Plot
A private investigator is hired to discover if a "snuff film" is authentic or not.
Release Year: 1999
Rating: 6.3/10 (60,909 voted)
Critic's Score: 19/100
Director:
Joel Schumacher
Stars: Nicolas Cage, Joaquin Phoenix, James Gandolfini
Storyline A small, seemingly innocuous plastic reel of film leads surveillance specialist Tom Welles down an increasingly dark and frightening path. With the help of the streetwise Max, Welles relentlessly follows a bizarre trail of evidence to determine the fate of a complete stranger. As his work turns into obsession, he drifts farther and farther away from his wife, family and simple life as a small-town private eye.
Cast: Nicolas Cage
-
Tom Welles
Joaquin Phoenix
-
Max California
James Gandolfini
-
Eddie Poole
Peter Stormare
-
Dino Velvet
Anthony Heald
-
Daniel Longdale
Chris Bauer
-
George Higgins
/
Machine
Catherine Keener
-
Amy Welles
Myra Carter
-
Mrs. Christian
Amy Morton
-
Janet Mathews
Jenny Powell
-
Mary Ann Mathews
Anne Gee Byrd
-
Senator Michaelson
Jack Betts
-
Butler
Luis Oropeza
-
Archive Director
Rachel Singer
-
Neighbor
Don Creech
-
Mr. Anderson
Taglines:
Some doors should never be opened
Release Date: 26 February 1999
Filming Locations: Clevelander Hotel - 1020 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, Florida, USA
Box Office Details
Budget: $40,000,000
(estimated)
Opening Weekend: $14,252,888
(USA)
(28 February 1999)
(2370 Screens)
Gross: $36,283,504
(USA)
(9 May 1999)
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Did You Know?
Trivia:
The graffiti-covered buildings shown in the film are all that is left of some radar buildings built by Howard Hughes.
Goofs:
Factual errors:
Hollywood has no red-light district.
Quotes:
[first lines]
Airport Announcer:
Welcome to Miami. While in the airport, please observe Florida and local laws which prohibit any smoking in the terminal. Thank you for not smoking.
User Review
A dark, graphic view into the underworld of pornography
Rating: 8/10
Firstly, this film is hugely under-rated. For those reviewers who call
this film a "waste of time" or place it in the "hall of shame", maybe
they should go back to watching more obvious and simple films.
8mm focuses on "snuff" movies and follows Nicholas Cage as he ventures
into the dark underworld of the pornographic industry. I'm not a great
fan of Nicholas Cage (I still wonder how he ever made it as a movie
star), but in 8mm felt he redeemed himself from past performances.
Other actors in the film put on great performances, notably Joaquin
Pheonix, and James Gandolfini (of Sopranos).
What makes the film worth watching though is the emotion, dark imagery
and tense moments throughout the film. The storyline too is very well
thought out although does have a few holes and untouched areas that may
have helped develop the film further. There is no Hollywood ending,
forced propaganda, or marketing. What you do get is graphic scenes,
moderate violence, and an insight into "snuff" movies (which really is
quite disturbing).
Having said that this movie is not for the faint hearted, so if you're
a "puppy-dogs and ice-cream" kind of person I'd suggest watching
something else. If however, you feel you will be able to stomach such a
film then prepare yourself for a moving film, which will leave you
feeling that little bit darker at the end.
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