyond the page and embody their characters. With Gandolfini, we've seen him do this character before. But with every performance there is just one little thing that makes them all seem different every time.I was really underwhelmed with this flick. It was a bit longer then it needed to be, just over 2 hours. You go along for the investigative ride and are interested with the story, but at the end you just feel empty. Never connecting with the relationship between the main character and his wife he neglects. Some scenes that were meant to be powerful came off as comedic to me, specifically the "Give me permission to hurt them" bit near the end.I did enjoy the film, but wanted more. The ingredients were there to make a really good film, but the final product falls a bit flat. It's a rental, or if you are really a big fan of anyone involved . I will say this though, I wouldn't mind if Cage went back to making movies like this instead of the filler he's been cranking out the last few years.
A film to make you think!
posted on 15 Jul 2009This film was excellent! The plot's involvement with the porn industry would make anyone despise the industry. The film opens people's eyes to the filth that is present in our world today and may even spur people on to take some kind of action. The cinematography was very good and the camera was used effectivley. The editing was likewise! If the film was disturbing in a negatie way like some people have said then wouldn't the censors have it banned? 8 mm has a morale tale behind it that is clear enough for everyone to understand. See this film and learn!
Effective music
posted on 13 Jul 2009There isn't much to say about the film - its supposed to be a descent into hell, but Cage is a pretty boy non-actor and the director couldn't be bothered with fixing the bits that don't quite work. The result is a flawed melodrama that can call itself dark on the posters.The music however is worth talking about. The strange Peruvian(?) melodies that go with views of LA porn are nicely disconcerting. Also good use of silence marks the domestic scenes out from the rest of the investigation.And the masked killer playing Aphex Twins "Come to Daddy" on vinyl shows that someone did at least have a genuinely good ear for Freudian depth.
8 mm wide, not an inch deep
posted on 09 Jul 2009Apart from the fact that the whole idea was actually borrowed from another movie made years ago, I was appalled at the way the director handles all (I mean all) situations as if they were booby traps undermining our family values and our little but happy lives. The movie can be seen successful if a director unveiling his ideas so overtly and obviously is forgiven in that sense. I was almost disgusted to see the same schemes as in Se7en, the same grayish green colors, even the same rain. I was angry with myself to have been watching Nicolas Cage, after a disaster like The City of Angels. I loathed to see a placard reading "way strong" or "way hard to swallow" or something like that.Although, I must admit that we had a quite fun with my friends right after the screening, joking over our little, pathetic, vicious, pornography touched lives, and happy that Nicolas Cage is returned home to his coward, pitiful wife who doesn't even have the courage to dump him forever after she leaves him. There's just one thing good about this flick, and that is the emerging star brother of River Phoenix, Joaquin (formerly Leaf)
Something Fundamentally Wrong
posted on 05 Jul 2009The points of this movie are fairly straightforward, namely, extreme pornography is bad, how would you feel if your daughter was abused by such people and absolute power corrupts absolutely (oh yes, and if you're bald, fat and wear spectacles then you are very likely to be involved in this sort of stuff (!)).These well-worn tenets aside, this movie has very little to offer. Given that Nick Cage is in control, the ending is predictably obvious and all the less satisfying for that. I recommend waiting for it to be shown on AMC or TNT (all the same violence but with those pesky swear words taken out).
Awesome movie, shame about the cast.
posted on 05 Jul 2009Having JUST watched 8mm I feel compelled to write a few things about it.Firstly, I would like to say that it had me on the edge of my seat throughout. It was ugly, sordid and nasty but also enthralling. I left the cinema feeling a little beaten up!Second, the script by Andrew Kevin Walker was outstanding. As in Se7en he has created a world populated by some of the worst people in cinema history. But again he has created real people. (Most of) the cental protagonists all have credible reasons for doing what they do and there are moments that are genuinely touching.Joel Schummacher has gone some way towards redeeming himself for his Batman travesties. I like him when he gets his hands dirty. He has now made TWO good films: Falling Down and 8mm.What s#*ts me is the lousy casting. I agree about the casting of BAD GUY actors as the BAD GUYS. Every one of the "villains" was played by an actor who ALWAYS plays villains. In a film that (give me some room here) tries to show the 'real' effects of violence and HARD core porn it is a cop out to portray the "bad guys" as... well, BAD GUYS! It cheapens it for me. He might as well have had all the bad guys with twirly moustaches and capes.Nic Cage played Nic Cage which, admittedly he can do quite wll from time to time. The real star was Joaquin Phoenix. He's shaping up to be quite a good, quirky actor. The new Sean Penn or Johnny Depp, if you will.I did enjoy the film alot. It's not an ideal "date flick" but it makes for powerful, confronting viewing.I might change my mind with time (It did finish less than two hours ago ) but right now I'm giving it a 9/10Cheers
Another $6.50 you'll never see again...
