ScreenFish

where faith and film are intertwined

Tiffany Haddish

SF Radio 8.23: Bearing THE UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF MASSIVE TALENT

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In THE UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF MASSIVE TALENT, Nicolas Cage takes on his greatest enemy… Nicolas Cage. After his mounting debt forces him to take on an appearance a birthday party offering a $1M paycheque, Cage somehow becomes embroiled in a CIA investigation, political kidnapping and, most challenging of all, reconciling with his family. This week, Dave Voigt (InTheSeats.ca) and newcomer Adam Kline drop by the podcast to talk about the legacy of Nic Cage, our obsession with celebrities and what makes a ‘good’ film.

You can stream on podomatic, Alexa (via Stitcher), Spotify, iHeart Radio or Amazon Podcasts! Or, you can downoad the ep on Apple Podcasts!

Want to continue to conversation at home?  Click the link below to download ‘Fishing for More’ — some small group questions for you to bring to those in your area.

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The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent: Nicolas Cage Deconstructs Nicolas Cage

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In recent years, it has become increasingly popular for films to wink at the camera with an eye of self-awareness. But I don’t know if there will ever be a film that takes a more meta-approach to its filmmaking than The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent.

With Massive Talent, star Nicolas Cage has created a story that is fantastical, autobiographical and action-packed all rolled up into one. 

It’s also an utter delight from start to finish. 

Directed by Tommy Gorcan, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent follows Hollywood icon Nicolas Cage (playing himself) as he struggles to balance his career and personal problems. Crushed under the weight of his enormous debt and divorce settlement, Cage finds himself taking on roles that are not up to his self-imposed standards in order to pay the bills. When he gets an offer to make an appearance at a rich fan’s birthday party for a hefty $1 million pay check, his ego is insulted by the request but his debt forces him to take the gig. When he arrives, he is drawn to his charismatic benefactor, Javi Gutierrez (Pedro Pascal) who wishes nothing more than to write a screenplay with his idol. However, Cage soon discovers that his wealthy host may not be as innocent as he believes and the actor becomes embroiled in in a CIA plot that requires the real-life Cage to step into action. 

Pedro Pascal as Javi and Nicholas Cage as “fictionalized version of himself” in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent. Katalin Vermes/Lionsgate

Featuring a wonderful cast that includes Neil Patrick Harris, Ike Barinholtz and Tiffany Haddish, the majority of the cast are working to set Cage up to steal the scenes. Even so, it’s also worth noting that the best performance may lie with Pedro Pascal. Playing Cage’s potential best friend (or super-villain) throughout the film, the relationship between these two characters holds the film together and provides one of the best onscreen bromances we’ve seen in recent years. With energy and enthusiasm, Pascal is easily as gleefully over-the-top as Cage here (and that is not an easy task to manage). Simply put, they are absolutely wonderful to watch on screen. 

For fans of Cage though, Massive Talent will feel like the culmination of the last three decades of his career. Once considered a massive box office draw due to classic action films like Con Air and Face-Off, Cage’s own real-life financial issues caused him to take a step back from the limelight in order to pay off his own colossal debt. As a result, Cage chose to take on endless streams of straight-to-video films that began to veer into increasingly stranger and stranger projects. For many, this could be a career death sentence but, for Cage, it has had the opposite effect. Starring in titles that included the brutal Chuck-E-Cheese satire Willy’s Wonderland, the wild horror Mandy, the faith-based Left Behind and many, many more have made him somewhat of a legend on the indie market. 

What’s more, Massive Talent feels as though it’s being written for the fans while it unfolds in front of them. As Cage and Javi piece together their dream project, so too do we understand that the film is doing the same. Debates about how the third act should unfold affect the storytelling in hilarious ways. Is it a character-driven drama? An action film? With hilarious results, Massive Talent attempts to figure this out yet never loses itself along the way. (‘You have to have something for everyone if you want people to go to the theatre’, the film laughs.)

Although the fictional Cage may not have stopped working (much to the chagrin of his estranged family), the projects he has chosen are smaller in scale, leaving him with a certain sense of anonymity. Fans have begun to wonder where he has gone, even if he repeatedly reminds them “that he [never] went anywhere“. In this way, Cage’s willingness to self-parody his own experience as a megastar gives Massive Talent an added layer of reality that truly gives it life. While we know the film is fiction, it almost feels like a glimpse inside his Hollywood diary.

