Last night I watched the movie The Weatherman with Nicholas Cage. I figured that since Lord of War was incredible, that this movie would be on the same level because it had Cage in it. It was not, by any stretch, an awful movie. However, it was quite bleak in that Cage’s life was spiraling downward in many regards. The movie made it really obvious that financial security couldn’t be equated with social, societal, and familial prosperity.
Cage’s wife left him, his daughter was the mockery of her school because she was overweight, his son was seeing a counselor who had ulterior motives, and his father was dying. Cage continually had things thrown at him from people that disagreed with his “Spritz Nipper” forecast. His life just wasn’t going where he wanted it to. He looked to archery for a form of release, and that seemed to help, but didn’t fully alleviate his pain.
Gore Verbinski took a much different approach at directing this movie than he has with his previous movies. This film took a microcosmic approach to internalised pain and suppression.
Overall, I would recommend that everyone watch this movie, but keep in mind that it is not the most uplifting “warm and fuzzy” movie of the year. However, it does force a person to take a more introspective look at one’s own life.
For that encouraged reflection, I would have to give it a 7/10.
–Zach
