Again. Another movie in the 90's; when we all rented vids or went to the movies; that was a total let down. I remember this movie specifically. It looks like it was shot in one casino. I love Nicolas Cage because no one else is quite like him. I think we all love the iconic method actors. All Nicolas cage years (0 is a number!) of studying at the prestigious "My Uncle is Francis Ford Coppola" school of acting paid off as he both chewed scenery and over forced the portrayal of his character like he was desperately trying to suck a sausage through a straw. He has definitely had better performances.Once again a 90's movie where you are sitting in the theater wondering when they will get to a part that justifies the budget and finally realizing that you have been ripped off as the ending credits roll.Fortunately most movie makers realized, like the US Automobile industry in the '70s, if you make a shoddy product then the masses will go elsewhere. Now we have digital media and the passion has come back into TV and movies.

Brian De Palma directed this slow-moving thriller which was widely hated by both movie goers and critics alike on its release. In retrospect, however, it's a fun film, with a complex plot to keep the viewer thinking and guessing as the film progresses. While some moments do drag, I found myself enjoying the film totally throughout as I was caught up in the story so well. The acting is very good here, with Nicolas Cage perfectly cast as a bullish cop who initially is loud and unlikeable, but who becomes more sombre and withdrawn as time goes on, until he's just a beaten wreck at the end of the film. Gary Sinise puts in another excellently villainous performance (even if his villainous identity was revealed in the film's trailer) and I loved the scene at the end of the film where he was trapped in the headlights of the car before committing suicide, the look of anguish on his face was superb. The rest of the cast is all good, especially the female lead who is both tough and yet vulnerable. However it's really Cage who carries the film as his character is given the most depth. I have always admired Cage as an actor as he is so unlikeable, yet still a good actor anyway.There are lots of taut sequences in this film and also some excellent scenes, like the beginning tracking shot which goes on forever, or the suspenseful moment when both Cage and Sinise are hunting for the key witness to the crime down long hotel corridors. The action is surprisingly sparse and therefore the film does get bogged down a bit by heavy, long-winded explanations, although there are some brutal fight scenes, not just in the arena either. I also liked the use of flashbacks and points of view which show what happened before the assassination, these give a greater depth to the story and there's no doubt that De Palma has a real cinematic flair. Originally, I hear that the film was supposed to have a tidal wave (created by Industrial Light and Magic) flood the building but that this was cut out. I can only think how much better the film would have benefited with this climax. As it stands, it is a bit of an anti-climax at the end, but this didn't spoil the film for me as I was having a great time puzzling over things anyway. Good but flawed.

Brian De Palma's "Snake Eyes" is about a fast-talking shady Atlantic City detective, Rick Santoro (Nicolas Cage), who becomes involved with a murder conspiracy at a heavyweight boxing match in an Atlantic City casino while a hurricane hits. Gary Sinise plays Naval officer Commander Dunne, Santoro's best friend, and Carla Gugino plays a mysterious woman in white.De Palma employs some outstanding camera work; particularly the camera view replicating from the prize fighter's eyes that then turns into the mirror and you see the fighter, shadow boxing, and the scene in the upper hotel rooms where the camera looks down and glides over several adjacent rooms to show how people really behave behind closed doors. The rest of the movie doesn't quite live up to the grace of its opening, but it still has a nice elegant style going for it. The story/script is nothing amazing, but De Palma rescues it with his visual panache, and it remains one of Nicolas Cage's most over the top, entertaining performances. Also, Stan Shaw's performance is my favorite part in the film. There's some cool Brian De Palma shots and some references to "Vertigo" and other films, but the end kind of undercuts the good things.Overall rating: 7 out of 10.

Brian De Palma's "Snake Eyes" (1998) is about a fast-talking shady Atlantic City detective, Rick Santoro (Nicolas Cage), who becomes involved with a murder conspiracy at a heavyweight boxing match in an Atlantic City casino while a hurricane hits. Gary Sinise plays Naval officer Commander Dunne, Santoro's best friend, and Carla Gugino plays a mysterious woman in white.This is a top-of-the-line crime thriller that cost a bundle. The opening 13-minute sequence is an amazing continuous shot, but some say it actually consists of several seamless cuts. Regardless, it's filmmaking of the highest order. The score by Ryûichi Sakamoto is unique and a highlight. Gugino is a cutie and Jayne Heitmeyer is stunning as the lady in red. Interestingly, practically the entire movie takes place in the extravagant casino/hotel.Some complain about the contrivances of the ending, but all these types of thrillers contain contrivances; besides, it's not as bad as people say if you reflect on it. Speaking of the ending, as good as the opening is I actually enjoyed the second half more, which is when the real villain manifests. What I like about the antagonist is that he or she has a good -- almost noble -- motive. But does the end justify the means? Like the excellent "Training Day," "Snake Eyes" is about a corrupt authority figure but, unlike that movie, redemption might still be possible. Unfortunately, the chickens must first come home to roost, as they say.On the downside, as great as the two women are, they coulda done more with 'em, but this is a minor cavil.The film is lean at 98 minutes and was shot in Atlantic City and Montreal.GRADE: B+