Guarding Tess

Rating:
Summary: Shirley and Nicolas are Magic
Review: Shirley MacLaine and Nicolas Cage are magic in this movie. Hugh Wilson deserves kudos for his excellent direction in this superior film. Nicolas Cage plays the part of an intelligent, aspiring Secret Service agent who thinks that he's completing his tour of duty with former First Lady Tess Carlisle, when, to his dismay, she's requested that he stay on permanent assignment. He tries on various occasions to sabotage his assignment through outrageous acts directed towards Tess, but the old political warhorse turns around every situation to her benefit, calling the President and complaining, to the point that the President is calling up Cage and chewing him out to get along with the "cagey" first lady. Underneath the friction are suble revelations that change the entire outlook of the movie. For instance, one begins to realize how much Cage cares for the former first lady's husband in a scene where she watches old videos of her husband's funeral when, spotted in the congregation, Cage is lowering his head to shed tears at the passing of the President. Further revelations unfold when Tess visits with her son that results in a very unsatisfactory, shallow encounter leaves her feeling a need to make a connection with someone who actually cares for her, and Agent Cheznic fulfills this need without even realizing it. Subtle, classy humor is the rule of the day, and Cage and MacLaine pull it off in style. The pace picks up towards the last half of the movie when the first lady is kidnapped, and Cage, through feelings of affection and guilt, turns up the heat on the situation and suspects to begin a frantic search. Watch carefully and watch again at the many subtle scenes and extremely excellent performances by this cast of gifted actors.

Rating:
Summary: Shirley and Nicolas are Magic
Review: Shirley MacLaine and Nicolas Cage are magic in this movie. Hugh Wilson deserves kudos for his excellent direction in this superior film. Nicolas Cage plays the part of an intelligent, aspiring Secret Service agent who thinks that he's completing his tour of duty with former First Lady Tess Carlisle, when, to his dismay, she's requested that he stay on permanent assignment. He tries on various occasions to sabotage his assignment through outrageous acts directed towards Tess, but the old political warhorse turns around every situation to her benefit, calling the President and complaining, to the point that the President is calling up Cage and chewing him out to get along with the "cagey" first lady. Underneath the friction are suble revelations that change the entire outlook of the movie. For instance, one begins to realize how much Cage cares for the former first lady's husband in a scene where she watches old videos of her husband's funeral when, spotted in the congregation, Cage is lowering his head to shed tears at the passing of the President. Further revelations unfold when Tess visits with her son that results in a very unsatisfactory, shallow encounter leaves her feeling a need to make a connection with someone who actually cares for her, and Agent Cheznic fulfills this need without even realizing it. Subtle, classy humor is the rule of the day, and Cage and MacLaine pull it off in style. The pace picks up towards the last half of the movie when the first lady is kidnapped, and Cage, through feelings of affection and guilt, turns up the heat on the situation and suspects to begin a frantic search. Watch carefully and watch again at the many subtle scenes and extremely excellent performances by this cast of gifted actors.

Rating:
Summary: Makes You Go Ooooooooooooo
Review: This film is great nicolas cage is so good at any character. In this film he plays a warm, caring, lovable person but still you get all that cage action. If you love Nicolas Cage you'll love this.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful character story
Review: This is the film that made me like Nicolas Cage. He and Maclaine are terrific as the protector and retired First Lady who must maintain a working relationship despite their opposing views. Lots of amusing character revelations, and an increasingly absorbing pace. I watched the ending again and again because I liked it so much.

Rating:
Summary: A True Heart-Warmer
Review: This was a really great, heart-warming story. Nicolas Cage, as usual, played the part of Doug Chesnic beautifully. You can really feel his frustration at Tess Carlisle at the beginning of the movie. By the end, you realize that underneath that frustration, Chesnic really does care about Tess. The ending was great. Guarding Tess is one of those movies that leave a warm feeling in your heart. I think both Cage and MacLaine did a wonderful job.

Rating:
Summary: Unexpected gem...
Review: When "Guarding Tess" was released eight years ago, I ended up watching it in the theater because I was bored and because it looked a little more promising than the rest of the pack. That thought proved to be an understatement. To date, I have seen this movie at least eight times, and I tend to enjoy it more with each viewing. Nicholas Cage is perfect as the disgruntled Secret Service agent who feels he has been banished to his current duty -- namely, doting on a cantankerous former First Lady, played to the hilt by Shirley MacLaine. "Guarding Tess" is alternately funny and moving, and even includes a bit of a mystery for Cage to solve. Far more than a one-dimensional film, "Guarding Tess" is satisfying for so many reasons -- the witty script, the fine performances, the deft direction, and the mostly even pacing, to name a few. While you can catch this on a regular basis on TBS (which has made the movie one of its most reliable staples), "Guarding Tess" is definitely worth owning for more frequent viewing.

Rating:
Summary: Unexpected gem...
Review: When "Guarding Tess" was released eight years ago, I ended up watching it in the theater because I was bored and because it looked a little more promising than the rest of the pack. That thought proved to be an understatement. To date, I have seen this movie at least eight times, and I tend to enjoy it more with each viewing. Nicholas Cage is perfect as the disgruntled Secret Service agent who feels he has been banished to his current duty -- namely, doting on a cantankerous former First Lady, played to the hilt by Shirley MacLaine. "Guarding Tess" is alternately funny and moving, and even includes a bit of a mystery for Cage to solve. Far more than a one-dimensional film, "Guarding Tess" is satisfying for so many reasons -- the witty script, the fine performances, the deft direction, and the mostly even pacing, to name a few. While you can catch this on a regular basis on TBS (which has made the movie one of its most reliable staples), "Guarding Tess" is definitely worth owning for more frequent viewing.