Tweet

Release Date: February 21, 2006

The Weather Man

Dave Spritz is a man who is paid to predict the weather for the population of an entire city. His family has fallen through his grasp, and he is desperately trying to earn his father’s approval before it is too late.

The Film
Dave Spritz looks like a man who exhibits all the qualities of the great American accomplishment. He has a lucrative job, luscious condo, and an expensive car…but at what price? To know who Dave Spritz is, you must first look at what he has lost. His father is brutally honest and does not express much interest in his son’s life decisions, his wife divorced him, and his kids feel no connection to him whatsoever. When offered a lucrative job in a new city, Dave assumes that the new venue and salary will give him new opportunities to mend his past. What he soon realizes is that the opportunity to do so has been there the whole time, and that he has just neglected it.

The Extras
There are several features that explore the art of being a Weather Man, and they are not very exciting. The one interesting feature explored the set design and style. The subliminal messages pointed out in this featurette are interesting to notice when re-watching the film

The Delivery
This is not one of those DVD’s that you pull out to show off your setup, but the audio and video are both solid for a drama flick.

The Final Cut
Nicholas Cage delivers a quirky performance that reminds me of Matchstick Men. The one liners and difficult situations that Cage found himself in, kept me grinning throughout the film. Michael Caine was evocative in playing the overbearing and brutally honest father figure. I think that this film is both unexpectedly funny and moving. This is a great film to watch if you think that you may be lost in your own life.

The Upside:
Wonderful quirky comedy from Nicholas Cage.
The Downside:
Slow at times.
On the Side:
Tom Skilling, WGN and Chicago Tribune Chief Meteorologist is a technical advisor and makes a cameo appearance as the TV station floor director.

Making the Grade:
The Film: B
The Extras: C
The Delivery: C
Overall: C+

Tags: Nicholas Cage, The Weather Man, Michael Caine