If you think Nicolas Cage passionately smooching his younger self is one of the weirdest things, then you should watch Tom Gormican’s latest edition of the utmost weird, “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent.” From “what the frag” moments to funny action sequences, this film has brought many insights of Hollywood business to light. In other words, it is a soliloquy of an actor who used to be famous. You have to keep your critical eyes aside and watch the movie for its sheer brilliance as it keeps you super entertained.
Does “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent” talk about Nicolas Cage’s life choices? Well, this depends on how well you react to humor. This film already mocks his habit of spending a fortune and being in debt. Also, there are certain references from his films like Moonstruck, Gone in 60 Seconds, Face-off, Con Air, etc. There are also numerous Easter Eggs for Cage fans. All in all, this movie is one of the craziest ever from Nick Cage, featuring the legend himself and Pedro Pascal in the lead roles. So, let’s get right into it and discuss what this film is about.
The story starts with a couple watching “Con Air” when the girl praises how brilliant Nicolas Cage is in that movie. Suddenly, the doorbell rings, and the girl gets herself kidnapped. Then we are introduced to Aging Actor Nicolas Cage and his struggles. He goes to meet with a director, and he wants this film so badly that he shouts out the dialogue from the script to convince the director. After that, we get to know that the older Nicolas Cage interacts with the younger version of himself subconsciously to have a mental discussion. This version actually controls the real version of him. The insecurities and the fear of missing out of the actor are represented through this character.
As the film progresses, Nick Cage is called to attend a birthday party for which he will be paid in millions. He at first rejects it out of pride, but as soon as his film got called off and his family sort of rejected him for his narcissistic behavior, the distorted actor decides to retire from show business. But before that, he wants to attend one last call, the birthday party. From here on, the film becomes crazier than you can imagine. Some might argue that the screenplay doesn’t make any sense at all, but the approach of the film was intended to be like that.
When Nick Cage comes to the airport, a special task force appointed by the US government tracks him and tells him that the guy who invited him there is a suspect in a kidnapping. ‘The guy’ actually is the millionaire Javi Gutierrez, played by Pedro Pascal. Javi is actually the sort of fanboy of Nick Cage who would do anything to please him. He wrote a screenplay and wants Cage to act in it. Although there were some misunderstandings in the beginning, Cage found it hard to believe that Javi would kidnap anyone. But, as the plot progresses, it reveals that Javi has no connections with the mafia; it is his cousin who kidnapped Maria Delgado, daughter of Catalonia’s President. In the end, the film about Javi was released, Nick Cage acted in it, and everything went smoothly.
The Bond Between An Actor And His Fan
“The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent,” in actuality, deals with the chemistry between two men. Actors always feel a connection with their fans, a kind of relationship that they develop over the years. A hint of appreciation always escalates the enthusiasm of an actor. In this movie, when Nicolas Cage was ready to retire from acting, he found a fanboy. Pedro Pascal plays the character of a sophisticated millionaire who has the hobby of a collector. This somehow gives an ego boost to the actor Nicolas Cage once was. He wanted to celebrate each moment by discussing the life he had through his movies and Javi became his true companion to share this nostalgia.
Cage was neither a perfect father, nor a perfect actor, but he devoted his life to entertain the audience. When he found a role that could do justice to his acting career, his younger self comes up and reminds him that he is a star, not just any actor. His daughter always complained about his selfish nature. She felt the urge to change herself into something her father would like, although she never wanted to change at all. This somehow affected Cage, and later, he tried to get rid of his subconscious mind. This is somehow one of the points when you realize that there is something different between what you really want and what you wish.
Cage wished to be a person who needs to be remembered for his own narcissistic reasons, but in reality, deep down in his heart, he always knew that he wanted to be a better person and a better father. It is quite significant from the scene where the two (Javi and Cage) exchange their shoes. It is sort of a reference to trying to be in someone else’s shoes. It eventually changed him into a better person. He confronted his flaws and became a better friend, a good husband, and an almost perfect father. Whether you are a star or a commoner, all you want at the end of the day is a warm hug from your loved ones. When they call you selfish, the world seems so very suffocating, but when they admire what a good person you are, the world seems more beautiful than ever.
“The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent” will not be remembered as being one of the best ever made by Nicolas Cage. Here, Nicolas Cage labels himself as John Malkovich from Spike Jonze’s “Being John Malkovich.” Although Tom Gormican’s version of the story has more self-referencing touches of humor, and the comic essence is more subtly written. This film also brings forth the dark side of the Hollywood business in a way that people can easily relate to and enjoy. A Cage fan will certainly re-experience his filmography with each scene. This is the resurrection of Nicolas Cage. He is now introduced to the new-age movie-goers. This is a movie that both mocks the actor and presents him as a legend. There is obviously an audience in present days who might deny the legacy Cage contained. But, from a different perspective, it is also true that Cage has shown his truest self in very rare movies.
All in all, “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent” amplifies in every sector and undoubtedly grows to an extent as a comedy action movie. When the younger Cage screams “Nicolas “beep” Cage,” in a way, you ought to have the chills. The film ends with an establishment shot where you can find a billboard that contains the poster for the movie itself. Absurd? Well, in all the absurdities lie in the unbearable weight of massive talent of Nicolas Cage, the legend.
