For all the aerial bombardment Nicolas Cage receives, he delivers a bright and nuanced performance in Dying of the Light. As the veteran CIA agent suffering from dementia, he has unfinished business with the terrorist who tortured him 22 years previously.

In hindsight, perhaps this long distance runner could have made it. Like Cage, Anton Yelchin allows moments to speak for themselves. It’s their scenes together that come across as the most refined and resonant here. Good editing from Tim Silano by the way.

Additionally, cinematographer Gabriel Kosuth posits a noirish approach to light which amplifies Paul Schrader’s writing/direction. Clearly, a high key see-everything-or-else mood ran counter to the master plan behind Dying of the Light. The way daylight filters through an office window recalls the innovation made by John F. Seitz in 1944. View Double Indemnity for details.

By the end, we are left with 60% good filmmaking and 40% generic. A fair trade-off considering what might have been.

Here's a poem:

Even for Dying of the Light

Nicolas Cage put up a worthy fight.

Not his fault the flaws betrayed

Or the ending strayed.

A grey-haired fox

Found his conscience locks.

Cannot simply depart

What example would that impart?

Thriller gave a fair kick

All in all a decent flick.

 (Released by The Film Arcade and rated "R" by MPAA.)

For my review of Frederik Wiedmann’s score, please visit: http://www.filmscorefans.com/dying-of-the-light.html

Dying Of The Light - FILM SCORE FANS

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