USA: Actor Nicolas Cage examines the inner workings of the American family in his latest film, "The Weather Man"

Record ID: 332933

  • Title: USA: Actor Nicolas Cage examines the inner workings of the American family in his latest film, "The Weather Man"
  • Date: 26th October 2005
  • Summary: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (FILE) (REUTERS) SOUNDBITE (English) NICOLAS CAGE ON THE STATE OF THE AMERICAN FAMILY, SAYING: "Well, it's ironic because I'm playing a weatherman whose face is the mask of everything sunny and good. But, the reality is that he is naked and it is a look at the American dysfunctional family that is almost an epidemic."
  • Embargoed: 10th November 2005 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVA11TANOKBOPM3XQQGH2INXW187
  • Story Text: In "The Weather Man," Nicolas Cage plays David Spritz, a weatherman for a local Chicago TV station, who despite a high paying job and all the accoutrements that come with it, is basically lost and unhappy. His character is recently divorced, and despite the shrill and condescending manner of ex-wife Noreen (Hope Davis), he wants to get back together with her. He struggles just as fruitlessly to win the approval of his dad, Robert Spritz (Caine), a prize-winning novelist who might have a fatal illness. His son (Nicholas Hoult, the youngster in "About a Boy") is in counselling for marijuana use, and the boy's counsellor (Gil Bellows) shows signs of being a pedophiliac. Meanwhile, David's overweight daughter (Gemmenne De La Pena) feels sad and lonely most of the time. "It's like a slice of life," Cage told Reuters. "It has funny moments, but I wouldn't call it a comedy. It's more like a family "dramadey" if you had to label it. It's edgy, it's unique, but it's also dealing with issues that people do go through. Divorce is 60 per cent in the United States, so it's a reality." The most depressing thing for David though, is his job. With his father as a role model, he expects more of himself than being a TV weatherman, in which he feels grossly overpaid. But, his unhappiness there allows him the opportunity to try and address the issue of putting his family life back together. "Well, it's ironic because I'm playing a weatherman whose face is the mask of everything sunny and good. But, the reality is that he is naked and it is a look at the American dysfunctional family that is almost an epidemic," said Cage. Actress Hope Davis said she loved the film's script and jumped at the chance to work with Cage. "Well he is extremely inventive and it feels like he is a wild man and that he is going to try something new on every take. He'll give you something new on every take, not that he's going to change the complexion, but he is very inventive. It was very exciting and I love his work and I love the character he created and I just loved watching him work." "The Weather Man" opens nation-wide in the United States on Friday (October 28th).
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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