The 2005 film The Weatherman is not one of Nicolas Cage’s best performances, but then again it is not the best film either. While the script and production does not help Cage reach his full potential it does feel that Cage is holding back the same way the film holds back from taking the necessary steps to becoming a strong, socially relevant picture.
It has the potential, but it is never realized. While that could be a telling statement on the main character of the film it doesn’t feel like it was done on purpose.
The film is about David Spritz, a weather forecaster in Chicago played by Cage. He is great at his job, and currently up for a spot on a national broadcast thanks to the quality of his work. Everything outside of the newsroom, however, is disastrous. He is divorced and trying to keep touch with his teenage children that are both dealing with issues that accompany the awkward teenage years. He is also forced to cope with a sickness to his father, Robert Spritzel, a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, played by Michael Caine. Spritz does everything he can to gain approval from his father but falls short continuously.
The film has the chance to really hit on some valid points, and it’s not that this picture fails at every attempt to depict the reality of daily life. The depiction of media figures when they’re off work is actually quite well portrayed, and produces the funniest part of this attempt at a dark comedy. Spritz continuously gets harassed by passers by, some for autographs, others weather tips for the coming week, and in the most extreme cases Spritz actually becomes the target of drive-by fast food hurling. There are also some great moments between Cage and his kids, the interactions found within a broken home, that are touching and charming.
The problem, however, is that it just comes off as a watered down version of American Beauty. Take the life of a family man, struggling to satisfy himself with his current position in the world, while dealing with a dysfunctional family unit, but keep the most intriguing, gritty elements off the screen. This film glosses over the rough stuff, every time it seems there should be an emotional explosion it’s held back, and the darkest scenes of the film are left to be described through dialogue rather than viewed.
No, conflict does not always have to be resolved, but it seems rather than being tackled head on director Gore Verbinski just casually avoids it. The shocking aspects of the picture like a parent too afraid to ask their child a serious question for fear of the response they know is coming.
And maybe it is for that reason that Cage himself seems to be holding back. His character lacks elements he brought forth in other films - the emotional release and bewildered nature of his character in The Family Man, the awkward yet extremely talented outsider role he played in Adaptation, or the fiery temper he portrays in his countless action films.
There are some charming moments in the film but as a whole the piece is subdued, not funny enough as a dark comedy, and in general lacks to achieve that memorable status. If this had to be ranked it would be a rental, which I guess now places it within the download category. The Weatherman searches to relate to those lost in their lives, searching for meaning, but Verbinski seems unable to find that path himself in filming this story.
This film lacks the poignant and cruel honesty necessary, and leaves the lasting impression of holding back when it’s done.
