I blame Nicolas Cage.

You can see it as age increasing cynicism, or observation. I’ll take observation. Watching a film I enjoyed when I first saw it 12 years ago (Yeesh, that makes me feel old) I now see how morally dubious it really is. I blame Nicolas Cage.

The awe I used to have for the man has been eroded by just too many bad movies and kerazzee performances and now looking back, I smile nostalgically but notice things I didn’t before. 

I also blame the fact that I don’t care about cars. Never been a petrol head. I drive one of these for goodness sake - 

So now I notice how morally repugnant it is. Yes, a man changes his ways and is forced back into ‘the life’ by a threat to his kin, but it’s the glee everyone takes in stealing others’ property that grates, and the fact that he doesn’t regret the theft, only that his brother is like him in the end anyway. Hmmmm. Not havin’ that.

Am I reading too much into it? Probably, but I don’t blame my recently reignited film studies brain for teaching or my analytical brain for my doctorate.

I blame Nicolas Cage.

Ps. I still love NC really. Lots.