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)

Runtime: 123 min

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.

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.

I highly recommend this film. 8/10

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