Do you find that one actor or actress gets to you in the way that no other performer does?
If this was my second oldest child answering, he would say Johnny Depp.
For me, it is Nicholas Cage.
I have no idea why but I will stop my world to watch a Nicholas Cage movie – good or bad.
Lately one of the stations has been showing Ghost Rider over and over. I have been watching when I get a chance for the pure chutzpah of it all. How Cage will look in a mirror and smack his choppers, making that hollow sound of bones crashing together.
He takes total joy in the pursuit of evil and bringing in those who prey upon their fellow man.
Then this same actor makes National Treasure. The history geek in me loves this movie and all of the facts – or semi-real facts – it presents. All along, Cage’s character waxes poetic about the meaning of the Constitution. When his assistant, Justin Bartha, states that people don’t talk that way, Cage responds with “But they feel that way.” As he says it, I know deep in my heart he truly believes in that line.
There is sincerity in that statement. What Cage has been working for the last few years is creating characters with sincerity.
In his early career, Cage had a tendency to overact. Watch him in Moonstruck. There is a constant “over-the-top” feeling. He won’t get beyond it for several years. But then he did Guarding Tess (1994) with Shirley MacLaine and Leaving Las Vegas (1995) with Elizabeth Shue.
His acting changed, he became more real despite some of the outrageousness. Whatever was going on in the story, Cage became the calm inside of the storm. But he also worked to be interesting without being weird.
Adaptation allowed him to play two roles – the blocked writer working on a novel-to-screenplay adaptation and the outgoing twin brother who easily writes a screenplay and sells it almost instantly. The movie is about the creation of movies and a writer’s dip into a deadly underbelly of orchids (of all things).
Another great movie from this period is Matchstick Men in which Cage and Sam Rockwell are con men, making the biggest con of their careers that will allow for retirement. Cage is suffering from OCD which makes doing jobs harder and harder. Then he discovers he has a daughter from his brief marriage.
I love this movie for the highs and lows, the wins and the losses. I love it for Cage’s performance. I feel the same way about The Family Man, The Weatherman, National Treasure and World Trade Center. These performances are about character studies and people going through tough situations in really messy ways.
In the last few years, there have been news stories about Cage’s need to pay off tremendous debt. He has made some incredible popcorn movies, relying on those great acting skills in movies that are B-level. What we don’t always get is that he makes them watchable. How bad could his latest movie, Drive Angry, had gotten if he did not play it serious.
Considering I believe he made The Sorcerer’s Apprentice better than it should have been, it is my feeling he has saved many of these lesser movies. But the real question is will Cage ever get back to making the better movies he is capable of doing?
Until next week, see you in the rental aisle.
I agree and I liked Con Air and his line…Put the bunny back in the box…I often say it to people..not for any good reason except I like the line..Put the bunny…
I have never seen Con Air but for some reason he is really good at action-adventure.
I generally have a hard time with Nicolas Cage, but I really loved Con Air and The Rock. (Yes, I’m one for profound, life-altering movies!)
I’m a huge Cage fan too. Lets hope he goes on to collect a few Oscar nominations in the future.
Con Air had two of my faves – Nicholas Cage and John Cusack. Those two actors fascinate me. Rumbly, if you’ve yet to see Valley Girl, please add it to your list. That was the movie that hooked me to Cage. The eyes…
Put the bunny… that was funny. Con Air was entertaining. National Treasure was excellent. Moonstruck…swoon.
One movie that is a hit with every man I know …. Raising Arizona.
Cage is it. (Cusack, too.)
My husband loves any of his movies, especially Con Air and Face Off (talk about overacting!) My fave by far is Raising Arizona. I’ve seen that one countless times.
Hee, hee. Have you seen this. And just a warning it contains the S-word so don’t pull it up in front of your daughter! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xP1-oquwoL8
This is the greatest collection of Cage Clips I have ever seen. I was alone in the house watchng it and then my daughter walks in with her friend. I made them leave the room quickly.
Oh my, it’s going in the background and um, it has more profanity than I realized. Better use the ear buds!
I’m trying to think of such an actor or actress. The closest I’m coming off the top of my head is agreeing with your second oldest re: Johnny Depp. I used to dream I’d marry him (as Edward Scissorhands, because I’ve always been the practical sort). Even when I lost the crush, I’ve continued to appreciate his acting.
I’m still trying to see if there’s anyone else, but . . . I think I have to stick with Johnny Depp being as close as I get!
My brother and I have had the discussion about the antithesis, when there’s an actor you really can’t stand. We’ve deemed it “[actor’s name] rage.” But that is another question altogether!
For whatever reasons, Edward Norton gets on my last nerve every time I see him. He might be good but what a pill.
I really enjoy Nicholas Cage too – but I haven’t been loving his new stuff. The Family Man and The Weatherman are fantastic!
I love Ghost Rider, Natonal Treasure and The Sorcerer’s Apprentice. I thought I saw a sequel to Ghost Rider coming this summer. The other stuff I am not sure about but I think the glut has everything to do with his need to raise serious cash to get out of debt.
I also enjoy a lot of Nicolas Cage’s movies. I love the fun of the National Treasure movies and the absolutely hysterical Raising Arizona. But my all time favorite movie of his is The Family Man. It has some wonderful lines and scenes about the choices and the value of choosing a life of commitment and connection over a life of wealth and position.
Thanks for sharing!
Sheila
I think that is why it is one of my favorites as well.