Actor Nicolas Cage once popped a live cockroach in his mouth for the film “Vampire’s Kiss.”
And it’s probably not the strangest thing he’s done on a movie set.
But the mercurial actor’s career changed dramatically when he won the Best Actor Oscar for the 1995 film “Leaving Las Vegas.”
And not for the better.
He still takes risks and turns in the occasional strong performance, but he’s much more likely to headline middle brow features like “National Treasure” or forgettable junk like “Next” and “Bangkok Dangerous.”
So, as his latest adventure “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” nears its release date (July 14), let’s celebrate the actor’s finest roles.
- H.I.McDunnough, “Raising Arizona” – Here’s where a critic’s objectivity flies right out the window. My affection for the film cannot be contained, and it all starts with Cage’s ex-con with a heart of gold. The actor is in perfect sync with both the material and the character, and there’s not a wasted movement or overplayed emotion darting across his dumbstruck face.
- Ben Sanderson, “Leaving Las Vegas” – Cage’s Oscar-winning performance encapsulated all of the actor’s oddball strengths. The tale of a man hell-bent on destruction seems like an alienating assignment, but Cage takes us straight to the heart of his doomed character.
- Ronnie Cammareri, “Moonstruck” – The actor’s soulful face helped elevate this sweet love story, even if most of the attention went to Cher for her Oscar coronation.
- Charlie Kaufman, Donald Kaufman, “Adaptation” – Cage conquers two roles in this mind-bending drama that could have collapsed if not handled with a sharp blend of talent and enthusiasm.
- Al Columbato, “Birdy” – An overlooked gem in Cage’s career. Director Alan Parker’s arresting film gives the showier part to co-star Matthew Modine, but Cage delivers even when his character’s face is partially obscured by a war wound.
(Honorable mentions go to Cage’s work in “Matchstick Men,” “Knowing” and “Kick-Ass”)
(Photo: Nicolas Cage’s 1987 classic “Raising Arizona” is the signature role of the actor’s career – to this film critic)
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{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Good list. I would switch out “Moonstruck” and “Birdy” for “Lord of War” and “It Could Happen to You”. But that’s just me.
I would have included “Honeymoon in Vegas”, “Red Rock West”, and “Wild at Heart”.
People…people! Are you not forgetting his best performance of all time? Cameron Poe in “Con Air”. That’s right, Con freakin’ Air. To prove it, I’ve got seven words for you:
“Put…the bunny…back…in the box.”
‘Nuff said!
Did no one like Stanley Goodspeed?
@drewster: I loved Stanley Goodspeed. He was freaking hilarious in that role. But it didn’t quite break my top five.
“Whattaya say we cut the chit-chat, a-hole!”
I liked him in Valley Girl.
Always liked him in Guarding Tess. He and Shirley MacLaine played well off one other.
Ah, “Moonstruck!” A very fine film and performance. The last scene of that movie is my favorite final scene from any movie ever.
It does seem his career started on a different trajectory after “Leaving Las Vegas.” That was when he started doing the action movies that morphed into the family friendly and almost straight to dvd stuff he is doing now. I wonder what happened. Maybe a management/agent change or maybe trying to make as much money as he could no matter what the project? It will be interesting to see if he switches paths again in the future.