posted on 01 Jul 2009Nicolas Cage's slow (and I mean, really, really slow) descent into hell in Eight Millimeter is mind-numbing. About 45 minutes into the movie when I realized it was beginning to suck, I looked at my watch and was mystified to see there was another hour and a half to go. I was really rooting for this movie to succeed, as I greatly enjoyed Seven, and both were written by Andrew Kevin Walker. But for whatever reason, the tight structure and mood of the previous film are gone here. I'm partial to blame Schumacher, after he made A Time To Kill with glistening actors and turned Batman into a $120 million joke. A real fault in the movie, in my view, is lack of a truly great screen villain. Peter Stormare is the only one to come close, but his limited screen time is wasted. "We did it for the money," as a motivation is really tired. As for the hyped shocking scenes of this movie, if you consider a hefty man in a leather mask shocking, well, you're in for a treat. Otherwise, the events of Seven were far more stunning than anything in this film. The message the film delivers is beaten into your brain for two and a quarter hours. I think you'd be better off with Seven instead.
Good film, some disturbing stuff...
posted on 17 Jun 2009I saw this film last night, thinking I was in for another Se7en or Silence of the Lambs, but it wasn't. It was completely different from those two movies. If you think our country is great all over, think again. This movie shows how there can be some real sick people out there that look like you and me. Cage stars in this thrilling suspense about "Snuff" films. Well Cage is assigned a job to a "Snuff" film to see if it's real or not, because supposedly their supposed to be fake. Well he gets dragged down into the underworld. Through the whole movie he uncovers things that happen in the US and gets deeper and deeper into his job and some things through the movie are disturbing things. This movie is good, but please I strongly recommend that this movie is not shown to kids, even if they have seen a Rated R film before. Other recommendations: Se7en and The Silence of the Lambs. RATING: 9/10
not a bad idea but the film is overdone
posted on 18 May 2009Lurid thriller about the dark and disturbing underworld of hardcore pornography. Nicolas Cage stars as a private investigator who gets recruited by a wealthy widow to investigate the authenticity of her late husband's "snuff film," in which a young girl appears to be murdered. Against his better judgment, he takes the case and the investigation draws him into a disturbing netherworld of sadism and sexuality that threatens to break his sanity. Unpleasant, as you'd expect considering the film's graphic subject matter, though well-crafted and performed by a talented cast, but the film is let down by unconvincing characters and an unbelievable climax. **½
rent SE7EN and save six bucks
posted on 14 May 2009Like screenwriter A.K Walker's far-superior thriller SE7EN, 8MM starts off with good enough intentions: we've got a bland, unimaginative family man (Cage) embarking on a homicide investigation. From the atmosphere in the film, one would have to be sub-mental not to know it's going to lead him into the dark and seedy urban underground, and to reinforce this Nick has a sidekick character to preach how utterly perverted and unquestionably evil mankind is (just like SE7EN's Morgan Freeman.)These tried and true ingredients, however, cannot save 8MM from the predictable turns it takes (man, ANYONE could have seen that lawyer bit comin'.) The film bludgeons us with "theme", and as a result loses track of the actual plot. Our main character Cage makes some vague and rather unbelievable long shots during his investigation which all prove to be oh-so-conveniently right on the money. Also, 8MM certainly fell horribly short in the villain department: where SE7EN had a genuinely disturbing psycho-killer (Spacey), 8MM has a bunch of dumpy pornmakers with garbled accents and a corrupt lawyer who looks like Geraldo.Blah. And don't even get me started on the actual filmmaking. I have only three words for you: lighting lighting lighting! Sure Joel Schumacher's films have always incorporated unusual and creative lighting techniques, but 8MM took it too far! Some scenes would have been better off if lit by an indiglo watch!Routine cinematic mediocrity. Only the threat of being banned from the local theater forever kept me from pitching my soft drink at the screen. Really.
