MOVIE: Snake Eyes

STARRING: Nicolas Cage, Gary Sinise, Carla Gugino, John Heard, Stan Shaw, Kevin Dunn

RELEASE DATE: August 7th, 1998

WHERE TO WATCH: VOD (Vudu, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Paramount+)

By Justin Pomerville (2 Broke Geeks)

It’s been a while since I have revisited a Nic Cage movie that is attached to a high-profile director. So, thank you number randomizer for giving me this gift that is Snake Eyes. This movie was made in the golden years of Cage’s career in 1998 and was directed by Brian De Palma. If you are not familiar with his work, here is a list of other films Palma has directed; Carrie, Scarface, The Untouchables, Carlito’s Way, and Mission Impossible. Will Snake Eyes live up to those films? Sort of.

The plot is corrupt Atlantic City police detective, Rick Santoro (played by Cage) is attending a high-profile boxing match with his friend, Navy Commander Kevin Dunne (played by Gary Sinise). Dunne is working on security detail for Defense Secretary Charles Kirkland. When the boxing match is underway, an assassin kills the Defense Secretary and the arena is locked down while Santoro and Dunne work to solve who not only killed him but who set it up.

This film is pretty good but has a few negatives. Because it all takes place in a span of a couple of hours, it makes the stakes feel higher. Especially because Cage’s role in the film is probably one of the more chaotic characters he has played. The first 15 minutes of the film is just setting up Cage’s persona as a high-rolling, corrupted cop that is cheating on his wife. He is treated to be the most sympathetic character of the film and that part doesn’t really work. I do not feel like I should cheer for a guy who takes bribes, lets low-level drug dealers work, and hits on women. But, here we are.

Although I have complaints about Cage’s character, it doesn’t bring down the action aspect of this film. It finds a good mix of thriller and action that gives it great pacing. Gary Sinise’s role as the stoic commander does play well against Cage’s over-the-top charismatics. The overall story is fine. This film is going to sit in the upper “OK” section of The Nic Gauge.