Wonderful Movie

Save your money for something good and enjoyable

Nice effects though.

As Good As It Gets

Nicolas Cage has gained a reputation for playing all kinds of characters with all kinds of backgrounds with all types of personalities. These range of behaviors have covered the banal, to the deranged. Nicolas Cage knows no bounds when it comes to acting. People love and hate him for both his dramatic performances as well as his idiotic ones. During the early 2010's, Cage was on the border of his popularity. He was still getting cast into films that were guaranteed to get a larger release, yet he also signed onto films that got less notoriety. Only some of which were critically well received. Much of them on the other hand failed to make their money back or leave any kind of an impression. Of them though, one action film that kind of went under the radar that should have gotten more attention was this feature. There have been plenty of hard R action films that contained enough interesting characters and witty humor to keep things going. Yet the premise to this movie feels fresh in ways others have no shown in a while.Nicolas Cage plays John Milton, a dead man who escaped from the underworld to rescue his granddaughter from a satanic cult worshiper by the name of Jonah King (Billy Burke), who killed Milton's daughter. On his travels Milton gets the attention of Piper (Amber Heard), a wanderer looking for a purpose. All the while the devil's right hand man known as the accountant (William Fichtner) is looking to retrieve Milton and bring him back to where he belongs. Written by Todd Farmer and Patrick Lussier, the two seem to have taken what feel like a mix of different characters and made them into one. As an end result, the story is not the most unique, but it serves its purpose in creating likable characters. Patrick Lussier also directed the film, who has mainly served as an editor to other projects like Scream (1996) and two sequels after it. Todd Farmer has been more of a writer to movies like Jason X (2001) and My Bloody Valentine (2009). The real problems in the script are abrupt motivation changes and an unclear backstory.Nicolas Cage as John Milton gives a familiar performance but nevertheless, the way the Milton character comes across is comical. So many lines are stated with such deadpan, it's hard not to laugh. So many things happen to Milton that he just rolls off, it becomes quite entertaining. William Fichtner as the accountant is another comical individual. The moments the accountant shares with other cast members is humorous just for the fact that nobody understands his purpose, which frustrates him. Also the fact that Amber Heard does not play a love interest to that of John Milton is a plus. Not every protagonist needs to have someone to fall in love with. As portrayed in the running time, Milton has no time for that. Billy Burke as Milton's enemy plays a fairly considerable opponent. He's not afraid to get his hands dirty and does not hesitate to kill. Burke is also known for playing in Lights Out (2016) and in the Twilight (2008) series. For supporting characters there are also appearances by several others.These characters do not affect the plot in any real way, but they do bring some recognizable faces to the show. David Morse plays a friend of Milton by the name of Webster. His sarcasm is about an equal match to Milton's. Jack McGee has a small role as Fat Lou, the owner of a local diner. He has a funny exchange with the accountant. Also, Tom Atkins shows up to play the head of the police department. It's a role that only Atkins would easily fit in to. The action and special effects are well handled here too. The violence in this film vary with all kinds of sequences. Sometimes people are shot with guns, others are run over by vehicles and some suffer worse than that. Those kills are normally attributed to the accountant, since he is the most supernatural character in this story. The thing is, although it looks like he's having fun doing it, he comes across more inconvenienced. With these types of kills are the blood and gore, which looks pretty good. Gore fans should be well satisfied here if they want guts.Working as the cinematographer to this project was Brian Pearson. For majority of the movie, Pearson's work was great looking. Hardly any of the action scenes involved shaky cam and much of it helped in the pacing of the experience. The lens used wasn't a wide angle but it was large enough to get the full scope of the surroundings. Pearson also worked on movies like The Fear: Resurrection (1999), Final Destination 5 (2011), Into the Storm (2014) and Insidious: Chapter 3 (2015). Topping things off however was the musical score composed by Michael Wandmacher. The film score has a unique mix of a hard rock guitar theme for Milton and a southern sound for Piper. There's also hints of horror cues that sound very close to typical stings. Being that Wandmacher also produced music for Punisher: War Zone (2008) and Piranha 3D (2010), it's no surprise this guy can combine both genres together with no problem. Thankfully a release of the score is available so anyone can listen because it is a lot of fun.This may not go down in Nic Cage's career as the greatest movie he's made, but it sure is an enthralling one at that. There aren't many things to find wrong in this production other than a few minor holes in its writing. The action, camera-work, and music all coincide together to create an engaging experience. Plus the actors seem to be having a lot of fun in their roles.

