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Film reviews

Arcadian Review

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Arcadian is a surreal film in an apocalyptic setting where there is a sense of disconnect and confusion, but the terror is not the emphasis. The focus of the film is how the deceased world impacts a father and his two sons. Arcadian is a film in whichthe father-figure role fits Nicolas Cage. He portrays a man withserious mindset who takes life into his own hands all day, every day. Cage plays the role as a survivalist father well in this film.  However, the film suffers due to what appears to be rushed writing. Directed by Benjamin Brewer, the realities of peril in this story struggle to find peace in Arcadian.

The film takes place in a primitive land of solitude. The movie was filmed in Dublin, Ireland. Cage plays Paul, the father of twin boys.  The boys are Joseph, played by Jaeden Martell, and Thomas, played by Maxwell Jenkins. They live in a remote farmhouse where the days are very structured.  They have scheduled times to complete their outside tasks and various other responsibilities throughout the day. At night they board up their home, have dinner, and go to sleep. While living in a world where much has been lost, Paul raises his sons in a life where there is no enchantment or bright days of hope. At night, they must lock up. If they do not take precautions, creatures outside their home can put an end to their lives. Not only are Paul and his sons tormented by the creatures that roam at night, but everyone around them is also tormented. Paul tries to prepare Joseph and Thomas to be ready to fight every day of their lives, because one wrong move could be fatal.

The life of solitude and specific repetitive tasks throughout the twins’ childhood plays a major part in the film’s sadness and moments of disconnect. The writing is faithful in finding the roots of conflict between Joseph and Thomas. Joseph is introverted, and Thomas is extraverted. Their father cannot make exceptions for how he has their home lives set up. Paul is intensely strict and focused on safety out of love for them. How long can they all tolerate this way of life? Their family dynamicwhich involves detrimental disagreements and challenges of Paul’s authority gets heated during several scenes in Arcadian.

Everyday frustrations and wishes for normalcy are criticalfactors in this film. There are gaps in the family that may never be fulfilled…not when they live a life of daily quarantine. It makes the audience wonder how life would be if the world was different for this family. Truly, the only way to overcome the challenges they face is for them decide to fight what comes at night.

Paul’s sons are all he has and his role as a father trying to protect them leads to heightened emotions. This film about the impact of quarantine on this family is not amazing, but still worth watching. Where will there story end? Find out in Arcadian. Three out of four stars.

Film reviews

Dream Scenario Review

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Ever wonder what it is like to have the same type of dream many times? Ever wonder why a particular dream shifts or changes patterns? Would it be concerning if the same person kept showing up in a dream? One man’s presence in others dreams becomes his new spotlight and nightmare. Director and writer Kristoffer Borgli brings us on a journey that is surreal and unexpected in Dream Scenario. Nicholas Cage plays his role portraying annoyance and aggravation with passion. Dream Scenario is a world of misunderstandings in a man’s life that create a hole that is hard to climb out of. Cage has taken on roles in the past where he plays characters dealing with anxietyas in Matchstick Men (2003) and Leaving Las Vegas (1995), however here he is just a man trying to live his normal and successful life, but one coincidence keeps repeating itself totorment his life.

In Dream Scenario Cage plays Paul Matthews. Paul is a tenured professor of Biology. One who is passionate about his field of study and passionate about his students and success. His life of normalcy seems intact with his wife Janet (played by Julianne Nicholson) and their daughters Sophie (played by Lily Bird) and Hannah (played by Jessica Clement). For Matthews though,things start to change, as people begin to inform him that they keep seeing him in their dreams. It happens consistently. He is in their dreams in all kinds of patterns. Some of which are him being harmful and some of which he is just a bystander. The scenarios of the dreams featuring Paul become a phenomenon. This starts to take a toll on Paul’s life. He begins to get celebrity-type attention and receives many messages from people all over the world. Somehow, Paul just cannot stop showing up in people’s dreams. The crazy part is that he is doing nothing to promote this, it is just happening.

