the buzz log

A film so dangerous, even most critics can't see it. Well, that's not exactly the motivation in letting Nicolas Cage's latest showcase nearly slip by unseen, but the "eh" reaction is hardly a prepossessing start to the fall movie season. Web anticipation is completely lackluster, as searches for "Bangkok Dangerous" weakly aims, but fails, to crack the top 10,000 this week. (Among the limited releases, only the comedy "Everyone Wants to Be Italian" is getting the online once-over.)

The lukewarm reception to the tale of a Western killer in Thailand's chaotic capital brings up two very different questions—and neither involve Cage's shifting hairline. Well, not quite.

The first: How could two sibling directors buff its 2001 gritty original (originally in Thai) to such a dull finish? Or, in other words, does Hollywood really think American audiences can't take the Thai chili-pepper heat? The Pang brothers adapted their own film with the help of "Swing Vote" screenwriter (which might be the first clue) and, as Variety lays out, goes from a voyeuristic fascination into the Thai underworld to a sanitized drive-by travelogue.

Hollywood has done a dubious job as cultural interpreter. In importing Japanese horrors, heightened suspense translates into knee-jerk shock moments (as recently evidenced in "Mirrors"). As for adapting Hong Kong dramas, directors usually toss out brotherhood themes and sub in improbable romances (compare Martin Scorcese's "The Departed" and its inspiration "Infernal Affairs.")

The second question: Whatever happened to the Oscar-winning Cage? Projects like "National Treasure" brings in the box office, but his true winsome talents have gone missing like Robert Downey Jr. from the '90s. As if mourningfully looking over an old photo album of a past lover, Premiere reviews his best and worst, Entertainment Weekly reminisces his 25 signature roles, and New York Magazine asks if we could be fast approaching his "tipping point."

The answer for now seems to be lazy cluelessness. While Hollywood—as least its movie arm—likely won't learn anytime soon not to underestimate American audiences, surely there's time for Cage's redemption. With age cohorts like Downey, George Clooney and Brad Pitt who can give advice on getting back up from some down projects, maybe he can start a support group... before he can get into more dangerous territory.