Review of Bangkok Dangerous (2008) by Nathan N — 07 Apr 2010

How is Bangkok Dangerous so impossibly fucking boring? In a perfect world, Cage would make a career of being Cage, one of the most entertaining and electrifying actors working. Instead, he seems to have spent half his career filling space, like the cast of a slasher movie. He isn't hired to act, to do what only he can, but to fill space. In an better situation, Cage would still make his money by doing middling action films but, instead of doing this meatbag routine, he would ride them into the fucking dirt. Imagine how interesting National Treasure or even this piece of shit would have been if it were understood that the signing of Cage comes with a Cage Performance. Instead of being relegated to directors that understand him (Herzog, Lynch), he would have free reign, making stuff like this, at the very least, memorable. But that's enough wishing.

Dangerous is an especially weak film, managing to be inoffensive enough but offering next to nothing in the way of entertainment. Cage sleepwalks, a fair amount of talking happens, sparse action. I would say that it's best left forgotten but there isn't anyway it won't be.