8MM (1999) Movie Review

[@markpayne1748]

People dis Nicholas Cage, but after I saw him in this movie, he will never lose his place in my heart and mind as one of the greatest actors I've ever experienced. His manic descent into depravity to save a lost girl is so much a reminder of Dante's Inferno. There are things you will forever wish you could unsee. And his character sits through hours of it in an insane goal to save a girl he's never met. And when he realizes he can't, he claws his way out of the belly of that demon to reclaim some semblance of his former humanity. NC plays him beautifully. So f*cking believable. I bought it. And Joaquin Phoenix was just burgeoning as the amazing star he is today. James Gandolfini sells his seedy character so well-- a man that has just a hint of his decency left, visibly rattled by what he has seen and what he has allowed to happen. And Peter Stormare? OMG, in this movie, you'd think you had seen the face of Satan. "Machine" is his talons, and when daylight breaks "Machine" is mama's boy, so unassuming. NC's character stares at himself in the mirror, wanting to escape the horror-- to cut his losses-- but knowing that he can't let that girl's memory be lost. So he descends back into hell possessing the wrath of angels. And when it's all done, he ascends the stairs, distraught with fear that his life as he knew it was gone, then falling apart as he sees his child still there. As his wife runs to him, he clutches her and whimpers, "Save me! Save me!" I haven't seen this movie in years, and yet I still fight tears, and I still get chills.

[@Alprazolam08]

It was very disturbing as is. The Hickcock style of not showing too much is very effective. Good acting all around.

[@justinmontana7218]

A serbian Film is great.Violence❤

[@YouShouldntBeDancing]

I've watched over 80% of your videos and have been following you for years, I always click cause I know no matter what your movie is, I can always expect the review to be very in depth and passionate, so I just wanted to say I really appreciate the consistency and sincerity. Great job.

[@ramboraph4life]

That's very kind of you, thank you for that.

[@rharms_]

i agree, i don't really watch anything of these kind of channels on youtube, only this one and ocp, most stuff on youtube is hype and dumbed down and just seems really annoying all around, also theres also movies mentioned that i am passionate about and thats NOT the current superhero movies, just hang out talk about it its nice enough

[@markpayne1748]

The movie, with all due respect to the author, was perfect. It didn't need to be grittier. It got the point across. It delivered it's message without having to apall/nauseate the audience. And that's the most important thing, I think. Get your message across without alienating a larger portion of your audience. It's insinuated. Let that be enough. By the way, one of my favorite lines is, "I'll never get tired of hurting you, Eddie."

[@devinharbert6071]

I Agree Matt Joel Schumacher is an Underrated Director

[@VredesStall]

"The Client", "The Number 23", and (especially) "8mm" are Schumacher's most disturbing films. All very good films for sure... but they are very creepy for sure... but in a good way. But that is the genius of Joel Schumacher. He makes a very disturbing film in such a way that you can't turn it off.

[@Czah5]

If this movie was toned down then it was the right call. In 1999, porn wasn't even really something talked about out in the open, much less the subject matter in this film. Any farther and I fear this movie would have been completely buried. That said, love the movie. Good review.

[@jwnj9716]

I always enjoyed this movie, maybe even more than Hardcore with George C Scott not sure. They're both well told.

[@danielwilliamson6180]

8MM is one of the most disturbing movies ever made. Really good acting by Nicolas Cage.

[@freddiemercury4evr]

And Joaquin Phoenix is fantastic, as always.

[@danielwilliamson6180]

@@freddiemercury4evr Pre Gladiator and Joker Joquain Phoenix.

[@freddiemercury4evr]

@@danielwilliamson6180 Joaquin has done so many films, and always disappears completely into his characters. Quills, Return to Paradise, Walk the Line, Her, The Master, You Were Never Really Here, Don't Worry He Won't Get Far On Foot,etc..

[@wildmanbeyond]

Its nice to see I'm not the only one who likes this film. Btw, The actress who played the mother is Amy Morton. She is well known now for the tv show "Chicago P.D." I've been an extra on that show. I saw her and I also saw Elias Koteas(Casey Jones). He's known for that now.

[@BlindGuardian050]

Was a good movie, watched it a couple times now. Hard to find good movies like this when you've seen so many already

[@austinwillcut4919]

Matt you can go to sites like Bestgore or the dark web, obviously snuff isn't a "myth". I don't get why people believe that when you can watch any depraved shit on the internet lol! Isis is the king of snuff/murder porn right at the moment. I think 8MM is underrated and one of Nicolas Cage's last good movies. I can't believe they made 8MM 2! Thanks for reviewing this one dude, it was a long time coming.

[@Johnlindsey289]

Do you think this is better than August underground or Serbian Film? and have you seen Mandy?

