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The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022)

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is one of the most meta comedies to be released this year. The film serves as a tribute to the filmography and persona of iconic actor, Nicolas Cage. Over the years, Cage has garnered a reputation for his unique acting style that has often been parodied and discussed and The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is a perfect response from the man himself. The film follows Cage playing a fictionalised version of himself who is offered $1 million to travel to Spain and attend billionaire Javi Gutierrez’s birthday party. Struggling to revitalise his career and maintain a relationship with his daughter, Cage soon finds himself in the middle of a major operation as CIA agents Vivian (Tiffany Haddish) and Martin (Ike Barinholtz) rely on Cage for intelligence.

Directed by Tom Gormican who cowrote the screenplay with Kevin Etten, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent leans into everything we love about Nicolas Cage, even going as far as to include a version of Cage named “Nicky” that torments him about the direction his life has taken. The film acts as a retrospective of Cage’s vast filmography while also allowing Cage to showcase his talent thanks to the range that the role demands. The script may not be the most complex, but it doesn’t need to be as this film is all about the actor and his performance while also giving Pedro Pascal an opportunity to show that he is incredibly funny.

Nicolas Cage plays a fictionalised version of himself while also playing a hallucination that parodies an appearance Cage made on TV in the 1990s. His performance is quintessential Cage, bringing his signature charisma with a brilliant level of self-awareness, showcasing his passion for acting. What is fantastic about Cage’s performance is that it feels genuine and sincere in execution with plenty of nods and tributes to his extensive filmography. There are plenty of parodies and memes online surrounding Nicolas Cage and his performances, but it is often forgotten that the man is actually a brilliant actor and thay the charisma feeds into each of his performances, especially his action films of the 90s. Cage’s performance in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent gives him the platform to show just how good an actor he is while equally feeding into the frenzy that surrounds him in popular culture.

In support, we have Pedro Pascal who plays billionaire Javi Gutierrez. Pascal has proven his dramatic skills, especially on TV with his performance in Game of Thrones still remaining a fan favourite even though he wasn’t in a lot of episodes. However, in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, Pascal shows that he is more than capable of pulling of a comical performance. Unpredictable and intense, Pascal feeds off Cage’s eccentric energy and the two make a great pair to watch throughout. What makes Pascal the perfect choice for the role is how likeable he is while also providing an intensity that works brilliantly against Cage’s eccentricity. It’s clear that Pascal is having a lot of fun in the role which makes it even more enjoyable to watch.

The score by Mark Isham plays into the action and feels reminiscent of Cage’s films from the 90s with a mix of fast-paced tracks to backdrop the chase scenes while slower and more dramatic tracks support the emotional moments between characters. The track “They Made You” is one of the highlights as it is filled with plenty of tension while also incorporating the Spanish guitar to reflect the film’s setting. Isham’s score works well as it fits the film perfectly while also leaning into Cage’s persona and filmography.

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is a wonderful celebration of Nicolas Cage and his unique charisma and acting style. However, the film isn’t simply a tribute to the star as it incorporates an intriguing storyline and a phenomenal turn by Pedro Pascal who has great chemistry with Cage throughout the film. With plenty of humour from beginning to end, there is also a thread of sincerity that brings an emotional weight to the film.

What did you think of The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent? Let me know in the comments below!

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is available to own on DVD and bluray!

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I Care a Lot (2020)

Another film that reigned victorious was J Blakeson’s dark comedy I Care a Lot. Winning Rosamund Pike the Golden Glibe for Lead Actress in a Musical or Comedy. The film follows con artist Marla (Pike) who acts as a legal guardian for the rich and elderly in order to drain them off their funds and fill her own pockets. Directed and written by Blakeson, I Care a Lot boasts pitch black comedy that may not be to everyone’s taste but its interweaving with other genres such as thriller makes it both gripping and unpredictable. With past films including 2009’s The Disappearance of Alice Creed, Blakeson is clearly a filmmaker who wants to push boundaries and discuss topics that a lot of filmmakers don’t dare say. I Care a Lot in particular is a satirical look not only in the health care legal system in the US but also the hunger and greed to achieve the American Dream and what some people will do to others in order to make money. Filled from wall to wall with horrible characters with even worse motives, this film will keep you on your toes from the first scene.

