Nicholas Cage cashes yet another paycheck with the dull and forgettable Rage. Sporting a hairpiece that no tornado could move, the actor offers little in the way of expression, simply going through the motions in this paint-by-the-numbers tail of revenge. In his first American film, director Paco Cabezas attempts to create excitement with scenes of stylized brutality, but that doesn’t fly in a film that’s supposed to be a deliberation on the cruel nature of violence.

Paul Maguire (Cage) is a devoted family man who owns a successful construction business. However, in his younger days, Paul was a criminal, a member of an Irish mob run by Francis O’Connell (Peter Stormare). Shortly after his daughter Caitlin (Aubrey Peeples) was born, Paul vowed to change his life. Later, Paul remarried, and although both his daughter and his second wife, Vanessa (Rachel Nichols), know about his past—as do the local police, in the person of Det. Peter St. John (Danny Glover)—everyone is content to let the past stay in the past. Paul has become one of the most respected citizens in town and his daughter is a top student with Ivy League ambitions.

One evening, while out with his wife, Paul gets word from Det. St. John that a group of Russian thugs staged a home invasion, kidnapping Caitlin and attacking her friends. Completely shattered, Paul quickly loses faith in local police department’s investigative efforts into what appears to be a targeted kidnapping. When Caitlin is found dead, Paul rounds up his old partners in crime—bar owner Kane (Max Ryan) and professional screw-up Doherty (Michael McGrady)—to conduct his own investigation; Paul soon learns that once he opens the door to his past, closing the door isn’t so easy.

Paul gets countless warnings to leave the investigation to the police, all of which fall on deaf ears. Paul and his cronies go around town kicking butt and taking names in a search for those responsible. Unfortunately for Paul, he’s not prepared for what comes kicking back. The story eventually dissolves into a mob war, with Paul and crew caught in the middle of Irish and Russian hostilities. Unfortunately, the script from Jim Agnew and Sean Keller doesn’t explore the differences between the two to make an impact on the story. In the end, Rage offers nothing new and nothing exciting.

DVD Format: Widescreen (2.35:1)

DVD Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1

Subtitles: English and Spanish

The following extras are available:

  • The Making of Rage: These short featurettes have interviews with director Cabezas, Cage, Glover, Nichols, Stormare and others. Behind Rage (1:25), Directing Rage (2:01), Nicolas Cage in Rage (1:53).
  • Deleted Scenes: Alternate Opening (5:44), After the Press Conference (1:41), We Did Everything Right (2:42), Alternate Ending (3:23), Extended Ending Shot (1:34).

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