Nicolas Cage takes an offer to appear at a rich fan's birthday party, only
to become a mole for the CIA when the fan turns out to be a cartel boss. COMEDY/CRIME
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The Unbearable Weight
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I feel like every Nicolas Cage fan on Earth has been waiting for a film like this their entire life. I remember when this was announced. It sounded silly, but also incredibly niche. Any info I wanted to know about it I had to scour the internet for. Then it got quietly pulled from the 2021 release calendar, and I just assumed the worst. Then, POW! Not only does the first trailer look hilarious, but the film starts getting an insane level of hype, making it one of the most anticipated films of 2022. And I'm so happy about that. We're on the verge of a Nic Cage comeback the likes of which we've never experienced for. Mandy, Color Out of Space, and Pig were just the appetizers. The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is the main course that will see this wholly beloved character actor/movie star ascend to the top of the A-list where he belongs. Also, it's fucking hilarious.
Cage plays a highly fictionalized version of himself who is struggling as an artist, hard up for high-profile gigs, and questioning his place in Hollywood. So, maybe not that fictionalized. He takes a million dollar gig to appear at a super fan's birthday party in Mallorca. The fan is Javi (Pascal), and the two become fast best friends. Javi's collection of Cage artifacts is impressive as hell, including Castor Troy's golden guns from Face/Off and the killer nerve gas beads from The Rock, among other Cage easter eggs. But Cage is picked up by the CIA, who inform him that Javi is a feared cartel boss and they need Cage's help to nail him. Now, Cage must prep for the role of a lifetime and save the day. Every scene is a delight, but the bit where Cage and Javi take LSD together is pure comedy gold. I also love the younger, crazy Nicky Cage that appears to our Cage whenever he's doubting his skills as an actor. You couldn't do this movie with any other actor. You need Nicolas Cage, and you need Cage at this point in his career. Not that he ever went anywhere, as he reminds us in the film. This film could easily have come off as a roast, but it takes the high road and celebrates the career and legacy of an actor who has inspired several generations of movie fans. He's Nic Fuckin' Cage, and this movie may be his greatest ever. |