'90s Class: Bringing Out The Dead

 Is anyone here a Doctor?  This is Bringing Out the Dead, a 1999 Film with Nicolas Cage.  In a recent Interview, he's said that its his favorite Film of his.  Better than Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance?!?  Is it his best?

The Film is based on a Book based on/inspired by a real EMT's struggles with the job.  I can't imagine he was ever *quite* as unbalanced as Cage appears to be here though.  It's a gift and a curse, his Acting style.

A big thing is that this is a Martin Scorcese Film.  Another big thing is that this Film was apparently his ONLY Film from the 1990s to not get at least one Oscar Nomination.  Ouch.  It was also one of the last 2 Films ever released on Laserdisc.  No, I didn't watch it on that (sadly).

In the Film, he is bothered by regret and guilt.  Will he be able to work the dangerous Streets of NYC?  Will he have more regrets before he's done?  To find out, read on...

Cage is Frank Pierce.  He's an EMT and he's a bit on edge.

Weird- Cage is normally a very sedate Character in Films.

Him and his partner that night- John Goodman- bring in a man who barely-survived a heart attack.

The Doctors are going to keep him alive at any cost, while his Family tries to make due.

Cage is haunted by the death of a Patient months ago.  He keeps seeing her face on other people's face on the streets.

He might need to see a Therapist.

A good chunk of the Film involves him narrating over footage of him looking pensive and concerned.

Thankfully, he's not driving during any of these Scenes!

Desperate to finally save someone again, he attaches emotionally to the Daughter of the man he brought to the Hospital.

She was also his Wife in real life at the time, so they do have chemistry.

As he works multiple nights with different partners (Goodman, then Ving Rhames and finally Tom Sizemore), he continues to try and save someone.

While visiting the man who had the heart attack, he begins to 'hear him' and he wants to die.  

Awkward.

Speaking of which, I've got another surprise appearance (well, a surprise to me) by Queen Latifah in a '90s Film.  This time, she's the unseen voice of an EMT Dispatcher.

After earlier meeting a Drug Dealer- Cliff Curtis-, Cage finds him in a compromised position- partially-impaled on a building's spiked railing.

He jumped for 'safety' and didn't land well.  Ouch.

Cage manages to save him, finally granting him the win that he's needed all of this time.

To finally get closure, he checks on the heart attack patient one last time.

This time, he grants his wish and tricks the machine into not seeing him flatline until its too late.

This draws in Carla from Scrubs (no, really).  It's her.

He goes to visit Arquette and lets her know that her Dad died (but doesn't mention his role in things).

He is 'given closure' by the spirit and finally can rest.  The End.

It's quite good.  I can definitely critique it, but it's good.

With Scorcese behind the camera and Paul Schrader adapting the story, you definitely get a good look at 1990s New York City.  It's so realistic that Michael K. Williams appears as a Drug Dealer.  That's not a joke- he's in this!  Presumably De Niro is just off-camera in at least one Scene enjoying some Chicken Parm as well, but I can't confirm that.

Cage is hard to look away from here.  He's both a bit crazy, but also very emotionally-vulnerable.  He goes through different Stages of Grief here, so it's not one-note either.  While I liked Goodman, having him with different Partners did help show the changes as well.  By the end, he's both at peak crazy and coming down from it, while his last partner is crazier than he ever was.

To critique the Film, the structure is a bit random.  It isolates you for so long in and around the Ambulance...but then spends a long time with him on the Street.  Just do one or the other, Film.  The Pacing is also a bit off as the Film feels like its reach its ending...and goes on for like 3 more Scenes.

That said, the Film is very good at establishing a crazy-ass NYC and a partially-broken man trying to help people in it.  It's not always clean and concise...but neither is he.

Next up, I finally escape the 1990s (for a bit).  Let's go to the swinging '60s with some Sci-Fi and lust in space.  Stay tuned...