8MM (1999)

Director:

Joel Schumacher

Writer (WGA):

Andrew Kevin Walker (written by)

Release Date:

26 February 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

You can't prepare for where the truth will take you.

Plot:

A private investigator is hired to discover if a "snuff film" is authentic or not.

Plot Keywords:

Obsession | Private Eye | Snuff Film | Hollywood | Investigation

Awards:

2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Nicolas Cage	...	Tom Welles
Joaquin Phoenix	...	Max California
James Gandolfini	...	Eddie Poole
Peter Stormare	...	Dino Velvet
Anthony Heald	...	Daniel Longdale
Chris Bauer	...	George Higgins / Machine
Catherine Keener	...	Amy Welles
Myra Carter	...	Mrs. Christian
Amy Morton	...	Janet Mathews
Jenny Powell	...	Mary Ann Mathews
Anne Gee Byrd	...	Senator Michaelson
Jack Betts	...	Butler
Luis Oropeza	...	Archive Director
Rachel Singer	...	Neighbor
Don Creech	...	Mr. Anderson
Norman Reedus	...	Warren Anderson
Fran Bennett	...	Nun
Wilma Bonet	...	Nun
Luis Saguar	...	Manny
Walter K. Jordan	...	Thug
Norm Compton	...	Thug
Brian Keith Russell	...	Thug
John Robb	...	Porn Dealer
Devan Brown	...	Flea Market Woman
Doris Brent	...	Doreen Higgins
Robert Amico	...	Casting Director
Kiva Dawson	...	Girl In Hall
Eva Minemar	...	Girl In Hall
Rachel Wolfe	...	Girl in Hall (as Rachel Dara Wolfe)
Suzy Nakamura	...	Computer Wizard
Torsten Voges	...	Stick
Tahitia Dean	...	Hollywood Prostitute
Terri Laird	...	Dino's Redhead
Vernon Guichard II	...	Porn Guy
Emily Patrick	...	Porn Girl
Nancy Vee	...	Porno Make-up Artist (as Nancy Lynn Vaughn)
Lisa Vanasco	...	Topless Ticket Taker
Bridgett Vera	...	Ticket Taker
Jennifer Harris	...	Strip Club Dancer
Burton Richards	...	Strip Club Dancer
Jovanna Vitiello	...	Strip Club Dancer
David U. Hodges	...	Surveillance Man
William Lawrence Mack	...	Larry
Lorena Martinez	...	Prostitute
Connie Mercurio	...	Nurse
William Buck	...	Mr. Christian
Kerry Corcoran	...	Cheating Son-in-Law
Mario Ernesto Sánchez	...	Taxi Driver
Claudia Aros	...	Miami Girlfriend
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Alba Albanese	...	Girl in Lot (uncredited)
Bob Clendenin	...	Porn Clerk (uncredited)
Vito D'Amico	...	Rapist (uncredited)
Daniel Dehring	...	Hustler (uncredited)
Gilley Grey	...	Firefighter (uncredited)
Jacklyn Lick	...	Video Girl (uncredited)
Al Quinn	...	Disco Dancer (uncredited)
Louis E. Rosas	...	Blonde Theater Patron (uncredited)
Kipling Rowe	...	Hooker (uncredited)

Directed by
Joel Schumacher

Writing credits (WGA)
Andrew Kevin Walker		(written by)

Produced by
Joseph M. Caracciolo	....	executive producer (as Joseph M. Caracciolo)
Judy Hofflund	....	producer
Jeff Levine	....	co-producer
Gavin Polone	....	producer
Joel Schumacher	....	producer

