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'The Surfer' Review

Nicolas Cage goes to the beach to surf, and it goes about as you would expect in a Cage film. This is a ringing endorsement, by the way, for Cage’s latest movie, The Surfer. It is a psychological, semi-revenge story that unfolds crashingly, delivering surprises and an engrossing character story. Recently, Cage has been selecting roles […]

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3 weeks ago

April 30, 2025

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Nicolas Cage goes to the beach to surf, and it goes about as you would expect in a Cage film. This is a ringing endorsement, by the way, for Cage’s latest movie, The Surfer. It is a psychological, semi-revenge story that unfolds crashingly, delivering surprises and an engrossing character story. Recently, Cage has been selecting roles that capture his on-screen presence but push him into new creative outlets. In yet another case, Cage shows he multitasks; better said, he can walk on the beaches and ride the waves. The Surfer is a darkly funny, at times poignant, and deftly topical film that allows Cage to deliver one of his best performances.

Set in a surfer’s paradise, on a magnificent strip of beach, a man (Nicolas Cage) returns to the idyllic beach of his childhood to surf with his son (Finn Little). But his desire to hit the waves is thwarted by a group of locals whose mantra is “Don’t live here, don’t surf here.” Humiliation turns into anger as the man is drawn into a conflict that keeps rising in concert with the summer’s punishing heat and pushes him to his breaking point. Writer Thomas Martin draws on personal anecdotes, crafting a story that is as much about male violence as it is a commentary on surfing communities around the globe.

A group of people in wetsuits, some carrying surfboards, walk along a sandy beach near the ocean under clear skies. — Julian McMahon and cast in “The Surfer”. Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.

Owning one’s domain is prevalent in the film. From the start, establishing these locals and laying claim to the local beach are sources of much of the film’s conflict. The early confrontation Cage’s character has with the local surfers, including the ring leader Scally (Julian McMahon), who is a working advertisement for toxic masculinity, sets the stage for the film’s story. On one level, this film is a simple revenge tale. Cage is desperate to gain beach access to recapture the nostalgia of his youth.

However, the film is wise to avoid falling down the rabbit hole of familiarity. It would have been easy to let Cage rift as a man losing his tenuous grasp on reality. They could have it spiral into a full-on brawl on the beach. Fortunately, the film does not waste Cage’s time or ours; instead, it uses this conflict to tell a deeper story. It avoids becoming a mere revenge fantasy. The story develops as a strategic commentary on toxic masculinity, fatherhood, and what it means to be a man. Cage gives a calm, but twitching performance until it is time to dial it up, and when he does, he is Cage at his Cage-est.

For the film’s first two acts, the locals torment Cage. First, they steal his surfboard, then Scally and his gang harass him. The tit-for-tat escalation continues to a fever pitch. At various points, we expect Cage to reach his breaking point and snap. There is an undercurrent that this film could become carnage candy, but it plays it smart again. We get the exploitation of male violence, but the film subverts our expectations. It forces us to reconcile our preconceived notions, putting the entire construct of male violence under the microscope.

A man with a serious expression wears a red hooded robe outdoors, with blurred greenery in the background. — Julian McMahon in “The Surfer”. Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.

The surfer characters are like bulls in a china shop. Jugheads and characters in an inferior movie would become cannon fodder, yet there is a purpose here. Blatant toxicity is a point that contrasts with Cage. His character, cleverly referred to as ‘the surfer,’ is tempted to indulge in his basic instincts on more than one occasion. Throughout the film, the antics of the locals are chalked up to ‘boys being boys’ or, as one character refers to the matter, men are like an engine; they have to let a little steam out. We know little outside of some essential details about Cage’s characters, allowing him to exist as an insert for the film’s commentary. In addition, the deliberate attempts to construct surrealism with reality help enhance the idea of a man or (perhaps in general) men in crisis.

The movie is unafraid to deconstruct the male ego and offers an answer to what it means to be a man in the 21st century. This question is further enhanced by the presence of a character known as the bum (Nic Cassim). Throughout the film, he appears as both a disruptor and a mirror image of Cage as he confronts his internal crisis. His jaded wisdom comes to a head at the film’s climax. His presence reinforces the commentary on this twisted and toxic brotherhood while instilling principles and basic humanity.

A young man with curly hair stands outdoors on a sandy beach, wearing a wetsuit, with shrubs and hills in the background. — Finn Little in “The Surfer”. Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.

The Surfer packs a lot of resonance in a short runtime, leaving much for the final act. Here, the ideas of nostalgia and manhood come into clarity. As much as the film uses surfing for its plotline and story beats, the idea serves as a metaphor. There is no perfect wave, let alone even one from memory. The ocean is forever changing; we, in this man, must react and change with the times. Perhaps on the nose, but the film never shies from driving home its point. All this is thanks to the many layers of Cage’s performance.

In the end, for all of the thematic resonance and subtext, this is Cage’s show, and he rides this particular wave from start to finish. His character is the audience’s viewpoint into his world, and he brings us on this journey of humility and self-discovery. Another act might have overdone the humorous beats at the expense of the dramatics. Cage deftly straddles the line between campy and cool. All of this results in a complex yet poignant performance that leaves us breaking out in applause.