We know that this isn’t really Cage… but is it? 

Underneath the goofiness, this is very much a film about what it takes to be a man in a world of hyper-reality. Massive Talent serves as a reminder of the humanness of celebrities as they battle personal issues that lie beyond the weirdness of Hollywood and expectations of fans. Shown here as a self-centered narcissist that’s constantly distracted by his phone, Cage’s determination to get back on top is destroying his family. His commitment to validate ‘Cage the Star’ is eating away at the relationships that matter most. (In fact, in some of the film’s most hilarious moments, Cage argues with his younger self about whether or not he is satisfied with his role as a consistently working actor or whether he deserves to be a megastar.)  Fictional Cage has become lost within his own ambition and his world is falling apart as a result. As celebrity culture and rabid fandom can take stars like Cage to the highest of heights, it can also cause you to lose your soul in the process. 

How can you know who you really are when you are trying so hard to be the one that everyone expects? 

Fueled by a world of image obsession, Cage’s self-satirical coming-of-age in this film is that he begins to re-discover the relationships that are most important to him and the sacrifices that may need to be made in order to restore them. This emotional journey gives Massive Talent a much-needed soul that grounds the film, even in its silliest of moments.

Hilarious, heartwarming and self-effacing, it goes without saying that The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is one of Cage’s best roles in years. In a love letter to his fans, Cage’s willingness to poke fun at his own Hollywood image feels genuine as he explores the toxicity of Hollywood on the male ego. What’s more, it’s also a reminder that (maybe) Nicolas Cage is back. 

Not that he ever really went anywhere at all.

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is available in theatres on Friday, April 22nd, 2022.

Here Today: What Matters is the Moment

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Set in the urban jungle of New York City, Here Today tells the story of veteran comedy writer Charlie Burnz (Billy Crystal). Struggling with oncoming dementia and his broken relationships with his kids, Charlie spends his days as a writer on an SNL-type variety show where the younger team members largely want to ignore his ideas. However, when he meets New York singer Emma Payge (Tiffany Haddish), a spark returns to his soul. Despite the difference in their ages, their relationship gives life to them both and begins to redefine the meaning of love and trust.

While Here Today may not be remembered as much more than a footnote in the careers of both stars, that would be unfortunate. Written and directed by Crystal, there’s no doubt that the sheer talent of both leads is on full display. Whereas both Crystal and Haddish are best known for their frenetic energy, both choose to dial back their performances in ways that allows their genuine affection for one another to shine through. While the script doesn’t always work, the chemistry between Crystal and Haddish is so palpable that the film becomes an utter delight.

As the slowly degenerating but still vigorous Charlie, Crystal gives one of his best performances in years. There’s simply a maturity embedded within his performance here that allows his charm to come forward without overwhelming the film with erratic silliness. What’s more, Haddish absolutely stuns as burgeoning performer Emma, offering tenderness with Crystal but sheer bombastic star power when she’s onstage. Together, they elevate one another’s performances and creates a surprisingly lovable pairing.

Refreshingly honest in its tone, Here Today is a dramatic comedy about what it means to live with perspective. As the entertainment industry has gotten younger and faster, Charlie has become increasingly pushed aside by much of his co-workers. Despite his history and pedigree, Charlie is viewed somewhat as an irrelevant dinosaur who simply doesn’t get today’s edgier humour. However, Charlie’s wisdom and expertise also provide opportunity to see things that others miss in a rapidly paced world. Despite his voice being largely forgotten, those who him always benefit from his years of experience. For example, while the writing team loves their main comedian, Charlie instead prefers the work of the new kid who offers potential. While not as brash as their lead guy, this youth has shown a sharp satirical eye but needs coaching. 

At the same time though, Charlie is also burdened by the poor decisions of his youth. Despite his jovial exterior, the brokenness of his own soul (and failing health) plagues him in his personal life. As such, Charlie lives estranged from his kids and suffers his oncoming dementia alone. However, his struggles with his past and uncertain future causes Charlie to put an emphasis on the day. To him, today is what matters most. Enjoying lunch with a friend. Taking in a concert. Although he has baggage that needs to be dealt with, its the simple pleasures of life that matter most when they are in front of you and he wants to savour the time that he has left. As such, Here Today highlights both the fragility of life and the importance of each moment of it. 

