Review of 8MM (1999) by Matthew H — 29 Jul 2008
Something about this movie is really funny. It's not that I think that the idea of murdering people on camera is particularly funny, mind. It seems like the director and screenwriter wanted to make something gritty and frightening, (i.e. "Taxi Driver" or "Seven") but then they didn't have the guts to follow through. That or they didn't care; they were just trying to make money. The latter seems likely to me, seeing as that Joel Schumacher (with a few exceptions) is extremely fond of directing fancy drivel that pretends to be deep. Maybe it's just me, but I'd really rather watch drivel that knows its drivel and doesn't try to be some Profound Statement on the innate nature of humankind. (tm).
Either way, Catherine Keener's character is incredibly annoying. (So much so that I kept hoping that there would be a plot twist and another snuff film would be made with her as the star.) In the interest of fairness, I will say that I didn't hate everything about 8mm. I liked Joaquin Phoenix's and Amy Morton's characters. And the glimpses we see of the snuff film are appropriately eerie. Either than that, I'd give this one a pass.
This review of 8MM (1999) was written by Matthew H on 29 Jul 2008.
8MM has generally received mixed reviews.
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