The Surfer will debut in theaters nationwide on May 2, 2025, courtesy of Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions.

THE SURFER | Official Trailer | In theaters May 2nd

Related Topics:complex concert group live matter Men new review show sports surfing working

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11 Blue Jays Receive USTFCCCA Regional Honors

Story Links 11 Blue Jays Receive USTFCCCA Regional Honors NEW ORLEANS – The Johns Hopkins men’s track and field program had 11 student-athletes receive All-Region honors for the 2025 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field season, as announced by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross-Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on […]

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16 minutes ago

May 21, 2025

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11 Blue Jays Receive USTFCCCA Regional Honors

NEW ORLEANS – The Johns Hopkins men’s track and field program had 11 student-athletes receive All-Region honors for the 2025 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field season, as announced by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross-Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Wednesday.

Oluwademilade Adeniran, Alex Colletti, Emmanuel Leblond, Josh Lee, Thomas Li, Connor Oiler, Ethan Oluwole, Fisayo Omonije, Brady Ott, Sebastian Tangelson and Spencer Ye received All-Region Honors for their performances in their respective events.

The top five individuals in each event from each region earn All-Region honors, in addition to each of the members of a top three ranked relay team.

All-Region Honors

4x400m
Colletti, Ye, Omonije, Lee

100m & 200m
Colletti

800m
Omonije

1500m
Ott

5000m
Leblond
Li

3000m Steeplechase
Oiler

Triple Jump
Adeniran
Oluwole

Decathlon
Tangelson

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Professional volleyball heading to Delray Beach Tennis Center this weekend

Melissa Humana-Paredes warms up with her volleyball partner Brandie Wilkerson on Delray Beach. The two know each other well — they won a silver medal together at the Paris Olympics last summer. Now, they’re teaming up again for a tournament this weekend at the Delray Beach Tennis Center. WATCH: Olympic medal winners to play in […]

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17 minutes ago

May 21, 2025

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Melissa Humana-Paredes warms up with her volleyball partner Brandie Wilkerson on Delray Beach.

The two know each other well — they won a silver medal together at the Paris Olympics last summer. Now, they’re teaming up again for a tournament this weekend at the Delray Beach Tennis Center.

WATCH: Olympic medal winners to play in Delray Beach

Humana-Paredes says she’s often described as a scrappy player.

“When it gets down to the mix, I will be a little bit of a killer. They call me the smiling assassin because I will take you down and smile while I do it,” she said.

The Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP), the premier professional beach volleyball league in the world, kicks off its 2025 season this week in Delray Beach. This style of volleyball is quite different from the typical college or Olympic format, where matches are played to 21 points and follow a best-of-three format.

“This game’s to 15, only one side switch, so things are happening really fast. There’s not a lot of time to make huge comebacks or huge momentum swings. You get to see high-level action from the first point,” Wilkerson said.

Both players admit the pro life is tough but say it’s absolutely worth it.

“I get to be a student of life and love everything I’m doing every day, there’s nothing more I could ask for,” Wilkerson said.

Humana-Paredes agrees with her partner.

“It’s everything I thought it would be and more, because it pushed me in ways I never thought I could overcome,” she said.

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Your daily UFC trivia game, Wednesday edition

We’re back for another day of the SB Nation UFC in-5 daily trivia game. Game instructions are at the bottom if you’re new to the game! Feel free to share your results in the comments and feedback in this Google Form. Today’s UFC in-5 game If you can’t see the game due to Apple News […]

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26 minutes ago

May 21, 2025

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Today’s UFC in-5 game

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The goal of the game is to guess the correct random UFC fighter player with the help of up to five clues. We’ll mix in BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED FIGHTERS. It won’t be easy to figure it out in one or two guesses, but some of you might be able to nail it. It will be a mix of well-known players and some “that guys” that we haven’t thought of in some time. The game will appear in slot #3 of the MMA Mania layout each morning, with occasional movement later in the day.

After you correctly guess the player, you can click “Share Results” to share how you did down in the comments and on social media.

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Central puts 10 on all-region track and field list

Story Links PELLA — Ten student-athletes from Central College men’s and women’s track and field squads were recognized as All-Midwest Region performers for the outdoor season by the USTFCCCA Wednesday. To be named All-Region, an athlete must either be ranked in the top five of an individual event in the region […]

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50 minutes ago

May 21, 2025

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PELLA — Ten student-athletes from Central College men’s and women’s track and field squads were recognized as All-Midwest Region performers for the outdoor season by the USTFCCCA Wednesday.

To be named All-Region, an athlete must either be ranked in the top five of an individual event in the region or be part of a top-three relay team.

Three Dutch men were cited in two events: Jack Brown (sophomore, Norwalk) in the 1,500 meters and 3,000-meter steeplechase; Kale Hobart (sophomore, Mason City) in the decathlon and 400-meter hurdles; and Grant Miller (junior, Norwalk) in the 110-meter hurdles and javelin throw. Gage Huyser (junior, Pella) and Reid Pakkebier (senior, Cedar Rapids, Kennedy HS) both earned a spot in the decathlon. Kale Purcell (senior, Holton, Kan.) secured a spot in the triple jump. Gunner Meyer (junior, Fairbank, Wapsie Valley HS) was honored in the 110-meter hurdles. Kaleb Brand (fifth year, Mount Vernon) was recognized in the 400 meters.

