Now, we all know Nicolas Cage has had a somewhat patchy run of films of late (we still blame the remake of The Wicker Man for that), but his idiosyncratic performances are always something to relish. Well, with The Trust, we can now safely say he’s back on his stride; albeit still performing as though he’s stark raving mad.
Cage is Stone, a despondent, put-upon police officer assigned to the evidence room at this precinct. Finding some anomaly in some paperwork that leads him to a suspected drug ring and hidden stash. The possibility occurs to him that he could perform the perfect heist, but needs help from the equally down-at-heel Waters (Wood). Recently separated, he’s going through the motions as much as anyone and is lured into attempting to pull off the daring raid, despite being unaware of the contents of a hidden safe and, indeed, the sanity of his partner-in-crime.
Mixing some dark comedy in the first half, which descends into bleak but tense drama once we get to the actual robbery, The Trust is a surprisingly entertaining caper. Wood gives the scene-stealing Cage more than a run for his money, playing the edgy but borderline fragile copper with intensity. There are even times when the diminutive actor is actually in danger of upstaging Cage’s moustache.
Plot wise, the story motors on swiftly with some rather giant leaps of logic, but it’s played with such irreverence that it’s easy to overlook some of the more ludicrous aspects and nuances. A pleasant surprise is veteran comic Jerry Lewis’ brief turn as Stone’s hard as nails but slightly bewildered father, himself a former cop. Some lavish scenes shot among the neon-lit but sleazy Las Vegas bars contrast with the run-down areas the pair stake out and eventually plot to break into. As over the top as their plan is, the ride that brings them together and their playful – if anxious – interaction makes for engaging viewing.
THE TRUST / CERT: 15 / DIRECTOR: ALEX BREWER, BENJAMIN BREWER / SCREENPLAY: BENJAMIN BREWER, ADAM HIRSCH / STARRING: NICOLAS CAGE, ELIJAH WOOD, SKY FERREIRA, JERRY LEWIS / RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW
