Review of 8MM (1999) by Dylan H — 08 Sep 2013

On the one hand, I agree with a lot of the critical reviews of this film, which argue that it gets a little silly towards the end, and the director doesn't seem to be aware of this. On the other, however, it covers a lot of territory you don't often see in Hollywood, and it does well by taking completely seriously and earnestly the premise of a 'surveillance expert' finding a snuff film and being motivated by his conscience to learn more about it.

Film critics shouldn't complain about the film being too dark - any efforts to make it more easily consumable would undermine its commitment to the plot. That said, Schumacher didn't exactly go for documentary realism in constructing the supposed underworld of hardcore pornography; there are several locales which Cage's character travels to that are clearly some sheltered Hollywood writer/set designer's vague impression of what, say, an fetish pornography video store would look like, or the lair of a flamboyant celebrity rapist.

But, at the same time, Schumacher deserves credit for working within these limitations and not compromising. Cage, who's best work usually involves some sort of self-ruination, plays the character straight and is shown thoroughly emotionally defeated by the end of the film, mainly because his character realised how pointless the series of events depicted in it were.

It's brave for any director to make such a nihilistic film in the centre of Hollywood's mainstream, and I give the creative talent involved points for that.