With grace and humour, Here Today is one of the more pleasant surprises of 2021 so far. Elevated by sparkling performances by Crystal and Haddish, the film oozes with personality, making it an absolute joy to watch. Although there are moments where the film dips too far into sentiment, there’s little question that this is a film you may enjoy if you decide to rent it Here Today.

Here Today is available on demand and DVD now.

The Lego Movie 2: The Toxic Gender Wars

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We all owe Disney a collective ‘Thank You’.

After their unceremonial firing as directors of Solo: A Star Wars Story, Phil Lord and Chris Miller were immediately offered involvement in two projects that needed guidance. One such project was Spider-Man: Into The Spider Verse, an animated spin outside the confines of the MCU that was met with critical acclaim and may well net a Best Animated award from this month’s Oscars. The other project was, of course, The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part, a sequel which clearly benefits from their unique energy and voice.

The Second Part arrives at an interesting point in the franchise. Despite the critical and financial success of the first film and its follow-up Lego Batman, the misstep of The Lego Ninjago Movie seems to have tempered anticipation for the world of Bricksburg. While the first entry felt like a fresh take on the importance of play (and its stunning connection to the human world), follow-ups have felt increasingly like extended toy commercials. Thankfully, The Second Part feels like a return to form for the series that almost achieves the same success as the first.

Directed by Mike Mitchell (Sky High) and produced by Lord and Miller, The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part begins immediately following the events of Taco Tuesday in the first film. Here, the citizens of Bricksburg face a dangerous new threat when invaders from space begin to destroy everything in their path. When Lucy, Batman and their friends are kidnapped and taken to the land of DUPLO, Emmett must venture into unknown territory in an effort to save them from the villainous Queen Watevra Wa-Nabi.

Filled with Lord and Miller’s trademark whip-smart pop culture references and layered dialogue, The Second Part further embraces the interaction between the imaginative and human world by taking the beloved characters beyond the basement and into the vast unexplored region of the Systar system. While the first film was concerned with Emmett’s journey to discovering what it means to be ‘The Special’, The Second Part shifts gears to explore the dangers of toxic gender roles. As the now beloved characters darkly brood over the state of Apocolypseburg, the greatest threat to their world seems to be… brightly colored hearts and glittery musical numbers. Led by WyldStyle and Batman, the lost Legos do their best not to succumb to the suspicious nature of the female-branded toys. (After all, anything that causes Superman and Lex Luthor to become friends must be evil!)

On the other hand, Emmett’s journey to save his friends also brings him into contact with Rex Dangervest (also Chris Pratt), a galaxy-defending space cowboy that trains raptors. Without giving away any spoilers, the inclusion of the dual role for Pratt provides an opportunity to hilariously satire the more ‘masculine’ roles that he has played through his career and lampoon their perceived macho traits. (In fact, the film also includes a cameo by one of Hollywood’s most accomplished action heroes as he mocks one of his most famous characters.) By throwing these two very different gender stereotypes up against one another, The Second Part effectively explores the toxic nature of all labels, encouraging the value of celebrating people for who they are. As a result, there is a divine equality within The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part that acknowledges to our differences and also creates space for celebrating them as well.

While the sequel doesn’t quite carry the same resonance of the first film, the film remains sharp and entertaining with new thematic ground to cover. Thanks to the crazed brilliance of Lord and Miller, The Second Part is funny, self-aware, and more than willing to help children engage in complex topics worth discussion.

So, yes. In the end, everything is still awesome.

Special Features include “Everything is Awesome Sing-along,” “They Come in Pieces: Assembling The LEGO Movie 2,”​ “Emmet’s Holiday Party: A LEGO Movie Short,” “LEGO Sets in Action” (highlighting LEGO product), “LEGO Designers,” “Super Cool Music Video” (by Beck featuring Robyn and The Lonely Island), outtakes and deleted scenes, and promotion spots.

5.10 Deconstructing THE LEGO MOVIE 2: THE SECOND PART

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With the release of LEGO MOVIE 2: THE SECOND PART, Emmet, Wildstyle and the crew find themselves in the worst possible scenario—when everything isn’t awesome. When an attack from DUPLO invaders further disrupts their post-apocalyptic world, Emmett must travel to the far outreaches of the Systar System in order to rescue his friends from the unmalicious queen Watevera Wanabi before she enacts Armomageddon, destroying the entire universe. This week, we welcome back Heather Johnson and Alan Sharrer to talk about the film’s understanding of growing up and the toxic gender wars. 

