I honestly don't think myself the type to shoebox a people or nation, but I do believe there exists in the United States a sort of subconscious consensus as to the meaning of happiness and the meaning of success. Not that all U.S. Americans hold these definitions to be true, but rather that they agree that these have been agreed on. As though this American dream had been an actual dream of the night before that is now blurry and confusing, and it is - at the very least - unclear whether it merits any devotion at all.

The Weather Man (2005)

If it's funny, it's the darkest kind of funny. The kind that makes you laugh for a split second and then wonder why you ever did. Ever.

Nicolas Cage plays Dave Spritz, a Chicago weather man. Outside his profession, his life has been coming apart at the seams. His ex-wife wants nothing to do with him, he has a very distant relationship with both of his children, and he cannot figure out how to gain the respect of his dying father. It sounds run of the mill, but is different in that it simply does not provide any answers.

The film explains this man, his mind, his surrounding, his relationships in a — for the lack of a better word — beautiful way. There's lots of small details in his flashbacks, his narration, his mannerisms, quirks and faults, that make his life so real it's almost painful. There's a massive gaping void surrounding him that is so well transmitted that it eats you up as well. Especially since the film just grabs the pursuit of happiness and flips it on its ass. America loves the pursuit of happiness. Incidentally, you can imagine how well it was received there.

The directing and editing is largely in the vein of comic directing and editing. It's rather fast paced and there are some hilarious bits of conversation — sometimes just pictures — cut into scenes to better explain what's going on. I particularly liked this short conversation of an older couple that see the weather man on TV - "Spritz. What kind of name is that? It's a TV name. He's an asshole." - "I think he's handsome." - "I don't like his asshole face." And though one musical theme that starts with an irritating clicking sound complements the film's color very well, the music otherwise would be my one point of criticism. You can always tell when it's Hans Zimmer doing the music. Not because you can sense his personality shining through, as with Danny Elfman or John Williams. But rather because you can sense the void where there ought be personality. Stop employing this man.

The Weather Man is also a great example of how talented Nicolas Cage is. I've always admired the guy. His range is amazing. Adaptation, Wild at Heart, Raising Arizona, Matchstick Men.. Kick-Ass. I admit, I don't think he makes a great action hero, but I find it admirable he's doing what he's apparently always wanted to do. The other actors are all good enough. Michael Caine's supposedly American accent is a bit silly. But it's really the Nicolas Cage show.

Overall it's actually quite a draining experience. It just questions everything America stands for in one devastating blow, and does so convincingly. But there's a particular wisdom that raises it above a mere lashing. Unique is the word.

I was very surprised that Gore Verbinski did this. Among other things, he directed the very differently great Pirates of the Caribbean. He seems to know what he's doing.