Original Music by
Mychael Danna

Cinematography by
Robert Elswit

Film Editing by
Mark Stevens

Casting by
Mali Finn

Production Design by
Gary Wissner

Art Direction by
Gershon Ginsburg

Set Decoration by
Gary Fettis

Costume Design by
Mona May

Makeup Department
Joseph Coscia	....	hair stylist: Mr. Cage (as Joe Coscia)
Linda Grimes	....	makeup artist: New York (as Linda A. Grimes)
Sharon Kalb	....	makeup artist: Miami
Michael Mills	....	makeup artist
Peter Tothpal	....	hair stylist
Anthony Veader	....	hair stylist: New York (as Anthony F. Veader)
Allen Weisinger	....	makeup artist: Mr. Cage
Jay Cannistraci	....	key makeup artist: Miami (uncredited)

Production Management
Joseph M. Caracciolo	....	unit production manager
David J. Grant	....	production supervisor
Cheryl Quarantiello	....	unit production manager (as Cheryl Quarantiello Schnitzler)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Marlene Arvan	....	second assistant director: New York
Laura Bevis	....	dga trainee
Lisa J. Bloch	....	second second assistant director
Alan Edmisten	....	first assistant director
David Hallinan	....	second assistant director
Jennifer Loeb	....	DGA trainee: New York
Amy Lynn	....	second second assistant director: New York
Eli Richbourg	....	second unit director
Kellie Jo Tackett	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Chuck Askerneese	....	on-set dresser
Mychael Bates	....	set dresser
Sarah Bullion	....	art department assistant
Philip Canfield	....	lead man
Christopher Carlson	....	assistant decorator
Martin Charles	....	graphic designer
Colin De Rouin	....	set designer
Dale DeStefani	....	general foreman
Jakub Durkoth	....	swing
Peter Eastman	....	art director: New York
Vincent Guarriello	....	key construction grip
Kurt V. Hulett	....	lead man
Jacqueline Jacobson Scarfo	....	set decorator: New York (as Jackie Jacobson)
Kevin Long	....	assistant property master
Masako Masuda	....	set designer
Regina McLarney	....	set decorator: Miami
Mike Montgomery	....	construction grip
Luigi Mugavero	....	set dresser
Ron Petagna	....	construction coordinator: New York (as Ronald Petagna)
Damian 'Rocky' Polito	....	set dresser
Luis Russo	....	set designer
John J. Rutchland III	....	construction coordinator (as John J.R. Rutchland III)
Thomas Saccio	....	property master: New York
Andrew M. Siegel	....	assistant property master
Richard Tenewitz	....	construction coordinator: New York
Mark Walbaum	....	assistant art department coordinator
Jason Weil	....	assistant art director
Larry J. White II	....	swing boss
Timothy S. Wiles	....	property master
Walter Zieska	....	propmaker
Tambre Hemstreet	....	art department coordinator (uncredited)

Sound Department
Ron Bartlett	....	sound re-recordist
Willie D. Burton	....	sound
Marc Deschaine	....	adr assistant
Joe Divitale	....	sound effects editor (as Joseph DiVitale)
Gordon Ecker	....	sound effects editor
Nerses Gezalyan	....	foley mixer
Gary A. Hecker	....	foley artist (as Gary Hecker)
Mildred Iatrou	....	dialogue editor
Chris Jenkins	....	sound re-recording mixer
John Leveque	....	supervising sound editor
Marvin E. Lewis	....	boom operator
Kimberly Ellen Lowe	....	dialogue editor (as Kimberly Lowe Voigt)
Kim Maitland	....	sound recordist: New York
Steve Mann	....	sound effects editor
Anthony Milch	....	sound editor
Anthony Milch	....	sound effects editor (as Anthony R. Milch)
Tom Nelson	....	sound mixer: New York (as Thomas Nelson)
Daniel Rosenblum	....	boom operator: New York
Mike Schmidt	....	boom operator: Florida
Mark Smith	....	sound re-recording mixer
Becky Sullivan	....	supervising adr editor
Shawn Sykora	....	foley editor
Cherie Tamai	....	assistant sound editor
Tim Tuchrello	....	assistant sound editor
Brooke H. Ward	....	assistant sound editor (as Brooke Henderson Ward)
Donald L. Warner Jr.	....	dialogue editor
Aaron D. Weisblatt	....	sound effects editor
Carl D. Ware	....	sound engineer (uncredited?)