[@rmjmoviereviews6876]

I remember when this came out my Junior year of high school and everybody hated it. I still don't understand the hate it gets? It's an uncomfortable film, and doesn't end on a happy note. It's more of a detective thriller verses an ACTION thriller. And there is a high level of sleaze and creepiness here, Machine and Dino Velvet are two scary psychopaths here. Eddie Pool is more of a sociopath.

[@jakeparker4717]

The main problem is the star of the film. He's a horrible actor

[@austinwillcut4919]

I thought Nic Cage was pretty decent in his prime(the 90's) but nowadays.....yes LOL! He's pretty much Redbox DTV fodder now.

[@Johnlindsey289]

@@jakeparker4717 How do you feel about Bruce Willis?

[@betsyred4830]

I love that movie, I re watch it eveey year. And the phtography is perfect.

[@darrenmarquardt6768]

Nice review on this underrated thriller. I enjoy it for what it is which is actually effective in how Nicolas Cage's character is obsessed and driven to get revenge IMO. It's one of his more underrated performances too IMO. Also, if you're interested in seeing another Cage film with a great performance check out Joe. That's a sort of dark thriller drama like this film only in Texas lol...he's an ex-con who helps the kid from Mud. Solid movie IMO.

[@xxcrysad3000xx]

Yeah Joe is fantastic. I really enjoy those dark dramas about rural life like Joe, Mud, and Out of the Furnace with Christian Bale.

[@darrenmarquardt6768]

It's funny you mentioned Out Of The Furnace...cause I just watched that last night. That's another really good crime drama film with Christian Bale, Casey Affleck, Woody Harrelsen, Willem Defoe, Sam Shepard and Forest Whitaker IMO. I recommend and agree with you...underrated too. Yeah, dark drama/thrillers I enjoy as well. Have you seen Prisoners?

[@xxcrysad3000xx]

Haven't seen or heard of Prisoners, though it looks right up my alley. Thanks for the recommendation and glad you enjoyed Out of the Furnace as much as I did.

[@darrenmarquardt6768]

Trust me...Prisoners is one of the best thrillers in recent years IMO. Imagine a dark mystery crime film in the same technical style as David Fincher...such as Se7en or Zodiac. This director is up there with him in terms of great skill and aesthetics. Also the performances are great and intense (easily one of Hugh Jackman's best performances) and the story is very engaging. I can't recommend it enough.

[@darrenmarquardt6768]

I also wanted to add that it's 153 minutes long and Jake Gylenhaal is incredible too lol. But yeah, let me know what you thought of it.

[@WhiskeyGhost-df9el]

I'll definitely have to give this a look sounds interesting solid review as always Matt

[@kevinsmith7-7-7]

Hardcore while Dated I Highly Recommend, I Love 8MM As well

[@freddiemercury4evr]

Yeah for 1999 it was especially hardcore. Those topics weren't mainstream then. Phenomenal movie.

[@kevinsmith7-7-7]

@@freddiemercury4evr Agreed they were actually shocking at that time

[@drumr72]

"Thou shall not faaaaallllll...........Cryyyyyy little sister....." Give Schumacher credit on his soundtracks in his movies too...The Lost Boys is a killer soundtrack.

[@philin2876]

I like 8mm it a lot. And in defense of Joel S. regarding Batman & Robin, Joel made that movie the way the studio told him to make it. They wanted to appeal to children and sell toys and didn't care about much else.

[@JurassicGodzillaFan]

Good Nicolas Cage film.

[@rharms_]

you're right i just looked up his film listings and his only bad films are bad company and batman +robin, i don't care too much for the stuff he did in the 80s or 2000s but in the 90s i counted 6 REALLY good movies vs 1 bad movie so he's a good one

[@kentuckycunctator]

Schumacher has made more good movies than bad. Not many directors can say that.

[@whitehouse9999]

So I’m watching this at 12:10 am and my eyes are closing and the glare from the dvd box keeps blinding me, with my eyes closed mind you. What’s it reflecting a 20k light bulb. 😂 Anyways I’m wide awake again, while writing this comment. Good job. Good movie 🎥 Joaquin Phoenix btw is really good on this I think this was his first significant role in a movie , so yeah. ✌🏽

[@freddiemercury4evr]

Phoenix never disappoints.

[@philin2876]

If 8mm were any edgier it would have been rated NC-17. As it is it would have been NC-17 if it hadn't been made by a major studio.

