In what seems like his 12th film in two years–I haven’t counted, but he seems to be in a perpetual state of filming–Nicholas Cage adds yet another unhinged man to his lengthy resume.  In Army of One, Cage plays Gary Faulkner, a man who, suffering hallucinations as a result of kidney disease, has a vision from God that sets him off on a wild and strange quest. The news hounds among us might recall that this film is based on a true story from back in 2010. Infotainment media was briefly taken with this straggly haired guy who, even though he had no training, took it upon himself to travel to Pakistan in a bid to capture Osama Bin Laden.

There are elements to this tale that could have been used to make a film with Borat type sensibilities. No such luck. Over the years, Larry Charles (Seinfeld, Borat) has proven himself to be a talented writer/director, but Army of One is a complete misfire. Nicholas Cage has proven he can be quirky and even be funny in small doses. However, he isn’t a comic actor, familiar with the nuances of extended riffing. He looks uncomfortable doing it and it’s cringeworthy watching him. Let’s not even talk about his accent, which grated on me like nails on a chalkboard. Oddly enough, during the closing credits, interviews with the real Faulkner reveal that he sounds much more normal, making this characteristic of Cage’s portrayal even more annoying.

This film is just a waste of everyone involved. We know how this ended (Gary didn’t get his man). But, even as we watch his various recon trips to Pakistan, it’s ridiculous a day not funny. At one point, he shows up in the country waving a Samurai sword and demeaning the culture. Hilarious. This is easily one of the worst performances of Nicholas Cages career.  Russell Brand shows up in a small role as God, but his involvement does nothing to  move Army of One out of the nearly unwatchable category.

Presented in the 2.39:1 aspect ratio, this 1080p transfer is almost as lifeless as the film. Best described as bland, early banding and continuous aliasing are disappointments. True detail and definition is a no show here, apart from the final shot of Russell Brand, an extreme close-up. Sadly, colors are muted and somewhat cloudy.

The DTS-HD 5.1 audio track doesn’t fair a whole lot better. Rather staid in its execution, there’s nothing in the way of true surround activity. Dialogue stays firmly in the center, while atmospheric make their home in the fronts and rears with little movement.

English SDH and Spanish subtitles are included.

The following extras are available:

  • Making Army of One (HD, 7:07) A brief look at the character, Cages transformation for the role, the supporting characters and more.
  • DVD copy of the film.
  • UV Digital Copy.

Army of One (2016)
1.9 Reviewer
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