Peyton Steffen (junior, Marion) was an all-region honoree in the 1,500 meters, 3,000-meter steeplechase and 5,000 meters while Olivia Bohlen (junior, Belle Plaine) earned the nod in the heptathlon.

Central’s national qualifiers will compete at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Geneva, Ohio this weekend.

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Wayzata Boys Volleyball Beats Minnetonka in Four Sets

4:15 PM | Wednesday, May 21, 2025 The Wayzata boys’ volleyball team won its regular season finale Tuesday, beating Minnetonka in four sets. The Skippers won the first set 25-23 but the Trojans won 25-21 25-17 and 25-18 in the final three sets to earn the win. Section tournament play begins next week. Wayzata finished […]

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52 minutes ago

May 21, 2025

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The Wayzata boys’ volleyball team won its regular season finale Tuesday, beating Minnetonka in four sets.

The Skippers won the first set 25-23 but the Trojans won 25-21 25-17 and 25-18 in the final three sets to earn the win.

Section tournament play begins next week.

Wayzata finished the regular season with a 14-8 record.

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Eight Hawks Named USTFCCCA Outdoor Track & Field All-Region

Story Links NEW ORLEANS, La. – On Wednesday, the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced the Division III All-Region selections following the conclusion of the regular season. Top five individuals in each event from each region earned All-Region honors, in addition to each of the members of a top-three ranked relay team. […]

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1 hour ago

May 21, 2025

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NEW ORLEANS, La. – On Wednesday, the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced the Division III All-Region selections following the conclusion of the regular season. Top five individuals in each event from each region earned All-Region honors, in addition to each of the members of a top-three ranked relay team. Data is compiled based on Regional TFRI.

The eight Hawks named include senior Conor Convery (Port Jervis, N.Y.), senior Riley Brutvan (Gardiner, N.Y.), sophomore Christopher Hergott (Hamden, Conn.), freshman Aidan Lybarger (South Burlington, Vt.), senior Cali Leonard (Boston, Mass.), junior Madison DiPasquale (Wallingford, Conn.), sophomore Jordan Murphy (East Hampton, Conn.) and freshman Tamara Greene (Hartford, Conn.).

Convery ends his career named all-region in the hammer throw event. Conor was the Conference of New England (CNE) champion in the event tossing a program-best 54.70 meters. He finished in second place in the New England Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships at 52.96 meters and came in 10th in the NEICAAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships at a distance of 53.95 meters.

Brutvan finishes his career for the Hawks by being named all-region in the 3000 meter steeplechase. Riley finished in second place in the 3000 meter steeplechase at a time of 9:39.64 seconds. Brutvan followed it up coming in second at the New England Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships at a time of 9:33.25 for a second best time in program history. He later finished 11th in the NEICAAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships at a time of 9:34.17.

Hergott finishes the year being named all-region in the 100 meter dash and the long jump events. Christopher’s best time in the long jump event in the outdoor season came on April 19th in the Trinity Invitational hitting 7.23 meters. He broke the program record in the 100 meter dash at a time of 10.56 seconds in the same meet. In the NEICAAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships Hergott finished in 8th in the 100 meter at a time of 10.59 seconds.

Lybarger was named an all-region selection in discus in his first year in West Hartford. Aidan broke the program record in the event on May 10th in the NEICAAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships throwing a distance of 52.49 meters. Lybarger also was the CNE Champion in the event at 50.29 meters and also placed 4th in the New England Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships at a distance of 50.08 meters.

Leonard was named all-region in the 100 meter hurdles event. Cali broke the program record for event on May 10th in the NEICAAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships at a time of 14.36 seconds. Leonard won the 100 meter hurdles in the CNE Championships at a time of 15.04 seconds. She also placed in 4th in the New England D3 Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

DiPasquale was awarded all-region in the shot put and the discus throw events. Madison was named the CNE Field Athlete of the Year after placing first in discus, second in shot put and second in hammer throw. She broke the program record for shot put on May 3rd in the New England D3 Outdoor Track and Field Championships coming in 4th hitting 12.89 meters.

Murphy was named all-region in the high jump and the heptathlon. Jordan was the CNE champion in the high jump at 1.61 meters. She also won the heptathlon on April 11th and 12th in the Silfen Invitational scoring 4071. Murphy later placed third in the high jump at the New England D3 Outdoor Track and Field Championships and 5th in the NEICAAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

Greene rounds out the group being named all-region in the 100 meter hurdles. Tamara was the runner up in the 100 meter hurdles event in the CNE Championships at a time of 15.49 seconds. She later finished in 6th in the New England D3 Outdoor Track and Field Championships at a time of 14.89 seconds. She also ran her best time in the event on May 10th in the NEICAAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships at a time of 14.60 seconds.

To read the official release click this link!

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