There is a point where Paul meets with a publisher to pitch a story about his biological studies as he wants to write a book, but he is informed that they are more interested in hi existence as an unexplained legend of being in people’s dreams. This puts Paul on edge…LIKE CRAZY! Soon it begins to damage his home life with his wife Janet, his daughters and their friends. The mental strain of knowing he is part of so many people’s dream life is just too much. It is a film where Cage is in turmoil like never before. His nightmare is an adventure of searching for answers and there is no end in sight, and it is a phenomenon.

Even with the troubles of the dreams causing underlying issues for people and Paul, the film’s direction sees some lighter sides too. A touching moment in the film takes place when Cage is imagining himself dressed in the over-sized suit as David Byrne from Talking Heads. Despite both the negative and positive vibes, the continuity of Dream Scenario lies in its creativity inexploring the wonders of the subconscious. Under the direction of Borgli, the experience of Dream Scenario has its moments where its audience will feel it is revolutionary.

With Cage in the role of a professor, there is also the risk of his tenured track being at risk, as more students and faculty have complaints about him being in their dreams. This adds another layer of complexity to the film’s already engaging plot. Theturmoil of Cage’s performance becomes invigorating based upon his frustration. He always delivers that vibe of being annoyed, angry, and frustrated all at once. At the same time, we can see the embarrassment and the anxiety in his role as one whose reputation is going down a horrid ladder.

Dream Scenario delivers with a concept that is clever and unique. It is one where brilliant ideas are hidden. The onlyconcern is with the writing and finding common ground. However, that element is part of the story, based on an existence that is out of one’s control, and that is where it is classic. Will Cage be showing up in your dreams after watching Dream Scenario? Do you want him to be in your dreams? Crazy and unforgettable outcomes are all possible factors in Dream Scenario. Three out of four stars.

Film reviews

Sympathy for the Devil Review

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In the beginning of Sympathy for the Devil, there is the presence of a man with struggles which gives a vibe of noir direction. That approach gets the audience prepped for dangerous and unexpected moments. The famous saying, “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas,” comes to mind as the unsettling tone in the film gets eerie. Sympathy for the Devil is different in the way it finds its terror because it is based on personalities and characterizations which add shock value instead of violence. Evil does reign, however, but is created through the film’s suspense.

The film focuses on The Driver (played by Joel Kinnaman). He has a wife that is in hospital and is due to have a baby. The Passenger (played by Nicholas Cage) gets into The Driver’s car. The Passenger asks The Driver to, “Pick a card,” and when a card is selected, The Driver becomes the new hostage of The Passenger. Viewers know there is going to be some unsettling moments when The Passenger scarily says to The Driver, “I’m your family emergency now!” Cage’s portrayal of the bad guy isenhanced with demonic looks and his attitude causes tensions to rise. The Passenger wants The Driver to drive him from Las Vegas to Boulder City, but there is no explanation to why. This means that The Driver’s life may be on the line. With The Driver being extremely anxious and scared for his life, it is literally as if the Devil has found The Driver. The Devil is Cage himself.

Ominous music plays in the background of this scary journey. The choice of music keeps thae noir vibe in tune and the horror feels more real as it deepens. Cage’s performance as The Passenger ranges from normal to condescending and vicious. The more he talks, the worse it gets. The farther they go, the worse the danger becomes. The Driver is put to the test of survival. Kinnaman’s role is one of perseverance and bravery, but it may not be enough to survive Cage’s role of mayhem and danger.

Cage’s outbursts are surreal and intriguing, which add to the suspense. His performance proves his evil side is no joke in Sympathy for the Devil. The chances of escape for The Driver are slim because he has no idea what The Passenger is capable of until he does something dangerous. Evil is real in Sympathy for the Devil. The tension is not only due to the wicked nature of Cage’s character, but also the stories he tells before each dangerous scenario which all contain something explosive.

In all honesty, there is no sympathy in Sympathy for the Devil. It is just a predictable flick. I do give it credit for bringing back some classic road trip vibes of horror. Otherwise though, the fascination in this film is not all that remarkable. Cage’s performance is the only real place that killer fun lies in this flick. Two out of four stars for Sympathy for the Devil.