You can also stream the episode above on podomatic, SoundCloud or on Spotify! Or, you can download the ep on Apple Podcasts, Google Play or more!

Want to continue to conversation at home?  Click the link below to download ‘Fishing for More’ — some small group questions for you to bring to those in your area.

5.10 Lego Movie 2 – The Second Part

Thanks Heather and Alan for joining us!


 

 

Girls Trip – Strong Women, Crazy Fun, and Deeper Meanings

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Image result for girls trip movie

It would be an understatement to say that Ryan, Sasha, Lisa, and Dina were as close as friends could get. Calling themselves the Flossy Posse, these women were more of a sisterhood. They formed one of those epic groups of friends that everyone remembers.

And then life happens. Friends, although with the best of intentions to stay close, can drift apart when careers, spouses, and even children get in the way.

An all-star cast of Regina Hall, Queen Latifah, Tiffany Haddish, and Jada Pinkett Smith give us this group of phenomenal women characters. Hall gives us the hard working Ryan Pierce, a famous self-help figure who encourages people that they can “have it all”. Queen Latifah gives us the confident Sasha Franklin, a popular gossip blogger. The hilarious Haddish brings us Dina, the unemployed, wild and out-spoken friend who is fiercely loyal to those closest to her. Pinkett Smith presents the more conservative role of Lisa Cooper, a nurse and mother of two who is no longer the party girl she used to be.

Directed by Malcolm D. Lee, Girls Trip is a downright fun, unabashedly debaucherous film. Pinkett Smith called it a “hard R”, which is unsurprising given its extensive alcohol and drug use, sexual content, and profanity; it’s definitely a cross between Bridesmaids and Sex and the City. Is this just a fun, girls-night-out movie that should be taken with a grain of salt? Or are there some messages we can take from?

Image result for girls trip movie

It’s no secret that people grow up and change, sometimes drastically. And this can put serious strains on a relationship. We see the “growing pains” that these women go through after coming together for an extended period of time after barely seeing each other in the last number of years. It’s intriguing to see how their currently personalities mesh with one another and how they navigate the different structure of their group.

Ryan is married to her sweetheart, Stewart Pierce (Mike Colter). They are in the public eye and portray a perfect marriage, amongst their perfect lives. Secretly, though, Stewart has been regularly cheating on Ryan. When the Flossy Posse confront Ryan with this information, we come to learn that Ryan is well aware of Stewart’s cheating, and that they have been trying to work through it with counseling. Things get worse with Ryan and Stewart’s relationship and, when it seems like the obvious choice, Ryan does not leave Stewart. It moves past a loyal wife doing everything in her power to save her relationship, to something more like staying together to save face and maintain their image in the public eye. It brings up the difficult question of when is enough, enough? How much can one take before making the impossible decision to leave their spouse? We also see Ryan’s closest friends attempt to assist her in this decision. They see from the outside what’s going on and how it’s affecting Ryan. They obviously want the best for her and can’t stand to see Stewart putting her through this. I’m sure it’s an extremely difficult position to be in – trying to tell your friend that she is being stepped on, while simultaneously trying to be respectful of her and let her make the decision that she is comfortable with.

When Ryan eventually decides to leave Stewart, we see her very vulnerable side. Her whole image seems to include Stewart. She needs to reclaim her individuality not only on a personal level, but also on a business level. Business dealings that she had arranged together with Stewart now needed to be changed to include only her.

One scene that still has me thinking is the scene where, before the partying began, they all knelt down in front of the bed in the hotel room to pray. Dina began to pray.  You’ll recall that Dina is the joker of the group and I was fully expecting this prayer scene to immediately turn into comedy.  But she genuinely prays to God about her thankfulness for her friends and the time they are spending together.

Image result for girls trip movie

It’s weird to say, but I’m proud of this movie. It portrays four very different but strong women who are navigating different paths in life. We see some of them at their finest, and some of them at their darkest. We see that it’s okay to be down and vulnerable. It doesn’t make us any less of a human being. It’s okay to be alone. It’s okay to lean on others for help. This film, to me, seems like another step in the right direction for female empowerment on screen.

One thing that I’m taking from this movie is how important the people around us are. Having a support system in life is just so incredibly important. And we shouldn’t take these people for granted.