Can we all agree that Nicolas Cage is awesome? Like he is such a great actor when it comes to very particular roles. But his role in this film, as Charlie Kaufman, is perfect for his awkward/relatable style. The writing of Charlie’s character and his constant internal dialogue created some really funny moments within the film. And yet the Acting/Writing for me was pretty ridiculous at times, and yes I recognize that that was part of the joke, but this style of humor for me isn’t super entertaining. Just calling out the fact that something is poorly written/dumb, but still using it as part of the story, doesn’t excuse it for still being poorly written/dumb. For me, this aspect of the film deserved a 7/10.

The Visual Effects and Film Score each received 7/10 scores from me due to them being very average experiences for each. The visual effects were good, and really my favorite aspect of the visual effects that I enjoyed was the two brothers within the film both being acted by Nicolas Cage. Playing and acting two characters within the same scene certainly creates some tough visual moments, and they effective pulled it off.

The Casting/Set Design/Costumes and Impact categories each earned 8/10 for me. The casting and aesthetic costuming’s for the movie was particularly good. Nicolas Cage really was a highlight for the film and was excellently chosen for the role. The costuming and hair was awesome/terrible at the same time. Really made for a unique viewing experience. Finally the impact of this movie was that of something that can be enjoyed by anyone, but isn’t something that will blow you away. The ending in particular was ridiculous, and there were a handful of moments where I was left wondering what drugs were consumed in the conception of the story. And despite all of that, there were some actually powerful moments within the film, and there is some value to be had from a purely entertainment perspective. So I would recommend this to someone for a rainy day where you might be bored. But this movie isn’t for everyone, and some may find it silly or boring. Nicolas Cage fans such as myself find a way to enjoy the silliness.

– Josh