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Review by Jack Foley |
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DVD SPECIAL FEATURES: Audio commentary with director, producer, cast and crew; Analysis of the dive sequence; Movie Magic: Episode of the film's special effects; Out-takes; Production stills; World Premiere Event on Alcatraz; Theatrical trailer; Storyboards; Dos and Don'ts of Hollywood gun play; Interview with Jerry Bruckheimer; The Secrets of Alcatraz; Navy Seals on the Range.
NICOLAS Cage took on The Rock in 1996 off the back of an Oscar-winning performance
in the ultra-dark Leaving Las Vegas and raised a few eyebrows among audiences
who never viewed him as an action-lead. In truth, the teaming-up of Cage and
former James Bond, Sean Connery, seemed like an unlikely pairing...
The result, however, was pure Box Office dynamite and The Rock was one of
the most enjoyable action movies of its year, paving the way for Cage's action
man turns in the likes of Con Air (1997), Face/Off ('97) and Gone In 60 Seconds
(2000) - his latest, Windtalkers, opens later this year in cinemas (2002).
The premise is simple. The Rock in question is Alcatraz, former prison-turned-tourist
site, which is taken over by Ed Harris's deocrated but pissed-off General
in a bid to secure pensions for the widows of dead, 'deniable', Special Forces
colleagues.
Armed with four VX-gas missiles and having taken 83 hostages, Harris threatens
to blow up half of San Francisco if the demands aren't met; but hasn't counted
on the partnership of Cage's Beatles-loving FBI chemicals boffin and Connery's
incarcerated ex-SAS officer to save the day.
The spin being, of course, that rather than escaping from Alcatraz, the rescuing
team of Navy SEALS must break back in and rid the island of its unwanted visitors.
Directed at breakneck, breathless speed by Michael Bay and produced by Mr
Action himself, Jerry Bruckheimer (with the late Don Simpson), The Rock rises
above its cliches to become an effortlessly enjoyable crowd-pleaser; the type
of which features one of the more memorable car chases through the streets
of San Francisco, some sparkling on-screen chemistry between Cage and Connery
and some terrific shoot-'em-up scenarios.
Characterisation plays distinctly second-fiddle, however (there is a sub-plot
involving Connery's long-awaited reunion with his daughter, plus Cage's pregnant
girlfriend standing to be blown up to add to the tension), for this is largely
about the action and boy does Bay deliver.
The
director had already collaborated with Bruckheimer on the no-less enjoyable
Bad Boys but here reaches his pinnacle - before losing his way, slightly,
with the over-pumped Armageddon and, totally, with Pearl Harbor.
With The Rock, though, there was no real burden of expectation and as preposterous
as the premise remains, the stars clearly seem to be getting into the spirit
of the occasion, delivering quip after quip to counter the explosions. Harris
may come across a little too earnest at times, but also adds some much-needed
gravitas to some of the Bond-inspired proceedings, while Connery is simply
delightful as the escapologist locked away by the FBI who must now become
their ally.
The two-disc special edition DVD comes completes with commentaries from cast,
crew and a former Navy SEAL, as well as special effects secrets, demonstrations
on how to properly shoot a gun, out-takes (including a stressed-out Harris)
and 'The Secrets of Alcatraz', which features a short history on the prison.
Action purists will, no doubt, lap it up. Now roll on the special edition
releases of other Cage action classics...
