Review of 8MM (1999) by Filipeneto — 02 Nov 2019

The definitive proof that Joel Schumacher should never have been a film director.

In this film, a private investigator, Tom Welles, is hired to investigate a mysterious and disturbing film in which a young woman is sexually abused and killed, found among the personal possessions of a recently killed millionaire. This investigation leads one to delve into the world of the porn industry in search of the greatest horrors that the most distorted minds can imagine.

I confess I don't like Joel Schumacher. He has already shown himself to be a bad director with films like "Batman and Robin". Here, unfortunately, he is no better. He can take a movie with quality assumptions and empty it of content. The characters are simple, poorly constructed, the movie starts well and promises a lot but eventually develops poorly as the main character becomes an avenger, thirsty to do justice in his own hands. At this level, it is a disappointing film, as it never truly explores the shadowy world where it descends. The ending of the movie is particularly bad and predictable, something ridiculous when compared to the mysterious and appealing way the movie started.

As for the actors, let us begin by saying that none shone, as they were hindered by the poor characters they had and by a terrible director, unable to demand quality from them. Nicholas Cage is one of those talented actors who never came to be what he promised to be. Joaquin Phoenix (I still remember him as Roman emperor in "Gladiator") was quite capable in his role, and the character is perhaps the most enjoyable of the film as we sympathize with him. The rest of the cast deserves no mention ... although there are a few more familiar names in the movie, they just couldn't stand out.

The film is very visual, and all the associated technical features have been widely valued. Intense cinematography, with clever use of colors (hot or cold depending on the emotions you want to convey to the public), costumes and scenarios made with some of the brothels and porn studios looking truly real. The sound effects were also decent and the soundtrack plays its part.

This movie, in general, never delivers what it promises. In fact, we depart with a very high expectation, waiting for a lot of mystery and a pleasant plunge into the shadows of humanity, which never happens. The film gradually deconstructs these expectations and becomes a simplistic, basic cardboard thriller with hollow characters and a story increasingly like an adult comic strip. Thank you, Mr. Schumacher, for destroying another movie that could have been good. Please retire as soon as possible and live quiet and happy, but far away from any camera.