Let me start out this review with the statement that this is not a film for everyone.
8 MM follows Private Eye Tom Welles (Nicholas Cage) as he is hired by a wealthy widow to investigate a dubious film reel that she finds in her deceased husbands safe. The film reel appears to be that of a snuff film. With porn store clerk Max California (Joaquin Phoenix) as his guide Tom delves into the seedy world of pornography as he searches for answers.
The acting done here is all of a superb quality. Nicholas Cage, Joaquin Phoenix, James Galdofini, Peter Stormare, and Chris Baur all put on jarring performances as the leads, the latter three of the list portraying three of the most disgusting, despicable characters ever seen in a film. Chris Baur's performance here is sure to affect just about anyone. Joaquin Phoenix is great fun as the niave and innocent bad talking clerk who fancies himself a bad ass that teams up with Tom to help him solve the mystery (Like all good sidekicks he eventually finds himself in waaay over his head), he almost steals every scene he's in and is thus one of the most memorable characters in this film. Nic Cage also acts his heart out here as a faily well-cut man that begins to change as he delves deeper into this darker world. The climax of the film is sure to throw most viewers onto the edge of their seats in tension and anticipation, you can't beat a climax like this one...it's damned near perfect.
While it may borrow some of its themes and its tone from Blue Velvet, it one ups its predecessor by upping the intensity and subtracting its happy ending. This is the ending Blue velvet felt like it was building up to, and its the one I honestly prefer. In the end, the good guy doesn't really win over the forces of evil he faces, instead he becomes like them...that in itself makes for one hell of an interesting twist (even though I have seen it done before).
Even though I may not be a big fan of Joel Scumacher I must say this is the best film that he's made. I'm really digging the dark tone of the film and how the latter half really pulls a 180 on the audience. It makes for a neat trick that most films are unable to perform correctly, happily this is one of those films that gets it right.
The film is incredibly dark and does make for some pretty tough viewing. It inevitably will leave some (I'd dare say most) with a bad aftertaste, but despite this I still think it to be a superb film that is pretty well crafted and succeeds in building thick suspense and tension.
With some engrossing (and disturbing) themes, several cool characters, and a wondefully dark tone 8 MM is sure to be a film that most will find pretty hard to forget.
4/5 stars
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