Special Effects by
Stan Blackwell	....	special effects
Al Griswold	....	special effects coordinator: New York (as Albert Griswold)
Joseph P. Mercurio	....	special effects assistant
David Peterson	....	special effects supervisor
Dick Wood	....	special effects coordinator (as Richard S. Wood)

Stunts
Bill Anagnos	....	stunts
Frank Ferrara	....	stunts
Ralph Ferrara	....	stunts
Tanner Gill	....	stunt double: James Gandolfini
Tanner Gill	....	stunts
Carrick O'Quinn	....	stunts
John Robotham	....	stunts
Chad Stahelski	....	stunts
Eddie Yansick	....	stunt coordinator
Eddie Yansick	....	stunt double: Mr. Cage

Camera and Electrical Department
Debbie Arrowood	....	assistant camera
Paul C. Babin	....	camera operator (as Paul Babin)
James Barrett	....	electrician
Ben Beaird	....	key grip (as Ben L. Beaird)
Gary A. Beaird	....	dolly grip (as Gary 'Bullet' Beaird Jr.)
Nick Beaird	....	grip
Rick A. Benedetto	....	rigging gaffer
Christos Bitsakos	....	assistant camera
Christos Bitsakos	....	director of photography: second unit
Michael Burke	....	lighting best boy: New York
Brian Callier	....	video playback operator
Patrick Capone	....	camera operator: New York
Howard Davidson	....	grip: New York
Glen Davis	....	best boy
R. Michael De Chellis	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Douglas A. Degrazzio	....	video playback operator (as Doug Degrazzio)
Angelo Di Giacomo	....	first assistant camera: New York (as Angelo Digiacomo)
Russell Engels	....	chief lighting technician: New York (as Russell W. Engels)
Greg Faysash	....	second assistant camera
Kenneth Fundus	....	grip best boy: New York (as Kenneth J. Fundus)
Michael Ginsburg	....	still photographer: New York
Daniel C. Gold	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Raymond Gonzales	....	electrician
Richard Guinness Jr.	....	key grip: New York
Anthony D. Guzman	....	lighting technician
Brad Heiner	....	rigging grip
Tony C. Jannelli	....	director of photography: New York second unit (as Anthony Jannelli)
Nils Johnson	....	key video assist operator: New York
Jeff Kunkel	....	dolly grip (as Jeffrey S. Kunkel)
Christine M. Loss	....	still photographer (as Christine Loss)
Kevin McKenna	....	video assist: second unit
Sean Meyer	....	grip
Earl Perque	....	best boy grip: Miami
James Plannette	....	gaffer
Patrick Quinn	....	assistant camera
Rick Raphael	....	Steadicam operator
Michael G. Riba	....	first assistant camera
Gary Ryan	....	unit gaffer
Andy Shuttleworth	....	Steadicam operator
Jennifer Stuart	....	second assistant camera: New York
Renee Treyball	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Martin Weight	....	video assist operator (as Martin R. Weight)
Scott C. Williman	....	lamp operator
Eric Wycoff	....	lighting technician
Susan Gabbay	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
T. Michael McLean	....	first assistant camera: Miami second unit (uncredited)

Casting Department
Judie Fixler	....	extras casting: New York
Terrence Harris	....	casting associate
Bill Marinella	....	extras casting
Emily Schweber	....	casting associate
Maureen Whalen	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Georgia Fletcher	....	costumer
Ira M. Hammons-Glass	....	costume supervisor
Alan Martin	....	key set costumer
Carlane Passman	....	costume supervisor (as Carlane Passman Little)
Marcia Patten	....	wardrobe supervisor: New York
Kevin Ritter	....	set costumer
Felipe Sanchez	....	costume illustrator
Carolyn Schnitzer	....	set costumer: Miami