Be prepared for a shock, but also for brilliance.
posted on 14 May 2009An extremely compelling and intriguing film. This movie made an impact on me because of its powerful acting, its passion and its reality. I do not know why this movie got bad reviews, and I know its not an all-time great, perhaps because it is not uplifting or fun. This I can understand for it is dark, gloomy and real, and this may not be to some people's tastes. Undeniably however, the film is quite brilliant. Most notably I must point out Nicolas Cage. This is one of his best performances, a man brought into a world he had not thought about and most do not face, but nevertheless is out there. The shock of this sick side of humanity scares him, particularly as he thinks of his own family and his daughter growing up in this world. He struggles to cope with the notion that some people are turned on by rape and killing, as most of us would struggle to cope. Yet the sadness is, this movies portrays reality, and it hits us like it hits him. Cage was filled with emotion in this film and it showed magnificently, he was passionate about vengeance, and the scene of him asking the mother of the murdered girl to say how much she loved her daughter, so he could find the rage and ability to kill those who did it, it was incredibly powerful, as was the scene of him bursting into tears near the end of the film. The bad guys were acted excellently, they were so despicable and it can be attributed to good acting. On top of this was good action and incredible suspense, with a solid plot. However the point is this. If you can handle this movie, it puts you, like it did with Nicolas Cage, in touch with a reality we most likely haven't and don't want to face. It makes you aware of this world, and how some innocent looking people may have a sick underlying life. It gets it message across with rage and power, and makes you tougher, and aware of yourself and how you need to be for others. This is a solid powerful movie,that won't be loved because it can't be, but nevertheless, is brilliant in most respects.
Contemporary film-noir at its darkest
posted on 10 May 2009Nicholas Cage has played disturbed, hole-in-the-souled charactersbefore, but he had really reached a whole new level of dark in 8MM. In it, he plays Tom, a PI who has had it good thanks to a loving wife and a newborn baby daughter. His happy life takes a swerve when he is hired to find out if a snuff-porn film is authentic or not. His journey takes him to a myriad of cooky characters and false ends that somewhere along the line, he lost track of reality himself. Totally bizarre and disturbing, 8MM definitely has a solid grasp on the viewer. He (or she) can't help but feel sympathetic for Tom even after he took a dive into the abyss. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if the role gave Cage himself a jolt of the senses; makes me wonder if this is the reason why he did a heart-warming tear-jerker like THE FAMILY MAN a year following 8MM!
What is not on the screen.
posted on 08 May 2009A lot of fuss has been made about the explicitness of some scenes on 8mm. Well, there are really some explicit scenes, but the major shocking elements are the ones that you don't see: almost all violent action happens away from the eyes of the audience, on films seen by the characters. All the audience sees is the reaction of that other audience, what opens space for inference, and what we infer about it is much worse than any explicit violence we see in movies everyday. A film for those with the guts to let imagination go free!
Shocking - but not even in an interesting sort of a way.
posted on 02 May 2009An awful film to endure, let alone recommend to anyone else. Nicholas Cage, playing his usual sullen character is complimented by Peter Stormare who can only be described as ridiculous (if slightly funny), and a woefully sleazy disgusting scumbag in the form of Soprano's over - rated James Gandolfini. His turn from pleading wimp to aggressor by suddenly challenging Cage when he is in a precarious position is ludicrous. Has been mentioned in the same breath as Se7en, but isn't even in the same league. The scene where Cage tries to do right by the victims mother, but instead reduces her into a frenzy of anguish is actually horrible to watch. Some films are disturbing, but in an engrossing sort of a way, such as the great Se7en, Silence of the Lambs or Red Dragon, but this is simply disturbing, period. It does not have the twists of Se7en, nor the characters or plot development of The Lecter films, and always seems like a poor attempt at a psycological thriller. You are left with an abhorance to the film at the end, rather than that itching curiosity to view it again, that comes with the countless other films of this type which are are significantly better than this.
Gripping
posted on 26 Aug 2009Relative to what has been said before, I watched this film and wondered why Joel Schumacher hadn't devoted this kind of dark intensity to Batman & Robin. I didn't see all the graphic stuff since this was what the USA network made of it, and I think the cut out parts gave an edge from uncertainty as to why Tom was cringing from what he was watching. This movie kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.