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Rick Santoro: Nicolas Cage Kevin Dunne: Gary Sinise Julia Costello: Carla Gugino Gilbert Powell: John Heard Lincoln Tyler: Stan Shaw Lou Logan: Kevin Dunn Directed by Brian De Palma. Written by Brian De Palma and David Koepp. Running time: 99 minutes. Rated R (for some violence). |
For a director to film a scene in one long and continuous take is like running a marathon: preparation, energy and mental focus. The director, cinematographer, actors and actresses, etc. all have to be in sync, as it may take hours or even days to make the scene perfect. With only one shot, one tiny mistake can ruin the whole shoot. It is probably the hardest task in filmmaking.
Brian De Palma uses it as if it were a toy in Snake Eyes, as he films the longest scene in one take that I have ever witnessed. Nicolas Cage is onscreen for almost the whole time, as a corrupt Atlantic City cop, who eventually wants to run for office. He walks around each scene as if we are going on a tour of the building from the camera room to backstage to ringside.
The scene involves us in Atlantic City and the stage is set for a heavyweight championship fight. Before the event, we find Rick Santoro (Nicolas Cage) backstage making some bets, then shakedown one of his neighborhood drug dealers, then chat with the "Round-Card" girl and yet still have time to console his wife. The shot continues as we find ourselves ringside, where we meet Rick's childhood friend, then Rick woos a sexy blond who sits right next to him and the marathon ends with a gunshot as someone falls down near Rick. Did I mention that the fight has already started too?
The scene is wonderful and mind blowing, as we wonder how many takes it took for De Palma to get the perfect shot, not to mention the days it took to set it up. The shot seems endless as we watch Cage run rampant around the set, but look closer. There may have been a subtle cut in between the action. Hint: Just before Cage meets Sinise. It doesn't matter as De Palma has put another log on the fire, as he has raised the bar for his fellow peers. He has ousted such long takes by Martin Scorsese in Goodfellas or Paul Thomas Anderson in Boogie Nights and has issued a challenge to all other directors to beat him.
Cage, dressed in a classic Hawaiian shirt, is superb as we witness his electrifying, energetic ("I am the king!") and wild performance as he greets one person to the next. The other actors are wonderful as they make the scene flow and the camera work, by Stephen H. Burum, is perfectly orchestrated as we desperately try to keep up with Cage.
After the riveting scene, one question comes to mind: Can De Palma keep the intensity for the rest of the movie? As the saying goes, "What comes up must come down." And does it ever. Snake Eyes falls faster than a pilot losing control of an airplane. The movie does throw some monkey wrenches to keep us interested in the movie, but it still lacks the intensity of the opening act.
The other characters in the movie are Kevin Dunne (Gary Sinise) who is a Navy officer that is in charge of security for the Secretary of Defense; Julia Costello (Carla Gugino) who has secret information for the Secretary of Defense and Lincoln Tyler (Stan Shaw) who is the defending champion. They give good performances, but Cage out shines them all.
The movie then takes on the form of Rashmon as we go through the rest of the movie with flashbacks as Rick tries to piece the whole murder together. With each perspective we learn something new that help shed light to the objective of the shooting. Unfortunately all that we see is not true, as two views collide with each other. Who is telling the truth?
The movie felt like David Koepp and Brian De Palma, the two writers, just wrote a quick draft and shot the movie. The movie is filled with so many unbelievable situations. For instance, during the attempt of the security holding back the 5000 spectators/witnesses, they aren't able to find a woman with blood all over her and not think she is suspicious. Wouldn't that be the first person you ask questions too?
One of the themes in the movie is the transformation of Rick. As the movie progresses his ideals begin to change. He almost is enlightened as his world is shattered and he realizes the error of his ways. Of course the transformation is done in one night which makes it seem more ludicrous than credible. It may be pulled off anywhere else, but not in a thriller, especially one that lives for the moment like this movie.
If you notice, the movie is pretty short, only a hour and a half. The short length of time is evident at the climax of the movie. The climax basically felt like a walk by. We get a summary of what happens and then the movie ends. I won't describe it as it will ruin the plot, but while you watch the ending, imagine exactly what is happening and ask yourself what is wrong with this picture?
Snake Eyes is a disappointing film in that it gets us excited with a great opening and quickly goes flat before you can even get comfortable in your seat. I would have enjoyed the movie much more if I didn't see the trailer, as it revealed too much of the details to dictate any suspense, which seems to be an ongoing occurrence in Hollywood today.
In any De Palma film, you are guaranteed a visually entertaining film i.e. The Untouchables, Mission Impossible, but that does not ring true for the story. If only De Palma can apply his craft to writing as he does with his technical skills, then we can get a real treat. Grade: C+
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