Knowing that Joel Schumacher and Nicolas Cage are not afraid to go to intense dark places together, their last collaboration in 1999 film 8MM being high up in my list of top Cage movies and my favourite Schumacher directed film, I had high expectations of Trespass, and was more than ever so slightly intrigued to see if they would be met.
In the opening of the film we meet Kyle Miller, an apparently wealthy, workaholic, high end business man who brings a whole other meaning to 'door to door salesman', negotiating deals with a slick and non-stop banter over his cell phone as he enters his gated architecturally stunning property, even continuing an important business transation as he joins his wife Sarah (Nicolas Kidman) and daughter Avery (Liana Liberato) mid argument, pausing to briefly agree with Sarah about Avery not being allowed to attend a party. His cell phone pinned to his ear and (literally) handcuffed to his metallic hermeceutically sealed briefcase, we soon see where Kyles' priorities seemingly lie and how neglected Sarah feels, as he flips off a specially planned family dinner for a business meeting and in an awkward exchange where he explains he is doing it all for the family, cannot bring himself to kiss his wife goodbye.
But before he can leave, the Millers become victims of a home invasion, suddenly thrown into a harrowing ordeal with four armed and masked intruders. We as the audience are suddenly plunged into this horrific event alongside them, and bear witness to an intense and more intricately unfolding story than at first we realise, with many layers, twists and turns presenting themselves almost from the beginning to the end of the movie. Throughout, there are 'revelations' that somehow subtly shift our perceptions of every character: placed and paced so brilliantly by Schumacher, that we are utterly captivated in suspense continuously throughout the film.
The home invasion scenario feels almost like a stage play, taking place over the course of one evening and almost entirely in one room in the house that becomes so symbolic of the movie themes, the haves and the have nots, the ultimate meaning of money and family.
Beautifully choreographed, we are magnetically pulled into a dangerous and scary dance between the hostages and intruders and the inner tensions within each. The enclosed set magnifies these dynamics, brings an almost claustrophobic feel as we get closer and closer up to the ultimate truths for each of these characters.
As Kyles' motivations unfold, his earlier manner and apparent weaknesses, and his statement of doing it all for the family, all take on new layers of meaning, our sympathies are pulled more towards him as he almost heroically stands up to the intruders, attempts to bravely protect his wife and child and the true nature of his financial standing is revealed (or so we think, but a later plot twist turns that on it's head once again).
Sarah's own secrets, or not, are revealed in a double twist where she appears to know one of the intruders, two of whom are brothers with an interesting backstory and motivations of their own, which when they come into play, reveal that Sarah and Kyle are 'not the only hostages' in this situation.
Glimpses of the back story and individual character histories are given to us through a series of flashbacks which work because they bring a sense of light relief to the relentless building tension of the harrowing events of the robbery, with their almost dreamlike quality, (some shots flooded with white and blended with semi transparent shots and fades). In the flashbacks Sarah wears casual light coloured clothes as opposed to the tightly fitting dark sophisticated black outfit, somehow adding to this polarity. The flashbacks also seem to reveal to us elements of the backstory and the motivations of the characters, but their full potential is not clear until nearer the end of the film, when we become aware that they are in fact [spoiler alert] the subjective imagination of the characters and versions of events differ. (clever clever Mr Schumacher).
For me there are two standout performances in Trespass, Nicolas Cage and Nicole Kidman. Cage plays his character in a way that keeps you consistently guessing about him, Kyle radiates an almost mysterious quality that adds a silent but imposing weight to every scene, brought to life with characteristic Cage character depth, layers and ambiguity. At first we may judge him as a weaker man, but in a pivotal scene where he confronts the intruders about the diamonds - a scene with a noticably more excitable and tinny voice intonation, sweeping through the hair hand gestures, throwing back his head defiantly and almost stamping his foot, with glimpses, for me, of Terence from The Bad Lieutenant and also rather pleasantly bringing to mind Peter Loew from Vampire's Kiss - he may appear as almost selfish and reckless and we are not sure if we can trust him, an yet there is a nobility and braveness in his actions and words. Later in the film, as we begin to suspect that perhaps Kyle is the victim in more ways than one, alongside his heart aching tenderness towards his wife and daughter as they face danger, and repetitions of his defiant courage, we are brought to a place of respect, that enable us to get behind him as the hero of the movie.