I hadn't expected much from this movie given the fact that it is a Nicolas Cage movie, and it seemed like just yet another of those countless movies that he is popping up in everywhere you look. And "Drive Angry" was exactly that.I will say that if you like cars, Nicolas Cage and over-the-top things that make no sense then you will enjoy this particular movie.A man has returned from the fiery depths of Hell in order to track down those who killed his daughter and kidnapped his granddaughter.Right...The movie started out alright, but quickly swerved down a path better left untrodden. And towards the end you will be ready to claw out your eyes, I swear.The only thing that salvaged "Drive Angry" from being utter rubbish was William Fichtner. He is always a delight to witness in a movie, and this was no exception."Drive Angry" is the type of movie that you watch once and never again.

Drive Angry (2011): Dir: Patrick Lussier / Cast: Nicolas Cage, Amber Heard, William Fichtner, Billy Burke, David Morse: Pointless and brutally excessive road kill about vengeance. Nicolas Cage plays a sorry sap who drives out of Hell in search of the cult that murdered his daughter and kidnapped his granddaughter. Apparently this cult, lead by the psychotic Jonah King, is set to sacrifice the baby at the next full moon. He is joined on his quest by a waitress who obviously has nothing better to do. After he intervenes when she is being beat up by her cheating boyfriend, she gladly tags along. This is all very stupid but director Patrick Lussier presents some fantastic 3D effects. The film takes on an appeal very similar to the Grindhouse films only this sucks. Cage spends much of the film either driving fast or shooting cultist. What fails here is that his escape from Hell is pure nonsense, and his shootout while in the midst of sex is even less believable. Amber Heard as his waitress companion seems to come from a long list of women since Angelina Jolie who can kick the crap out of people. She is never believable but she puts on this bullshit "I'm with you all the way" nonsense. William Fichtner plays Satan's accountant who is out to bring Cage back to Hell. Why Satan has an accountant is never known. Billy Burke plays Jonah King who is basically a target for a nasty departure. David Morse, a capable actor, is also wasted in this hellish trash. The Biblical or supernatural elements are laughable enough to make viewers want to drive angry right over the film in full speed. Score: 3 / 10

Drive Angry rolls along with equal portions of car chases, gunfights, fistfights, and little character moments in a manner that doesn't allow how dumb it all is to seep in too much. It is uneven at times and it tries too hard in the first twenty minutes. The director Patrick Lussier ("Scream" Franchise) does a really good job of delivering fare for fans of exploitation movies and traditional genre fans alike. The cast is solid, Nicolas Cage doesn't show much remorse but his character here is more laid back. Amber Heard is great as she steals the show as Piper, and William Finchtner does well as the Accountant. He uses the 3D in a wide variety of ways and there were long stretches where I forgot I was wearing glasses and was enjoying the mayhem and then all of a sudden bullets are shot into my eyes in rapid succession.Drive Angry starts off strong and intense, then gets into its dramatic elements, somewhat squanders in the latter middle, then kicks back for a good conclusion. Hollywood has used it as a crutch or marketing gimmick. Regardless, 3D when used well or embraced for its heightened contribution to the experience is a joy. Overall, don't take Drive Angry too seriously as it is meant to be over the top, and a fun thrill ride. ================== As a rewatch (03/30/18') after several years later, opinions remain same about Drive Angry, it is an over the top action revenge film which delivers upon what it's intended to. The film knows its intentions of what its meant for and it delivers the proper thrills. Overall Drive Angry is engaging and although the film has been panned and received mixed reviews, it is one of Nic Cage's better action films. Recommend for those of grindhouse over the top action revenge thrillers.