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Between helming the Pirates Of The Caribbean movies, Gore Verbinski directed The Weather Man. It's a much quieter film by comparison, starring Nic Cage (in less 'shouty' mode) as an angst-ridden man watching life slowly pass him by. Although the meandering narrative left some people nonplussed, the "skilful blend of laughs and pathos" will hopefully give it a second wind on DVD.
The Forecast
Verbinski explains that the script is based on "an emotional structure" rather than a traditional plot in the Extended Outlook featurette. Cage adds that it was something of an experiment for both of them, but he was drawn to the material because it gave him "the opportunity to express some range." Meanwhile screenwriter Steve Conrad reveals that the inspiration for the story came from real-life incidents, like watching a childhood friend pelt the local TV weatherman with a milkshake (while he hid in the backseat of a car, allegedly).
Relative Humidity elaborates on this discussion by focussing on each of the leading players and their journey through the film. Michael Caine (who plays the dad) is among the speakers and expresses some surprise to find that Cage was a "very relaxed" actor as opposed to the bouncing maniac freakballs he usually plays. Cage returns this rather dubious compliment by insisting that Caine is "the master of not blinking." Now how freaky is that?
To achieve authenticity in the workings of the onscreen Weather Centre, Verbinski and Cage spent a lot of time with real-life weatherman Tom Skilling. In Forecasts, he insists that he's never been pelted with drinks or foodstuffs although he does confess to being a little weary of people accosting him in the street with inane comments. We then see him pestering Verbinski on the set while Cage takes some time out to practice his all-important sweeping arm gestures.
The Eye Of The Storm
For something completely different, there's a sneak preview of Kiefer Sutherland/Michael Douglas thriller The Sentinel, but that's not enough to save this DVD from a gold medal in mediocrity.
EXTRA FEATURES