Nicole Kidman as Sarah also displays layers of ambiguity and strength, we find ourselves judging her for her supposed affair with one of her assailants, and yet her acts of bravery in protecting her daughter Avery and ultimately, as we discover, her faithful love for her husband, elicit some of the most powerful moments of performance in the movie.
Trespass did not disappoint my expectations as a movie or as a performance from Nicolas Cage. As a long time fan, I cannot think of a Nic Cage film with such an enclosed set, that play-like quality was awesome to experience in itself and the intensity had me emptionally involved, holding my breath and in tears on and off throughout. At the end, as the family finally escape from the scene indoors where their ordeal took place, looking back on the house symbolically burning to the ground, we are escaping too, able to breathe again, and perhaps finding ourselves agreeing with an implicit moral statement from Schumacher that money and wealth in the end mean nothing, nothing but perhaps trouble and heartache, and that the bricks and mortar Home is not where the heart is.
Have you seen Trespass?
Share you opinion and discuss this Nicolas Cage film with other fans here!
That`s really a great review, Lula! Thank you for posting it! It is fascinating to read your impression and thoughts on the movie. Great, you liked it!
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"When you think about magic, it is imagination plus willpower focused in such a way that you can create a conscious effect in the material world..."
This is interesting, Lula, I enjoyed reading your thoughts on the movie. I have seen it the once when we rented it, I want to watch it again soon. When did you finally get your copy?
I agree with you, it does remind of a stage play, it would actually work very well as one, I think. Nic's performance was quite mesmerizing to me, I felt he dominated the movie, really.
Lula,I knew you would write an in-depth,intelligent,deep review so I was looking forward to reading it.......but goodness,you have outdone yourself!!!It's brilliant!
I think you always evaluate Nic's work impartially,but ,at the same time,I think you see all those layers and deepness that Nic has added to the character,some important details not everyone can notice.How great it is,that there are people like you who can appreciate Nic's work and estimate it at its true worth!
Thank you for the review,I would like to share it with my friends to make them want to see the movie,it comes out in December in my country,hope you don't mind??
Wow, thanks for taking the time to read and comment everyone, it is kinda scary putting your views out there like that sometimes!
Lady Trueheart, I agree with you, NIc's performance had that radiance again, even when he was 'still', and I am glad you felt the same way about it being like a stage play!
Voodoo child, I am really grateful for your words, thank you! it would be an honour for you to share it. I don't think I am necesarily impartial having been a Nic fan for so long..or that anyone giving their opnion on a film can be impartial...but at least my partiality is the other way around than the partiality of many critics out there! I do feel embarrassesd that I seem to always be come across as so earnest and sincere when i try to write a review, wish i could be more witty and sardonic sometimes, but then again, that would not be me i guess.
anyone agree / disagree with some of my points? did it reonate / differ from your experience of the film?
I really want to know...did anyone else see Terence from TBLPOCNO in that moment in Trespass? I ask as noone else has mentioned it before I don't think!
Just wanted to ask again, cuz i know you have all seen Trespass now, the scene with the safe...did anyone else see a glimpse of Terence, The Bad Lieutenant and Peter Loew / Vampire's Kiss? would so love to know, either way!!
I am going to have to wait to answer that one, Lula, till I see it again, I don't really remember much in specifics when I first view a movie, just the overall sense of it stays with me.
Hi Lady T! thanks for responding! I know what you mean, like an essence you have during and are left with after the film? Out of curiousity, what essence were you left with? i think i was completely in a state of tension and absorption that took ages to come down from, a slighty dark energy because it all took place mainly at night, mainly in one enclosed space and the relentlessness of the ordeal and emotional trauma... the twists and turns...it really ties you in all kinds of knots!..the eding begins a small trickle of relief but it takes quite some time to really soften out of it..great powerful film.that seems to work that intensity in a clever layerd way....
But, for me this moment stood out so strongly on first viewing.. not only because of that sudden character elevation, but the mannerisms totally hit me in the way i said!!
My experience of the movie was, that the incedible tension and intesity, that the actors built during the scenes, was really stunning. The courage, that began with the refusal from kyle to open the safe, that gave his wife and later his daughter the courage, to stand against these criminals, was really breathtaking! And, also Kyles voice, that got stronger during that invasion, was remarkeble to me. That was my experience, as I saw the movie.
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"When you think about magic, it is imagination plus willpower focused in such a way that you can create a conscious effect in the material world..."
