People often ask me: why do you hate Nicolas Cage? Truth be told, I don’t.
Aside from the shitty movies he’s been doing for the past decade, Cage is an Oscar winner and one the most popular stars of the 90’s.
Let’s take a closer look at some of his finest moments.
Yes, they do exist!
LEAVING LAS VEGAS [1995]
Cage deservedly won an Oscar for his portrayal of a Hollywood screenwriter who lost everything because of his alcohol addiction. Many regard this as Cage’s greatest performance and it’s easy to see why. This is a top-notch movie (and performance) from start to finish.
FACE/OFF [1997]
The quintessential action movie of the 90’s, “Face/Off” brought together two of the most popular movie stars of that era: Nicolas Cage and John Travolta. The plot, as cheesy as it may seem, worked well, and the chemistry between the two stars couldn’t be better. Travolta plays an FBI agent who undergoes a face transplant surgery to assume the identity of a criminal (Cage). When Cage wakes up, he decides to take Travolta’s face and all hell breaks loose. The final showdown will blow you away. Ditto the movie. It’s one of best action films of the 90’s.
ADAPTATION [2002]
From the mi
nds of Charlie Kaufman and Spike Jonze (“Being John Malkovich”), “Adaptation” is a masterpiece. Nic Cage delivers an Oscar worthy performance, playing Charlie Kaufman himself, who is desperately trying to adapt Susan Orlean’s novel “The Orchid Thief”, with disastrous consequences. With Jonze behind the camera and Meryl Streep in front of it, you can expect fireworks. Add to that Cage in his most unusual self, and you get this deliciously twisted film. I highly recommend it.
THE FAMILY MAN [2000]
Call it “It’s a wonderful Life” meets “A Christmas Carol”, “The Family Man” gave us Nicolas Cage at the top of his game, playing a single investment broker who wakes up in a completely different life. He’s now married with kids and living in Jersey. The script is inspired by a lot of other classic films, but Cage gives it something extra special, turning the familiar into something completely fresh. “The Family Man” will get to you. It’s one of Cage’s best films.
MATCHSTICK MEN [2003]
With a jaw dropping finale, Nicolas Cage rose once again above the routine to play a scam artist who is trying to reconnect with his teenage daughter (played by Alison Lohman). No fair revealing more. But both actors forge a bond that never feels cornball, and director Ridley Scott keeps us glued to our seats until the very last minutes. I can’t recommend this movie enough.
LORD OF WAR [2005]
Probably the last “great” Nicolas Cage movie before he slipped into B movie territory, “Lord Of War” is a reminder of what made him a great actor in the first place. Cage plays an arms dealer who finds himself confronting the morality of his work while dealing with an Interpol agent who wants to bring him down. The gripping script by Andrew Niccol doesn’t just stick to the memory, it leaves an eternal scar. This is a first rate thriller from start to finish. Bring back the old Nicolas Cage.
Honorable mentions: “Raising Arizona”, “Racing with the Moon”, “Snake Eyes”, “National Treasure” (a guilty pleasure), “The Rock”, “Red Rock West”.
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Categories: 2000 - 2009, action, crime, drama, The 90's, The Twenty-First Century
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I don’t know if you’ve seen Cage’s “8MM”, same writer from “Seven”. Not too many people talk about this movie though it is quite good. It’s really disturbing, gets under your skin and makes you ask yourself about the true evil twisted people in this world. Of course it’s not a perfect movie however it’s really dark and tense. I would recommend it if you’ve not seen it. In my opinion it’s better than face/off.
Hahaha I love Nicolas Cage !! yeah and those are pretty awesome movies !