[@jokerzw1lde]

I enjoyed the movie too, which I wasn't expecting since I've held a grudge against Schumacher since Batman and Robin. As for Kevin Andrew Walker maybe he was just pissed off because other than Se7en it seems like every film he has written for has been rewritten, for example look at another one of his movies that was released that same year Sleepy Hollow which was also rewritten because Tim Burton felt like it was way too dark. But hell I'd love to be able to see that version of that film lol

[@JoeDredd2012]

Awesome job on very good forgotten thriller I'm happy the studio and Schumacher decided to play it safe to tell a good story by using good cast of actors not just shock in your face artsy ''F.O.S.S.'' IMHO! As for Cage as actor this during the mid 90's after he won has oscar for ''Leaving Las Vegas'' which he earn in that role he was getting a lot respect as a actor doing 3 action films like ''The Rock'',''Con Air'',''Face/Off'' and thrillers like this film along with ''Snake Eyes'' and that drama ''Bringing Out The Dead'' but then when the 2000's started he started going down hill with the lesser ''Gone in 60 Seconds'' which I don't mind him but the direction and lack of action scenes makes it forgettable IMHO.Don't get me started about '''Windtalkers'' lol but I felt he rebounded with ''Ghost Rider'' which I felt his performance is very underrated along with the film never cared for all the hate it got the sequel on the other hand I can understand plus I loved him as ''Big Daddy'' in ''Kick Ass'' too still haven't seen ''Joe'' but I've herd good things about it.

[@เนติธรนาคสิงห์]

Thanks for the review hope your channel grow bigger

[@jiml]

i watched it just now i think its a good movie the music sucks but i agree with the original writer the film feels neutered it defently doesn't deserve an r rating i remember reading the original script the fight at the end was going to be alot longer which would of been cool to see the fight in the film is to short i think it deserves a 6 out 10 but it would have been alot better if they stuck to the original script

[@brandon104627]

Sweet film from 1999

[@xxcrysad3000xx]

I found the movie pretty dark and disturbing back in the day, though I haven't seen it since it came out. Maybe it played it safe and could have been more unrelenting in it's depravity, but then we'd have a completely different film.

[@KiramidHead]

I know Andrew Kevin Walker's big gripe with the film was that Machine took his mask off, and he didn't like that change to his script. I haven't read it myself to see what all is different, though.

[@ramboraph4life]

If that was his biggest gripe? In my opinion, that's a weird gripe to have. It worked fine and even had some good dialogue of 'what did you expect, a monster?' involved in it.

[@jackcraven2266]

I read some draft of the script years ago and from what i remember, it actually didn't had many differences from the film, and it wasn't darker or more violent or anything, although original cut did got NC-17 rating. Apparently, the original ending from first draft had main character killing himself by crashing his car into something, because everything he saw fucked him up, but in the draft i read the ending was pretty much the same as the one in the film. And i think that it's really solid film btw.

[@marguskiis7711]

Prototype of Spielberg "Munich" but a way better.

[@Johnlindsey289]

Saw this when i was 17 in theaters and is an excellent thriller, alot better than August Underground which was garbage

[@pavlo1207]

Good review mate

[@SuperFamiKing]

I watched this the other night. I liked it.

[@chuckyandandy7858]

Am I the only one who likes Batman and Robin?

[@dinkyramirez9866]

1999 😎 Memories Great Film 📽 🔪

[@youceftoun6300]

One of the best film

[@devinharbert6071]

My Favorite Joel Schumacher Films Phone Booth, Number 23, Falling Down, Trespass 2011, A Time To Kill, Bad Company 2002, Batman Forever, Lost Boys, & 8 Millimeter

[@onebadmoto5081]

Unfortunately joel Schumacher had nothing to do with this film being good. David fincher is the only reason it was good. The studio stepped in and altered this movie. If you watch you can tell when they trumped fincher. They did this bc this was too accurate to real life based on more than one real cases. The topic was ahead of its time/plot. Never credit joel Schumacher for this being good. The only reason is David fincher, actual writer, cage, Phoenix, gandolfini, and other actors, but fincher is the only reason it was almost one of the best films ever made. Snuff films are real unfortunately

[@ramboraph4life]

David Fincher did not write it. David Fincher did not direct it. Yes, Joel deserves credit for this just like he deserves credit for Phone Booth, Falling Down & other Solid Movies.

[@onebadmoto5081]

ramboraph4life he directed 90% of film. Fact

[@onebadmoto5081]

ramboraph4life he deserves zero credit. Funny how every film he supposedly made other actually talented directors did everything. He’s talentless

[@178laaleros]

I watched this film on netflix it was surisping good

[@jacob_yancosky]

hell yes.

[@devinharbert6071]

I Like Joaquin Phoenix he’s a Good Actor My Favorite Films Of his are Signs, Ladder 49, Gladiator 2000, 8 Millimeter, & We Own The Night

[@callumwearne7870]

This film was fine the way it was, I do not believe that the explicit content had to be emphasised the way some people proposed to get the point across, Yes Its a stingy world and it stinks and tbh I think thats all we really need to know about the source material, the thriller aspect and mystery to this movie was overall more enthralling than having a GOT style of porn infested scenes that waste time getting the point across. It had enough or just the right amount of those explicit moments (imo) to give me the idea of whats going on and didn't overstate it with useless fetish scenes that don't need to be in the film. Thats why I like this flick, so does it "play it safe"? Not really it does what it needs to do to keep you interested I reckon