Thank you for sharing your experience of the film Lady Arwen! you are right, that was when the courageous acts began and when perhaps Kyle began to be, a seemingly unlikely at the very beginning, hero! It was a heart stopping scene, powerful performance from Nic. Well put, when you say the actors 'built' the intensity and tension, it was as if new layers were being added consistently through the film.
It is the scene where Kyle standing in front of the safe challenges them about the diamonds "who is cutting them?" where I saw a glimpse of Terence Mcdonagh and Peter Loew!
Thank you, Lula. :) And, yes, maybe in the way, he playes that part in the scene. But, you are more the expert for Peter Loew on that. Because, I haven`t seen it as much as you have. So, actually, I can only compare it to Terence.
-- Edited by Lady Arwen on Monday 5th of December 2011 08:38:14 PM
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"When you think about magic, it is imagination plus willpower focused in such a way that you can create a conscious effect in the material world..."
Well, I bought the movie and watched it tonight, so glad to see it again and finally own it! I am sorry I did not answer your question Lula, I missed it completely.
'Hi Lady T! thanks for responding! I know what you mean, like an essence you have during and are left with after the film? Out of curiousity, what essence were you left with?'
The essence I came away with from my first viewing was of the tenseness and desperation that permeated the whole movie and yet, no time to let it seep in, because it is such a fast paced movie, so I guess frantic is the word that I was left with. And maybe frenetic in the case of the bad guys.
The first time I watched it I will admit, I was so mesmerized by Nic, I really didn't pay close attention to the whole thing, I saw scenes tonight I don't even remember from the first time! There are quite a lot of quietly meaningful moments in the first scenes before the bad guys come into it. I also saw some things this time that answered some questions I was left with first viewing, because the plot is somewhat convoluted, and I am usually slower than most to get everything that is going on in these kinds of movies. I tend to dwell on performances when I watch a movie.
And I cannot emphasize how much Nic's performance impresses me. He is a master in his portrayal of Kyle. Every moment of him on-screen is so true to that character, and his performance is so harrowing and real it gives me shivers to think of it now. I don't even find those infamous lines about the cuckold and filthy lust ridiculous because of the way he delivers it. It just sounds like something that the character Nic created would say. And so, referring to a post somewhere else that I can't seem to find now, I definitely would say that Nic's performance was oscar-worthy. Whatever that means really, because I consider that Nic always gives him best and his best is definitely award winning!
I won't say that I love the movie itself, it has mostly to do with the plot and ending, not the performances at all; but Nic, my goodness, what a real treat to watch a great thespian perform with such nuanced grace and completeness.
And also, Lula, I did pay special attention to that confrontation scene and I did not see Terence, but I did see some of Peter, especially when Nic slicks back his hair at one point. (another smoothing back the hair scene, love it!)
Hi Meg, no worries, I had forgotten about this too! I always enjoy reading your experience and point of view on Nic films..thank you for sharing such an insight. film is such an amazingly interactive artform, you can have an eternally different experience wih the same film each viewing!
I agree with you about that almost holding your breath so not letting it seep in feeling, well put! Nic for me also was the most magnetic performance, and I am glad you agree about the oscar worthy moments in his performance..( it was in our Trespass Poll where I said it )
Lol! there is def a touch of Peter Loew! and not that i am trying to persuade you ...but I will think of a specific scene in The Bad Lieutenant where you may see a similar manic taking, hyped, head back coked up kind of a vibe..off the top of my head that moment where he has searched the young couple and asks "who's got the kibble?" compare that exact moment with the "who is cutting them?" scene in Trespass! lol!!
What a great insight, Lady T.! And, what a great way to celebrate Nics birthday! Glad, that you already could watch it on dvd! Unfortunatly, we here in Germany still have to wait till the end of february. Thanks for posting it!
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"When you think about magic, it is imagination plus willpower focused in such a way that you can create a conscious effect in the material world..."
Just finished reading this review, its the product of a scintillating brain, thank you for sharing!! I agreed that it has a lot to do with the plot and the ending, but i also think two Nico's manically excellent acting is good enough to offset anything, in general, its a pulse-raising flick with the cliffhanger to end all cliffhangers, hard to tell how i feel when the mysterious veils being peeled away one after another.
I must admit, I concur with Lady T! The first time I watched Trespass, I was so taken by Nic, I should have paid more attention to the plot. LOL!!!
It was definitely fast-paced and frantic. There was one scene imparticular, where Nic had to convince Nicole's character to run, get away....which meant he had to say some disparaging things to her.
The way he changed emotionally, to complete that scene was brilliant!