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 romoting a blockbuster can be a double-edged
sword, just ask the makers of "National Treasure". Trailers and
promos get people in the theater, but often reduce the quality of the
overall experience. If you have watched even half an hour of television this
month, chances are you've seen at least three trailers for Jerry
Bruckheimer's latest yarn, "National Treasure", which was promoted
so furiously by Walt Disney Pictures that there was little about the movie
that I didn't already know, or couldn't easily predict, before I reached the
theater.
Consequently, what might have
been an average film experience was rendered flat and uninspiring; a poor
exercise in storytelling that left me frustrated and wondering whether the
makers of "The Da Vinci Code" (due out in 2005) are paying
attention. If you've seen even one trailer you know that:
Nicholas Cage assumes the role of
Benjamin Franklin Gates, the latest in a long line of treasure hunters
obsessed with a fortune hidden by the founding fathers; a key to finding
this fortune is invisibly embedded on the back of The Declaration of
Independence; because of this, The Declaration becomes a target for theft;
Gates tries to warn the authorities; the authorities assume he's crazy;
Gates attempts to preemptively steal it to keep it safe; various other
national monuments and symbols, including Independence Hall and the 100
dollar bill, hold additional clues to finding the treasure; throughout the
movie, Gates is relentlessly pursued by a wealthy antagonist (Sean Bean,
"Bravo Two
Zero") who is also obsessed with the treasure; and finally, Cage's
hair looks great despite a 15-year battle with a receding hair line.
Perhaps, knowing all these things before I entered
the theater, set the bar too high. Think about it: the founding fathers
placed subtle clues throughout various national landmarks that lead to a
multi billion-dollar treasure? This is a high-minded concept that prompts
correspondingly high expectations. Unfortunately, "National
Treasure" has no greater depth beyond its own clever idea. An even
larger problem is that the movie never creates any real sense of suspense
or exhilaration. Instead, it tells us what to feel or think and exactly
when to do both. All that's left are stale characters inhabiting an even
staler screenplay telling a story that I already knew going in.
"Treasure" flops and flounders through
Cracker Jack dialogue, forced anticipation, and a wholly uninspired
performance from its lead star. Cage, one of the better actors of his
generation, has the ability to carry lackluster material on his own, but
here he sleepwalks through a screenplay nightmare. I was less interested
in what would happen next onscreen then I was in the pained look on Cage's
face every time he uttered another
cliché line.
Diane Kruger (last seen starting a 10-year war in
"Troy")
plays the fetching bureaucrat Dr. Abigail Chase of the National Archives,
and has even less to work with. Of course it's no help that she's been
roped into the thankless role of a cardboard heroine sidekick. Not
surprisingly, after some initial acrimony, Dr. Chase and Gates catch a
whiff of each other's pheromones, setting the stage for faux romance.
When Kruger's character finally enlists to help Gates
on his quest and says, "I'm so losing my job for this," I
couldn't help but wonder if she was saying a line from the script or
talking about her next movie. The real low point of "National
Treasure" is the chemistry that never materializes between Cage and
Kruger. Their first kiss is awkward beyond description, and watching it
was like slowing down on the highway to get a glimpse of an accident.
Although that might have been more entertaining than sitting through
"National Treasure".
As I said before, had I known less about the film
prior to seeing it, I might have enjoyed it more. The stale execution
wouldn't have been quite so disappointing, for example, because I would
have been submerged in an interesting, albeit poorly told, story. As it
stands, I kept waiting for the material to grow legs and rise above its
own mediocrity, but that turning point never came.
Ultimately, the previews were a far greater achievement
than the actual movie. If you want the best of "National
Treasure", then just watch the 2-minute trailer on the Internet and
keep the other 143 minutes for yourself. Sadly, mine are gone forever.
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