Director Yuval Adler’s new film, Sympathy for the Devil, is reminiscent of two Viggo Mortensen starring films: A History of Violence and Green Book. Adler’s film has more theme and story in common with A History of Violence, but most of the movie takes place in a car. The driver (Joel Kinnaman) arrives in the parking garage of the hospital where is wife is about to give birth to what should be their third child. While waiting for a space, a man (Nicolas Cage) gets into the backseat and insists that the Kinnaman drive. Cage pulls a gun to show he’s not playing, and the two begin a road trip in which it is clear that not everything is as it seems.
The bulk of this film is dialogue-heavy and inside a car. With the wrong cast, it could be quite boring as a premise. Fortunately, Cage rarely does boring. He may do wild and over the top at times, and we’ve seen him too subtle and silent at this point. The dial is turned up on this performance, and Cage has no shortage of paprika on the dish. It makes for some intense moments that also can’t help but elicit a chuckle or two. Kinnaman is a bit of a blank slate, and in some previous works that is a detriment – but it works well in juxtaposition to Cage here. The true highlight of the film is Cage with his Boston accent, losing his cool on several occasions.
Despite the mostly restrictive setting of the interior of a car, Adler still finds a few logical set pieces to elevate the film. One particular scene late in the film involves a diner, as Cage’s character is famished. It’s a very well-put-together sequence that demonstrates Adler’s cinematic style and storytelling. There is a tuna melt bit that really sells the insanity of Cage’s character, and is simultaneously entertaining and intense. Without getting into any of the context, it’s a very compelling sequence that builds to a satisfying climax.
The story of this film implies that it should be an intense, edge-of-your-seat thriller like Michael Mann’s Collateral, but instead, it’s a bit more fun because of Cage. That’s not to say that there isn’t any intensity, but ultimately the film was easier to watch like the old days when you’d watch something on TBS as you did other things, like folding laundry. As you’re sucked into the film, you’ll enjoy the extremes that it offers, and you’ll dismiss the moments that are less compelling with menial tasks. Sympathy for the Devil just kind of works.
Sympathy for the Devil will be in theaters on July 28.
Rating: Decent Watch
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