Literary HackWhat Happened to Nicolas Cage?
July 20th 2009 03:00
Over the last week or so I watched two movies starring Nicolas Cage, 8mm and Next. I had somehow never seen 8mm before and I rather enjoyed it. On the other hand, Next was a joke of a movie with horrible acting and a ridiculous script. It got me thinking; what happened to Nicolas Cage's acting career?
Cage's career started with roles in such classics as Fast Times at Ridgemont High ('82) and Valley Girl ('83). His first major successful starring role was in the Coen Brothers dark comedy, Raising Arizona ('87). After Raising Arizona, Cage was nominated for several various best actor awards for his roles in Moonstruck ('87), Vampire's Kiss ('89), and Honeymoon in Vegas ('92). With over twenty film credits to Cage's career, he landed his most acclaimed role yet in Leaving Las Vegas ('95). Starring opposite Elizabeth Shue, Cage plays Ben Sanderson, a depressed alcoholic for which Cage was awarded the Oscar for Best Actor.
After his Oscar win, Cage starred in hit after hit for the next seven years. Cage starred opposite of Sean Connery in The Rock ('96), John Malkovich in Con Air ('97), and John Travolta in Face/Off ('97). Other highlights during this period for Cage was the cult classic 8mm ('99) and the entertaining Gone in Sixty Seconds (2000). Even though Cage failed to win this time, he was nominated for an Best Actor Oscar for a second time for his role as Charlie Kaufman in Adaptation ('02).
Unlike his first Academy Award nomination, this one did not catapult Cage into over a half dozen years of success. As a matter of fact, after Adaptation, Cage has become a shadow of his former self. Sonny ('03) was Cage's disappointing directing debut. He followed that up with National Treasure ('04), somewhat flops Lord of War ('05) and Weather Man ('05). Those were followed by such disasters as The Wicker Man ('06), Ghost Rider ('07), Next ('07), and Bangkok Dangerous ('08). I know that the two Treasure movies he made were huge box office hits, but they were elaborate action movies produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and had no need for talented acting to succeed in making money.
It seems to me that his career is moving backwards; he was known for taking quirking roles that were character driven and now seems to be content acting in movies that he can mail in his talent. He seems like he would rather produce mediocre movies rather than act in excellent ones. I only hope that he realizes this soon because he actually was a good character actor once and now he just disappoints. From what I've read, a turnaround doesn't seem likely with his new movie, Knowing, but hopefully Cage starts caring again real soon about making good movies.
Cage's career started with roles in such classics as Fast Times at Ridgemont High ('82) and Valley Girl ('83). His first major successful starring role was in the Coen Brothers dark comedy, Raising Arizona ('87). After Raising Arizona, Cage was nominated for several various best actor awards for his roles in Moonstruck ('87), Vampire's Kiss ('89), and Honeymoon in Vegas ('92). With over twenty film credits to Cage's career, he landed his most acclaimed role yet in Leaving Las Vegas ('95). Starring opposite Elizabeth Shue, Cage plays Ben Sanderson, a depressed alcoholic for which Cage was awarded the Oscar for Best Actor.
Cage in the hillarious Raising Arizona
After his Oscar win, Cage starred in hit after hit for the next seven years. Cage starred opposite of Sean Connery in The Rock ('96), John Malkovich in Con Air ('97), and John Travolta in Face/Off ('97). Other highlights during this period for Cage was the cult classic 8mm ('99) and the entertaining Gone in Sixty Seconds (2000). Even though Cage failed to win this time, he was nominated for an Best Actor Oscar for a second time for his role as Charlie Kaufman in Adaptation ('02).
Cage is a convict in Con Air
Unlike his first Academy Award nomination, this one did not catapult Cage into over a half dozen years of success. As a matter of fact, after Adaptation, Cage has become a shadow of his former self. Sonny ('03) was Cage's disappointing directing debut. He followed that up with National Treasure ('04), somewhat flops Lord of War ('05) and Weather Man ('05). Those were followed by such disasters as The Wicker Man ('06), Ghost Rider ('07), Next ('07), and Bangkok Dangerous ('08). I know that the two Treasure movies he made were huge box office hits, but they were elaborate action movies produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and had no need for talented acting to succeed in making money.
Cage is Johnny Blaze in Ghost Rider
It seems to me that his career is moving backwards; he was known for taking quirking roles that were character driven and now seems to be content acting in movies that he can mail in his talent. He seems like he would rather produce mediocre movies rather than act in excellent ones. I only hope that he realizes this soon because he actually was a good character actor once and now he just disappoints. From what I've read, a turnaround doesn't seem likely with his new movie, Knowing, but hopefully Cage starts caring again real soon about making good movies.
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Comment by Bruno Dante
Horrorphile
He co-starred in Valley Girl which has since gone on to become one of his cult roles.
He actually won great critical acclaim for his amazing performance in Birdy.
My favourite performances apart from that movie are Vampire's Kiss, Leaving Las Vegas and Adaptation.
These days he seems to be upstaged by his hair pieces.
Comment by Literary Hack
Anonymous Film Critic
Comment by Bruno Dante
Horrorphile
Comment by Literary Hack
Anonymous Film Critic
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Like Bruno I rank "vampire Kiss' as my favourite cage performance...his best for me is in Scorsese 'Bringing Out the Dead" and dahl's "Red Rock West'
His last performance I enjoyed was in 'Lord of war".
That being said i agree with the premise of this post, Cage has regressed not advanced as a thespian.