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By
NICK ZEGARAC
"National Treasure" (2004)
is a thoroughly misguided hodge-podge of plot
entanglements that borrow from nearly every cloak
and dagger government conspiracy cliché that has
ever been written. The film stars Nicholas Cage as
Benjamin Franklin Gates (how precious is that, I
ask you?); a seemingly normal fellow who, for no
other reason than being of a lineage of
like-minded misguided fortune hunters, decides to
steal a national treasure that has been hidden by
the United States founding fathers. After a bit of
subtext and background that plays laughably
(unintentionally) like Indiana Jones meets The
Patriot, the film degenerates into one misguided
whimsy after another -- attempting to create a
"Stanley Goodspeed" regurgitation of Nicholas Cage
and launch the whole convoluted mess forward with
a series of high octane, but disconnected
misadventures.
The relevancy and logic to having George
Washington and his motley crew of patriots burying
a king's ransom someplace on native soil, and
then, going through the meticulous plan of leaving
clues scattered throughout U.S. currency art work,
is something that director Jon Turteltaub never
quite gets around to explaining. Couldn't
Washington found better usage for such wealth
during the start up of the country? Hence, we are
left with a mystery built on top of an enigma that
is already on shaky ground by the time Ben
appoints himself the new custodian of this untold
wealth. Ben's intentions are noble -- if
confusing. He's set on protecting the treasure.
For whom and when? Your guess is as good as mine.
But there are a few problems with Ben's crusade.
First up, his friend, Ian Holmes (Sean Bean)
decides that he can't wait for Ben to make up his
mind about stealing the Declaration of
Independence from the National Archives (oh, yeah
-- brilliant idea!). Presumably, the back of that
famous document holds the secret answer to the
ultimate fortune. So Ian tries to kill Ben. The
assassination attempt is, of course, unsuccessful,
if overly melodramatic. It also affords Ben the
opportunity to pick up, and pick on, the very
sultry curator of the archives, Abigail Chase
(Diane Kruger). She thinks Ben is clearly a nut --
at least at the beginning. But true to the
action/romance form, Abby's resolve melts quicker
than you can say, "Is that the Hope Diamond?" The
film moves into full X-File-ish mode, as the FBI,
mistakenly believing that Ben is behind the theft,
retaliate in various benign ways that lead to a
multi-layering of action sequences reminiscent of
Mission Impossible meets The Fugitive. Honestly,
don't those guys ever get intelligence information
that is correct? In the final analysis, "National
Treasure" isn't great film making, so much as it's
a patchwork rehash of tired old bits from other
movies, woven together from scraps, the likes of
which would make ol' Betsy Ross blush.
The Buena Vista DVD delivers a far more generous
treatment than this film deserves. The anamorphic
widescreen picture exhibits a very smooth and
finely detailed image with very rich colors,
natural flesh tones, solid blacks and clean
whites. The stylized image is also free of
blemishes and digital enhancements. The audio is
5.1 and delivers a nice sonic boom to your side
and rear speakers with intensity and realism.
Extras include a host of promotional junket
material that is rather deep and over the top in
its explanation of how and why this film was made.
If only, as an audience, we had had more
clarification as to why Ben and co. were chasing
after an illusive treasure, this might have been
one good flick. Extras conclude with the
theatrical trailer, audio commentary and deleted
scenes. Not for the faint-hearted -- just the
thickheaded. |