Marking Rosamund Pike’s best performance since her brilliant turn since David Fincher’s 2014 film Gone Girl. Marla Grayson is one of the most despicable characters I have ever come across. A lot of critics have commented how they couldn’t enjoy the film because Marla is impossible to relate to but I think this is the mark of a brilliant character and works in the film’s favour. Relating to a character is a traditional way of allowing the audience to feel at ease but this film does not want you to feel uncomfortable. Everything Marla does is to serve herself as she rids her wards of their freedom and self-respect. This isn’t easy to watch but the pitch black dark tone has an ironic twist where the audience is left watching and wondering if Marla’s plan will prevail in the end. It would be great to see Pike receive even more award nominations following her win although the Oscars tend to favour dramatic performances over comedy but Pike definitely deserves it.

Peter Dinklage is perfectly cast as gangster, Roman, who stops at nothing to have his mother released from the care home and out of Marla’s guardianship. Working as the polar opposite to Marla, Roman is a member of the Russian mafia and yet his motivation is perfectly understandable as he knows that his mother does not need to be in a care home. Where Marla is menacing and calculating, Roman doesn’t hide his own power. It’s great seeing Dinklage play such a dark role and it shows how adventurous he has been with his role selection since Game of Thrones ended. The scene in which Roman confronts Marla is fantastically written and directed and really shows the similarities between the two and how their greed overtakes everything.

A film rich in its supporting cast as well, the performances by Eiza González as Marla’s partner, Fran and Dianne Wiest as Jennifer Peterson, a rich elderly woman who proves to be hugely problematic when Marla targets her due to her connections to the Russian mafia that her son is prominent in. What is great about this film is how the female characters don’t have to explain why they do what they do. A lot of critics have commented on how despicable the plot is because of how the elderly are manipulated but it is important to note that there are decades of films made of a similar nature where men pull the strings and no one bats an eyelid. It’s about time we have a film filled to the brim with female characters that we’re not supposed to fall in love with or are overtly sexualized.

A real highlight of this film was the music by Marc Canham. A frequent collaborator of Blakeson’s, Canham’s score is fantastic and really underlays the unpredictable nature of the film. Using a variety of different music styles, there are many scenes in which the music is the star as it creates that intensity. The track that was my personal favourite was during the scene in which Marla has to escape a sinking car. With hints of the Goblins’ music for Suspiria, it brings in the thriller and horror of the story as Marla fights for survival. The simplicity of the shot mixed with the intensity of the music creates a moment that will leave you breathless and stunned.

Overall, I Care a Lot was extremely enjoyable with Pike providing another stellar performance. Due to its controversial subject and unconventional tone, it’s unlikely to garner a lot of nominations and accolades but it would be great to see Pike at least recognised and nominated for her performance. Blakeson has clearly made a name for himself on the world stage and it’ll be exciting to see where his career takes him next.

What did you think of I Care a Lot? Let me know in the comments below!

I Care a Lot is available to watch on Amazon Prime now!

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Top 5 Bojack Horseman Episodes

The 21st century has seen an abudance of TV shows that have garnered iconic status such as The Sopranos (first aired in 1999 but majority was released this century), Breaking Bad and Game of Thrones. These shows are known for their big budgets and award sweeps season after season. It comes as no surprise that among all of these huge shows that a few are swept under the rug. None have gone under the radar so much as the brilliant animated Netflix series Bojack Horseman. Set in an alternative universe where animals have human characteristics, the show follows the titular Bojack, a “has-been” actor living in Hollywood who is wanting to make a comeback as he deals with his fading star status. Spanning six seasons with the final season split into two parts, Bojack Horseman was nominated for several Emmys but was never the winner which is a huge shame, particularly for its later seasons.

As I have recently decided to start writing on some TV shows I enjoy, I thought it makes sense to write about one my favourites. Bojack Horseman isn’t afraid to discuss heavy topics such as sexism and assault in the entertainment industry and abortion. It’s relevance to real life is what makes it fantastic considering it is an animated show that incorporates a universe populated by humans and human-like animals. The main cast consists of Will Arnett in the titular role, Aaron Paul as his housemate Todd, Amy Sedaris as agent Princess Carolyn, Paul F. Tompkins as celebrity Mr Peanutbutter and Alison Brie as writer, Diane Nyugen and each character is developed brilliantly through the show’s run.

Here are my top 5 episodes:

5) “Fish Out of Water”, Season 3

Kicking off the ranking is this fun episode from the third season. We see Bojack venture underwater for a film festival where Secretariat is showing. The world underwater differs to Hollywood and Bojack as usual struggles to adhere by their rules and regulations, quickly finding himself lost in the process. After successfully returning a lost baby seahorse to his father, Bojack feels jealous that he wasn’t afforded a normal family life as he ventures back to the festival. He tries to rekindle a friendship with director, Kelsey, but his note is blurred and ruined due to being underwater. One thing that the writers do well is incorporating outer social problems into the show so in this episode, seeing how different cultures are to be respected is brought in. In a great move, the episode is predominantly silent because Bojack can’t talk with his airtight helmet on. At first, Bojack doesn’t understand what to do and is frustrated that he can’t communicate but by the end of episode he does understand and it is all capped off with a brilliant gag at the end where there is a button on his helmet that allows him to speak.

