What happens when good sci-fi directors work with Nicolas Cage…

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Posted by Matt Holmes. Last modified on July 4th, 2008 at 08:38am

What happens when good sci-fi directors work with Nicolas Cage…

It would appear that not even good directors are not immune to the Nicolas Cage infection of studio hackery. The great sci-fi director Alex Proyas (Dark City, I, Robot) looks to have churned in his most banal and redundant effort to date, with Cage once again giving us a one-note performance with his monotone voice.

It’s pretty clear that without the likeable Will Smith covering up any problems with his last sci-fi effort, Proyas is not going to have the same kind of luxury here.

This is what I said back in March when I briefly talked about the film…

For my money there isn’t a more boring lead actor on the planet right now than Nicolas Cage and his inability to get through expedition dialogue without making you fall asleep has always been his big hindrance in this genre.

Now you watch this trailer below and you tell me if that statement is not 100% true. His voice can’t see him through plot dialogue, why do the trailers for his films always sound like spoofs?

National Treasure meets The Number 23? What a horrible thought.

“What happens when the numbers run out?”

Has their been a more boring and pathetic end trailer tease this year?

This movie looks so bad, I can’t believe Proyas directed this. I expect this from Cage but not from him. The movie opens next March.

Categories: Alex-Proyas, Movie News, Nicolas-Cage, Trailers, knowing

9 Comments »

Yeah right… You not liking this movie is Cage’s fault, too. I have an idea. Why not scale down on reporting on this guy. As all the reports are ornery anyway, nothing is lost over this. Instead you could use everone’s time better in talking about films that you actually deem worthy of our attention.

Comment by Phoenix | July 4, 2008

Yep, usual hate filled drivel from Matt. Trailer looks pretty good.

Comment by Roars | July 4, 2008

what the hell is “expedition dialogue”?? LOL

Comment by Paul | July 4, 2008

I dunno … I thought the trailer worked pretty well, actually. I mean, the plot sounds contrived and silly (and a little convoluted, too), but the trailer sells it for me. And while Cage is a low-energy leading man, this is the kind of movie in which he generally excels.

Comment by Ray | July 4, 2008

Let’s bear in mind that Nic Cage is capable of some fantastic work. He might not possess the skill to choose the best screenplay to work on, but when he’s good, he’s great. Let’s save the crucifixion for those in Hollywood whose talents truly warrant them getting dragged through the mud like this.

I thought the premise of this film was a lot more interesting than Cage’s choices of late. I dig the suspense and that final tag line. I now wonder what does happen when the numbers stop.

You may have a grudge against Nic Cage and for that I understand- but don’t make him out to be David Arquette, or Jamie Kennedy. The man does have a well deserved Oscar.

Comment by Dirtylungs | July 4, 2008

Interesting trailer!

Comment by Joolies | July 4, 2008

Fairly damned effective, in my opinion. Atmosphere and tension to spare. I’m intrigued with the potential for this one.

Comment by Evan | July 5, 2008

Looks very interesting

Comment by Stoney | July 5, 2008

I liked it, and for a Nic Cage movie it looks like it could be good. This is much needed after the awful looking Bangkok Dangerous trailer and poster.

Out of context (as in reading it in your post) the tagline ‘what happens when the numbers run out’ sounds silly, but in the trailer (in the context of the films story) it actually makes for an interesting curiosity, what does happen when the numbers run out?

Comment by Despacio | July 8, 2008