Editorial Department
David Broberg	....	first assistant film editor
Mo Henry	....	negative cutter
Scott Janush	....	assistant editor
Gloria Kaiser	....	color timer
Eric Rigney	....	avid technician
Dennis Thorlaksen	....	apprentice editor
Brandon Willenberg	....	assistant editor
Dale Jones	....	avid technician (uncredited)

Music Department
Nicholas Dodd	....	conductor
Nicholas Dodd	....	orchestrator
Brad Haehnel	....	score mixer
Paul Intson	....	musician
Andrew Lockington	....	assistant to composer
Younes Megri	....	composer: additional music
Thomas Milano	....	music editor
Mohamed Nesrate	....	music consultant
John Moses	....	musician (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Gina August	....	driver
Theodor A. Brown	....	transportation captain: New York (as Theodore A. Brown)
J. Armin Garza II	....	driver: camera car
Margo Hunt	....	transportation office coordinator
John Orlebeck	....	transportation captain
David Severin	....	transportation co-captain (as David C. Severin)

Other crew
Barry Barclay	....	dispatcher
Denise Blasor	....	voice replacement artist
Michael Boonstra	....	production office coordinator: New York
Stephen Bures	....	assistant: Mr. Cage
Michael J. Burmeister	....	location manager
Maria K. Chavez	....	location manager
Kyle Cooper	....	executive producer: main title sequence
Connie Cordova	....	assistant: Mr. Schumacher
Lisa Davidson	....	assistant production coordinator (as Lisa M. Davidson)
George Davis	....	assistant production coordinator
Dominick Direnzi	....	scenic chargeman: New York (as Dominick Dirienzi)
Susan Dukow	....	production coordinator
Joseph G. Eckardt	....	on-set assistant: Mr.Cage
Joseph G. Eckardt	....	production assistant
Amy Eldridge	....	first assistant accountant: Florida
Andrew George Fink	....	production assistant
Carmine Foresta	....	location manager: New York
Betsy Friedman	....	set staff assistant
Robert 'Rock' Galotti	....	weapons specialist
Juan Goldsmith	....	production assistant
Hal Gross	....	first assistant accountant
Mads Hansen	....	script coordinator
Lucy Herrera	....	assistant accountant
Tom Hogan	....	key assistant location manager
Tobias Jelinek	....	production assistant
Jonathan Jones	....	assistant to producer
Erica Kay	....	assistant production coordinator: New York
Alex Kivlen	....	assistant location manager
Michael LaCorte	....	production assistant
Randy McKenney	....	extras coordinator
Sarah Morse	....	construction accountant
Nancy Mott	....	craft service (as Nancy K. Mott)
Edward Poveda	....	payroll accountant
Michael Randolph	....	craft service
Louis J. Reynolds	....	production assistant
Sharron Reynolds	....	script supervisor (as Sharron Reynolds-Enriquez)
Melvin Robinson	....	production assistant
Vernon Rodriquez	....	parking assistant
Tony Romain	....	production secretary
Louis E. Rosas	....	extras coordinator
Laura Sherman	....	location assistant
Caryn Shuken	....	location liaison
Michael Singer	....	publicist
Kirsten Stevens	....	first assistant accountant (as Kirsten A. Stevens)
Shawn Sweeney	....	location manager
Elizabeth Tompkins	....	production accountant (as Elizabeth K. Tompkins)
Jennifer Wellings	....	extras coordinator
Alyson Wellins	....	assistant accountant: New York
Rebecca White	....	accountant assistant: Miami
Larry Zience	....	production assistant
Rennie Cowan	....	assistant avid technician (uncredited)
Dave Knight	....	additional location assistant (uncredited)
Brian Rosenberg	....	assistant: Gavin Polone (uncredited)
Billy Smith	....	key assistant location manager (uncredited)
Billy Smith	....	location manager: second unit (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures Corporation
• Hofflund/Polone
• Global Entertainment Productions GmbH & Company Medien KG