4) “The View from Halfway Down”, Season 6

The next entry on my ranking is the penultimate episode of the show’s final season. As Bojack has to face the consequences of his actions, he finds himself in a near-death situation and spends the episode in purgatory where he is faced with various important figures from his past. The result is a surreal half hour filled to the walls with symbolism and realisation as Bojack goes back and forth on whether to go through the white door that lingers on a stage, waiting for him. One by one, each person performs on the stage and goes through the door. The episode feels like closure of this chapter in Bojack’s life as he has to choose whether to go through the door or wake up and face his punishment. Rounding up six seasons of the show seems like a heavy task in just half an hour but this episode is so bizarre and deconstructed that the writers don’t have to follow the rules and instead the audience delves deep into Bojack’s conscience. The standard of Bojack Horseman has been so high and this episode does such a good job of saying farewell.

3) “That’s Too Much, Man!”, Season 3

The third entry in this list is the second episode from the third season. Up to this point, the show doesn’t really delve into a serious tone of darkness but the penultimate episode of season 3 is a turning point. Sarah Lynn, the child star of Horsin’ Around, has been sober for 9 months and her career is thriving. Bojack calls Sarah Lynn up and invites her on a bender where he provides her with alcohol and drugs. The two of them go down a rabbit hole of blackouts and flashbacks. It seems as though the drug use and drinking will never end, even when they begin to snort heroin. What then follows is a brilliant changing of pace as the two friends go to the Planetarium and Sarah Lynn succumbs to a heroin overdose and dies. As Bojack repeatedly says her name and the screen goes black, the seriousness of what has happened changes the entire show for the following seasons as Bojack’s actions have finally resulted in death. It’s an episode that always leaves me speechless because of its horrifying ending. As Bojack and Sarah Lynn look at the cosmic display in the Planetarium, it feels as though they have their whole lives ahead of them and that they may change, the way we see Sarah Lynn slowly die is heartbreaking.

2) “Free Churro”, Season 5

My second place on this list goes to the midpoint episode of season 5 that sees Bojack delivering the eulogy at his mother’s funeral. That’s literally what the episode consists of. Bojack at the podium delivering a monologue. What puts this as second on my ranking is how brilliant the script is. Will Arnett’s performance is fantastic as we watch Bojack pick apart his mother’s last words as he tries to discuss various meanings as well as his usual rambling. With its use of one location and one shot, it would have been easy to assume that this episode would be boring and full of exposition but it is actually the opposite. The brilliance of the writing comes from what Bojack doesn’t say as the audience is forced to read between the lines. Much like the “Fish Out of Water” episode, the best joke in this episode is that Bojack has been delivering his eulogy in the wrong room and has opened up about his past to a room full of geckos.

1) “Time’s Arrow”, Season 4

To fans of Bojack Horseman, this probably doesn’t come as a surprise. Season 4’s penultimate episode rounds up the story on Bojack’s mother, Beatrice, who has been battling with dementia throughout the season. In this final segment, we see Beatrice meet Butterscotch, an aspiring writer and run off with him, much to her father’s despair. Finding herself pregnant and excited to see what a new life in San Francisco would bring the couple, Beatrice’s dreams are soon crushed as we fast forward some years to see her and Butterscotch evolve into the bitter, heavy drinkers that the show has portrayed them to be. What this episode does is conclude Beatrice’s journey as her dementia begins to deteriorate and actually ties together the background story in a way that isn’t forced. What comes through in this episode is Beatrice’s resilience which slowly turns into anger and regret. Sadly, we see her turn into the person she never wanted to be as she takes out her frustrations on Bojack. She also blackmails their maid, Henrietta, to get an abortion after she falls pregnant with Butterscotch’s child by giving her the money to get into nursing school. It’s a difficult episode to stomach but that’s because Bojack Horseman is a show thay dares to look into the dark side of the human (or animal) condition.

It goes without saying that Bojack Horseman is not the easiest show to watch and has not been without controversy for Alison Brie’s performance as Diane Nyugen, an American-Vietnamese writer but it is a show that isn’t afraid to push the conversation. Having watched the show through several times, I find that I notice new details and joke pay offs each time that makes it a fun and rewarding watch. It is definitely one of my favourite shows and I would recommend anyone to give it a go.

What do you think of my list? Which episodes of Bojack Horseman are your favourite? Let me know in the comments below!