SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL
Starring: Nicolas Cage and Joel Kinnaman
Director: Yuval Adler
This film has been reviewed by Nick, Paige, and Quentin as part of Bitesize Breakdown's coverage of the 2023 Fantasia International Film Festival.
QUENTIN
Objectively speaking, I admit that Sympathy for the Devil isn’t the greatest movie. It’s a tad derivative, reminding me of Collateral and another movie I can’t mention lest we get into spoiler territory, and the motivations of Nic Cage’s character are a little convoluted at times. That said, for Cage fans, it’s a must-watch because it lets Cage channel his inner Castor Troy (from Face/Off, youngins). The tense cat-and-mouse shenanigans between Cage and Joel Kinnaman make for an engaging 90 minutes, and I’m pleased to report that it does not play out like either of the predictions I made based on the trailers.
PAIGE
Sympathy for the Devil allows Nic Cage the opportunity to, yet again, play another electric and wacky maniac who manages to dominate the screen in every scene he’s in, while Joel Kinnanan balances the tense ride with a more grounded performance. Ultimately, this duo transcends the bizarre but entertaining-as-hell game of cat-and-mouse. Overall, the film is enhanced by its stylish cinematography, but is held back by its off-the-rails script. Let’s be honest, though: we’re all here for Cage’s unhinged performance and not-so-wicked Boston accent.
NICK
Joel Kinnaman (who I've considered underrated since his turn on House of Cards) and Nic Cage (the ultimate wild card) come together in this Collateral-esque film that is entertaining if not overly unique. A character-driven story, both leads do enough to keep your focus while playing off each other well. Kinnaman as the straight man with Cage going, well...full Nicolas Cage…is fun. However, for Cage, what hurts his performance is the ROUGH Boston accent he wavers in and out of. It becomes a distraction. That said, despite its flaws, it’s still worth checking out; just maybe once it inevitably comes to streaming.