8MM (1999)

Director:

Joel Schumacher

Writer (WGA):

Andrew Kevin Walker (written by)

Release Date:

26 February 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

You can't prepare for where the truth will take you.

Plot:

A private investigator is hired to discover if a "snuff film" is authentic or not.

Plot Keywords:

Private Eye | Obsession | Hollywood | Surveillance | Snuff Film

Awards:

2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Nicolas Cage	...	Tom Welles
Joaquin Phoenix	...	Max California
James Gandolfini	...	Eddie Poole
Peter Stormare	...	Dino Velvet
Anthony Heald	...	Daniel Longdale
Chris Bauer	...	George Higgins / Machine
Catherine Keener	...	Amy Welles
Myra Carter	...	Mrs. Christian
Amy Morton	...	Janet Mathews
Jenny Powell	...	Mary Ann Mathews
Anne Gee Byrd	...	Senator Michaelson
Jack Betts	...	Butler
Luis Oropeza	...	Archive Director
Rachel Singer	...	Neighbor
Don Creech	...	Mr. Anderson

Also Known As:

8 Millimeter (USA) (working title)
8mm - Acht Millimeter (Germany)
Eight Millimeter (USA) (working title)
Sexy World (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong perverse sexuality and violence, and for strong language.

Runtime:

123 min

Country:

USA | Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:18A (British Columbia) | Canada:R (Alberta/Manitoba/Ontario) | USA:R (certificate #36153) | Singapore:PG (original rating) (heavily cut) | Singapore:R21 (re-rating) | Philippines:R-18 | Brazil:18 | Argentina:18 | Australia:R | Belgium:KNT | Chile:18 | Czech Republic:15 | Finland:K-15 (re-rating) | France:-16 | Germany:18 | Hong Kong:IIB | Italy:VM18 | Japan:PG-12 | Mexico:C | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R18 | Norway:18 | Peru:18 | Portugal:M/18 | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:18 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:18 (canton of Vaud) | UK:18 | Iceland:16 | Denmark:15 | Finland:K-18 (original rating) | Canada:18+ (Quebec)

Filming Locations:

Clevelander Hotel - 1020 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, Florida, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Don Creech ("Mr. Anderson") is the keeper of the Muppets for the Jim Henson company. He takes care of and repairs the thousands of Muppets created over the years.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Tom Welles first meets Janet Mathews, he is looking at pictures of Mary Anne when he comes across a young picture of Janet. During the close up shots of the photographs, the picture behind the photo of Janet shows Mary Anne in a white shirt and green dress, while in the expanded shot of Janet and Tom, the photo shows Mary Anne in a blue shirt.

Quotes:

Tom Welles: I'll never get tired of hurting you, Eddie!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in I Am Legend (2007)

Soundtrack:

Come To Daddy

Well made, but disturbing. Watch with care.

I walked into the movie theater last Friday not expecting at all what I was about to see. I'd heard about it, thought "Oh, another Seven". Same screenwriter, but I was way off track. I can stomach a lot, having no problem stuffing down popcorn during very graphic scenes. In 8MM, my coke had trouble going down. 8MM did not have consistent gory/violent scenes, but the way the movie was made made you fill in the blanks of what the makers of the movie could not screen. And if you pay attention and immerse yourself, you fill in more blanks than you really think you could, or want. As Max put it: "the devil changes you." The perversity and deep rottenness of the human minds displayed in 8MM is what disturbs you. Then you realize, that "snuff"-movies are real, that there are individuals twisted enough to endorse/enjoy/take part in it. And worst of all, that these individuals don't look like monsters, they're perhaps just overweight nearsighted men who look like your dad, your son, your brother, even yourself. And if you don't look out,(no matter how secluded you think you are in your suburban home, with a wife, a daughter, and a dog named Shep) you dive into the pit of perversion and rottenness as well, finding no way out. In conclusion: excellent music, acting very sufficient, the plot: a must see. Just don't bring popcorn, and prepare to walk out of the movie theatre disturbed, asking questions, and a little bit more suspicious of those walking around you, and yourself.