Elizabeth Clementson

Nicholas Cage premieres new film at Culbreth Theatre

Saying he always wanted to think outside the box, Nicolas Cage premiered his directorial debut "Sonny," a seedy new film about prostitutes and drugs, Saturday night in Culbreth Theatre. "This is the first time in the United States that 'Sonny' has been shown," Cage told a sold-out audience at the 15th Annual Virginia Film Festival before premiering what he called his "baby." "Sonny," set to be released in December, stars James Franco ("Spiderman," "James Dean") in the title role, playing a former male prostitute recently discharged from the military, setting out to restart his life with a new career. Brenda Blethyn ("Secrets and Lies," "Little Boys") stars as his pimp mother, and Mena Suvari ("American Beauty") plays the part of Sonny's love interest Carol.