Crime Thrillers Everywhere! 8MM and Taking Lives - Review

Today I will be reviewing two crime thrillers and while I enjoyed both I did so for very different reasons as I will show below.

8MM (1999)

This was a powerful gritty crime drama with a great lead performance by Nicolas Cage who is tasked with investigating the origins of a snuff film. From the stacked cast to the top notch direction from Joel Schumacher this is one of the better films of the 1990's.

What struck me most about this film was how well it balanced depicting the seedier side of society such that it did show these grisly aspects of the world without making them seem ridiculous or a hazard Nicolas Cage could simply overcome such as Liam Neeson in the movie Taken.

Cage is limited in his ability to effect change in this grounded world which to me was one of the more captivating aspects of this film. When shown some parts of this underworld he becomes numb to it to an extent but when forced to act in ways he hadn't before it shakes him.

Cage is brilliant here in that his performance is well balanced and when the big emotional scenes happen they feel genuine especially one toward the film's end where he breaks down crying.

Joaquin Phoenix is likewise great here at being Cage's gatekeeper into the porn underworld. His interesting accent and surprisingly insightful side made for a memorable and fun character to work alongside Cage.

James Gandolfini is also amazing here, which he often was in these smaller rolls he got in 1990's films such as True Romance and Crimson Tide. Gandolfini perfectly embodies someone who has put his morals aside to make a buck but not by becoming numb to the world but by turning a blind eye to it.

Amy Morton is one of the unsung heroes of this film as she plays the mother of the missing girl shown in the snuff film. Her connection to cage and the key scene they share in the third act were essential to making this film work and she was brilliant in these moments.

Joel Schumacher (R.I.P.) does a great job at bringing this world to life with dilapidated sets, creative cinematography, and great scene direction. Schumacher is an under appreciated director of this time which is a shame as he did so much great work beyond this movie including Falling Down, The Lost Boys, and so much more.

This is a fantastic movie that is not for the faint of heart as it does touch on some unsightly subjects but it does not go so far as to shock the audience but rather uses this as a backdrop to tell a human story about crime, money, and human nature.

One last thing, the poster for this movie is beautiful. One of the more undervalued movie artworks out there. It's a shame the art of the movie poster has deteriorated.

Here is the trailer for 8MM:

Taking Lives (2004)

This is a cheap, messy, and over the top crime thriller that almost directly rips of Se7en, especially during the opening credits, yet despite that somehow keeps you engaged through its ridiculous and sloppy presentation that you can’t look away from.

Ethan Hawke is the silver lining in this train wreck of a great time. I love this guy, he is believable in any role and never fails to be entertaining. Through the ridiculous script he works with here he still gives a great performance. Really enjoyed the twists and turns he took.

Angelina Jolie was… a lot. It’s hard to take her as a married to the job outcast detective who struggles to make connections and rubs people the wrong way. I get that actors want to show that they have range but there is always a limit to it and Jolie seems to have strayed well beyond it here.

Kiefer Sutherland is perhaps one of the only actors working in Hollywood who can be in a movie for seven minutes and be impactful right out of the gate and leave a lasting impression with the viewer. This guy is seriously impressive at taking small roles and turning in great work.

D.J. Caruso is adequately competent as a director here in that through the muddled script that is painfully easy to predict he continues to keep the viewer engaged with how he presented the story. The movie never slowed down and never struggled to keep me watching.

A young Paul Dano also makes a small appearance here in what can best be described as a precursor to his roles in Prisoners, There Will Be Blood, and The Batman. Not sure there is a better actor at playing a socially awkward and maniacal villain.

I recommend this one to anyone who enjoys crime thrillers such as Se7en, Prisoners, Copycat, Mystic River, etc. While this film never comes close to being as good as those ones it is a light excursion into the genre that gives similar thrills but imparts less of a lasting impact.

Here is the trailer for Taking Lives: