Don’t call it a comeback — Mount Rushmore of Nic Cage
This image released by Lionsgate shows Pedro Pascal, right, and Nicolas Cage in a scene from "The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent."
Karen Ballard/Lionsgate via AP
This image released by Lionsgate shows Nicolas Cage as himself in a scene from "The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent."
At least once a year I’m compelled to honor the mantle of Nicolas Cage.
Last year, Cage’s superlative work in the indie drama “Pig” earned raves from both critics and general audiences, with many calling it a “comeback” performance. I hate that praise, because it suggests Cage hadn’t been doing interesting work in recent years.
To be clear: Nic Cage is ALWAYS interesting.
I’m more comfortable calling the actor’s recent output a “Cage-aissance,” so long as you give performances in “Mandy,” “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” “Color Out of Space” and “Mom and Dad” their proper due.
Even if the “Cage-aissance” started a few years back, this week’s release of “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent” seems to be the official coming-out party. The acclaimed action-comedy features Cage playing a washed-up version of himself taking cash to appear at the birthday party of a wealthy superfan. That fan, played by Pedro Pascal, turns out to be deeply entangled in criminal behavior, so Cage must channel some of his most iconic performances in order to survive.
Cage’s “Mount Rushmore”-level performances include his stunning Oscar-winning work in 1995’s “Leaving Las Vegas” and his shoulda-been-Oscar-crowned dual role in 2002’s “Adaptation.” The other two slots could go to any number of titles. Let’s try to narrow the field.
Action star slot
Cage became an unlikely hero in Michael Bay’s 1996 blockbuster “The Rock,” playing chemical weapons expert Stanley Goodspeed, a desk jockey with zero field experience who must team up with Sean Connery’s former spy/Alcatraz expert to stop rogue soldiers from blowing up San Francisco. The movie works in large part because of the dynamic between the two actors, with Cage making nerdy comments while dodging bullets and wrecking Ferraris.
Choice line delivery: “Stanley (repeating a goon’s threat to him): I’ll take pleasure in guttin’ you, boy. I’ll take pleasure in guttin’ you… BOY!”
Other contenders:
“Con Air” (1997) — “Put the bunny back in the box.”
“Face/Off” (1997) — “I could eat a peach for hours.”
“Gone in 60 Seconds” (2000) — “Two Rogers don’t make a right. Ha HA HA!”
“National Treasure” (2004) — “I’m going to steal the Declaration of Independence.”
Serious actor slot:
Even in cheap direct-to-video titles, Cage rarely takes a lazy approach to his material, alternating between genuinely batty choices and more nuanced “dramatic acting.” Honestly, despite the insanity surrounding him, Cage’s performance in 2018’s psycho-horror gem “Mandy” mashes those approaches together to create a memorable and powerful impression.
Other contenders:
“Pig” (2021), “Joe” (2013), “Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans” (2009), “The Weather Man” (2005), “Matchstick Men” (2004), “The Family Man” (2000), “Bringing Out the Dead” (1999), “Wild At Heart” (1990), “Moonstruck” (1987), “Raising Arizona” (1987), and, look, probably about a dozen more really solid performances.
Cage the Crazy Man slot:
In movies good or bad, Cage can go truly insane in a movie, and it’s (almost) always a delight. Some of these performances have already been mentioned (his Castor Troy in the early scenes of “Face/Off” might be Cage at his most unhinged).
My go-to movie for pure Cage freakout is 1988’s underappreciated “Vampire’s Kiss,” a movie in which Cage plays a snotty book publisher who thinks he’s been bitten by a vampire. About half of the clips in those “Cage Goes Wild” YouTube compilation comes from this movie, including a stunning, angry recitation of the ABCs.
Even with Cage losing his mind, “Vampire’s Kiss” was actually ahead of its time in how it explored toxic masculinity, especially in the workplace. It also features Cage running down the streets of New York screaming, “I’m a vampire!” By the way, Cage will be playing Dracula next year in a movie titled “Renfield.”
Other contenders:
“Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance” (2012) — The rider is SCRAPIN’ AT THE DOOR.
“The Wicker Man” (2006) — The bees, man.
“Deadfall” (1993) — Office freak out or bed freak out. Actually, the whole performance is basically a freak out.
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Tyler Wilson is a member of the International Press Academy and has been writing about movies for Inland Northwest publications since 2000, including a regular column in The Press since 2006. He can be reached at twilson@cdapress.com.”
