STORY BY JOHNNY GARCIA
STAFF WRITER
“The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent,” often shortened to simply “Massive Talent” is a film starring Nicolas Cage and Pedro Pascal that has helped to create an entirely new genre of film.
Nicolas Cage portrays…Nicolas Cage in a hilarious meta-twist. The film follows a fictionalized version of the actor as he struggles to find a new role and considers retiring from acting. He is hired by a rich superfan named Javi (Pedro Pascal) for one million dollars, an offer Cage accepts in the face of financial ruin.
The film follows the two as their bond grows, and they work on a screenplay together. Things become complicated when the CIA gets involved, as Javi turns out to be the head of a crime family.
Cage’s performance is dynamic, and the chemistry he has with Pascal is not to be understated. They bounce off each other amazingly, and seeing their relationship evolve throughout the movie is a delight to see, and the biggest highlight of the whole film.
Fans of Nicolas Cage will find the movie especially enjoyable. Going into the movie as a huge Nicolas Cage fan, there were many easter eggs to be found scattered throughout the film with his long history as an actor, with references ranging from films “National Treasure” to “Face/Off.”
What “The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent” does is help to strengthen a new form of movie; the love letter. It is clearly written by fans of Nicolas Cage, for fans of Nicolas Cage. It is not a biopic, documentary, or anything non-fiction. Instead, it’s a celebration of the career of Nicolas Cage. The film is an over-exaggerated version of Cage, but it’s one of love that takes everything we love about Cage and turns it up to eleven.
This isn’t the first time a movie like this has come up. 2019’s “A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood” is another film that isn’t about the person (Fred Rogers of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood fame), but a celebration of the person.
Both “A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood” and “The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent” were both successful critically and at the box office. It shows that there is an audience interested in those films
There are many other celebrities who could soon fall into this kind of film. People who have done a lot and can be celebrated with a movie about them, but not a movie about their life.
What “The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent” does is lays more of the groundwork for more movies like it. Movies about what we love about them. They may be cases of over-exaggerated celebrities or stay down to earth and a simple character piece on the person.
These kinds of films are special because they explore these people who we’ve spent our lives watching, growing up with them. When it’s done right, it gives an insight into these celebrities’ lives, and it helps us celebrate the ones we love by taking what they’re known best for and giving fans exactly what they want.
“The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent” is a phenomenal film that will be sure to inspire other filmmakers to create movies like it. There are only a few movies like this one but with its success and quality, it likely won’t be long until we start seeing a lot more experimental films like it, celebrating the lives of the celebrities we know.