Distributors

• Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) (1999) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Pictures (1999) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Film (1999) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films (1999) (France) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films (1999) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films de Argentina (1999) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films de España (1999) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Falcon (1999) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Fox-Warner (1999) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Renaissance Egypt Company (1999) (Egypt) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Entertainment (1999) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (1999) (Germany) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1999) (USA) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2000) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• LK-TEL (2000) (Argentina) (VHS)
• SBS6 (2002) (Netherlands) (TV)
• Columbia TriStar Films AB (1999) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar (1999) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Egmont Film (1999) (Sweden) (VHS)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (1999) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Svenska Filminstitutet (SFI) (2001) (Sweden) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Bill Dance Casting  extras casting
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  dollies
• Cinema Research  opticals
• Direct Tools & Fasteners  expendables
• Imaginary Forces  main titles
• Pacific Title/Mirage  title design
• SoundStorm  sound editing
• Tony's Food Service  catering

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for strong perverse sexuality and violence, and for strong language

Runtime:

123 min

Country:

USA | Germany

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:18A (British Columbia) | Canada:R (Alberta/Manitoba/Ontario) | USA:R (certificate #36153) | Singapore:PG (original rating) (heavily cut) | Singapore:R21 (re-rating) | Philippines:R-18 | Brazil:18 | Canada:18+ (TV rating) | Singapore:PG13 (edited version) | Argentina:18 | Australia:R | Belgium:KNT | Chile:18 | Czech Republic:15 | Finland:K-15 (re-rating) | France:-16 | Germany:18 | Hong Kong:IIB | Italy:VM18 (original rating) | Japan:PG-12 | Mexico:C | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R18 | Norway:18 | Peru:18 | Portugal:M/18 | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:18 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:18 (canton of Vaud) | UK:18 | Iceland:16 | Denmark:15 | Finland:K-18 (original rating) | Canada:18+ (Quebec)

Filming Locations:

Clevelander Hotel - 1020 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, Florida, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

The enema porno film seen at the porn swap meet is a genuine S&M film that was heavily edited for inclusion in the main movie.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Mr. Longdale and Tom Welles go to the trunk of his car to fetch 8mm, Longdale is holding a gun with one hand when Tom is shown, but in close-up, he is holding the gun with both hands.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Airport Announcer:Welcome to Miami. While in the airport, please observe Florida and local laws which prohibit any smoking in the terminal. Thank you for not smoking.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "HBO First Look: 8mm (#6.1)" (1999)

Soundtrack:

Come To Daddy

Very gritty and dark

When I watched 8 MM, I didn't know what to expect, but I noticed that Joel Schumacher directed it and I am a fan of his. Also it stars two other terrific actors like Nicholas Cage and Joaquin Phoenix, so usually that equals a great film. 8 MM turned out to be a terrific dark drama that I'm not so sure that I understand it's low rating. I was actually expecting it to be in the 7.0 range when I went to check it out on IMDb, but it's in the low 6.0's. I understand that it's an extremely dark movie that not too many people would wanna take a look at, but for what it was, I thought it was great. It took us into the deep dark world of porn and what some sick people get off on. It's not just about that, but also it takes us into a detective type of drama that makes it into a scary type of thriller.

Tom Welles is a detective that is given a strange short movie called a "snuff film", where a beautiful young girl is being brutally raped and then murdered on film. While it's supposed to be fake, it looks incredibly real and terrifying. Her relative asks him to find out wither it is fake or real and if she's still alive. This means he has to go deep into a world of brutal porn that is out of his league. With the help of a porn salesman, Max, they go to find out if this girl is really alive or not, but end up getting into some serious trouble when the directors and "actors" find out about them.

8 MM is in no way for the faint of heart, there are some extremely disturbing images that I really wouldn't like to see again, I'm sure most wouldn't either, but this is a great dark drama that I would recommend for a watch. Nicholas did a great job, but Joaquin really takes the show here. He made his character incredibly believable and almost sympathetic. Joel really made me believe the story, he shot it wonderfully and didn't over do anything. I would recommend this film for a watch, it's a great thriller that is impressive as well as scary.

8/10