Nicholas Cage in something completely different...
Now, what I initially thought was going to be a Nic Cage surfer-revenge pic a-la "John Wick" or a million other-some-such.
Was I wrong. A completely surreal - well, how to describe it? And I don't care to give the plot away - but the camera, the shimmering heat, Nicholas Cages (and other's) eyebrows given an absurd focus, the twists and turns - I did not see that coming.
And the meta - for fear of giving it away - I'll put beneath the "read more" link.
Not an enjoyable or easy watch - but absolutely brilliant.
Now, to the Meta, the breaking down of all his values and what he knows to be true, the forcing him to act against his own values, the high admission to a club for his son's sake that in his day was taken for granted, the "Jesus" Nicholas cage being carried on the backs of the surfers over the waves, the coming-together of despicable people to ensure his wellness, well, ...
This was made in 2024, could have been made tomorrow. There's a lot of socio-political subtext, all of it valid, this is quite an intelligent movie that's written on quite a few levels, and just happens to have the dramatic stylings and energies of Nicholas Cage. And his eyebrows. Some eyebrows... (Mine are the same if left untrimmed a couple of days, and - looking at the other characters, it is a curious focal point...)