This is sort of how I envision Omega Liberal while he's posting here.
Reminds me of a story. I was working at a desk job with a guy who acted in productions at Sam Shepherd's Magic Theater in San Francisco. This was 30 years ago.
The actor guy was very mild mannered and friendly.
So, I took in a play. The guy played a ferociously evil bastard to perfection.
Afterward, I asked him: "How can a guy who's as easy going as you play that kind of part?"
One of the best examples of losing it (and this is appropriate for now, as it's a Thanksgiving movie and involves travel frustrations) is Steve Martin in Planes, Trains and Automobiles in that memorable f-word scene (though what's funny is that he delivers the monologue with a sort of quiet seething sarcasm and doesn't just yell a lot).
I'm a pretty big fanboy snob when it comes to movies and I enjoyed the hell out of it. No prior knowledge of the graphic novel is needed, apparently, because I loved it.
Ha. I call him "dependably good," but then I look at his credits and see that I've hardly seen any of his recent pictures. So "dependably good" if you only watch him in good movies. I don't know about the other ones.
I think cage is a pretty good actor, and I like some of the movies in this compilation. That said, I could not finish watching it. It was just too disturbing to watch that much freaking out.
HKat, Planes, Trains is a great movie, and the "mild freakout" scene is great, especially followed with a very deadpan "You're *****ed."
Cage is a superb actor who takes about any role presented to him. The reason is not that he can't discern good from bad. He is just so incredibly cavalier w/ money, he simply needs the cash
Raising Arizona (Coen Brothers) Wild at Heart (David Lynch) Moonstruck (Norman Jewison) Bad Lieutenant: New Orleans Port of Call (Werner Herzog) Bringing Out the Dead (Martin Scorsese) Adaptation (Spike Jonze)
I have noticed that Nic Cage is a particular *kind* of actor. There is this over-the-top-ness to his portrayals. Going all the way back to Peggy-Sue Got Married... I dunno if it started out as a self-conscious mask type thing and then became a "style". Even when he plays it "straight" he's a little too straight, or a little bigger-than-life in some other way. So yeah, if he's playing a guy who is going to get upset; that guy is going to be VERY UPSET!
Oh, film snobs will pan it as a typical teen flick with a vapid female lead whose career disappeared without a trace not long after. And I won't say they're wrong.
But I thought Cage's work there was very good for an early film; and I really liked Coolidge's storytelling. She's not an A list director, maybe not even a B list. I doubt many will even recognize her name. But she has delivered some pretty solid comedies, and I like her work, at least what I've seen of it. Her pilot for Sledge Hammer had me laughing for days.
"The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom." Or anyway to a few Oscar nominations. His excess and the romanticism of Shanley's lines in Moonstruck were a perfect match.
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44 comments:
Nick Cage channeling Adam West in "Kickass" was on of the most fun movie moments of 2010. Genius.
This is sort of how I envision Omega Liberal while he's posting here.
Reminds me of a story. I was working at a desk job with a guy who acted in productions at Sam Shepherd's Magic Theater in San Francisco. This was 30 years ago.
The actor guy was very mild mannered and friendly.
So, I took in a play. The guy played a ferociously evil bastard to perfection.
Afterward, I asked him: "How can a guy who's as easy going as you play that kind of part?"
"That's why they call it 'acting'" he answered.
One of the best examples of losing it (and this is appropriate for now, as it's a Thanksgiving movie and involves travel frustrations) is Steve Martin in Planes, Trains and Automobiles in that memorable f-word scene (though what's funny is that he delivers the monologue with a sort of quiet seething sarcasm and doesn't just yell a lot).
Ahhh, that ain't workin'. Git your money for nutin', your chicks for free.
That is a hell of a way to make a living. Damn, it looks fun!
Nicholas Cage has been in a lot of movies. I mean, I've seen a lot of Nicholas Cage movies and I don't recognize at least half of these.
Kevin Bacon has nothing on Nicholas Cage.
Winnebago Man seems tame in comparison.
Why give more airtime to this sort of stuff?
I don't recognize many of these films, either, but that second portrayal reminded me of the divorce. Just broke down.
Scott, is "Kickass" good?
I'm a pretty big fanboy snob when it comes to movies and I enjoyed the hell out of it. No prior knowledge of the graphic novel is needed, apparently, because I loved it.
Especially the girl playing Nick Cage's daughter. Awesome.
Planes Trains and Automobiles is a great great movie. John Candy at his finest.
It would have been better, though, with some nice TSA scenes in it.
Nick Cage is not a high caliber actor IMHO.. hes there with Keanu Reeves and the Hugh Grants of the box office.. I dont expect much.
"Nick Cage is not a high caliber actor"
That's about as understated as you can get. Half or more of his movies are simply unwatchable.
If they ever make a movie about my life, I will be played by Nicolas Cage.
He'll just have to ramp up the intensity a little when he flips out.
(OK. A lot.)
It would have been better, though, with some nice TSA scenes in it.
"Those aren't PILLOWS!"
I reviewed "Kick-Ass" here.
Quoting myself: "It didn't piss me off."
Worst movie I've seen in a long time:
Nicolas Cage in "Family Man."
The Blonde is a big Cage fan, but 'Con Air' is probably her fave, ironically less for him than all the rimshots the bad guys get.
Best Movie I've seen in a long while:
Bad Lieutenant: New Orleans Port of Call
I think Cage is dependably good.
He plays lanky characters, but if you'd like to see him looking entirely different, watch the 1995 "Kiss of Death."
Uh, in real life that kind of acting out is answered with a knuckle sandwich.
Worst movie I've seen in a long time:
Nicolas Cage in "Family Man."
Yeah, but pretty much all of those lady sop pictures are atrocious.
Ha. I call him "dependably good," but then I look at his credits and see that I've hardly seen any of his recent pictures. So "dependably good" if you only watch him in good movies. I don't know about the other ones.
Netflix thought I'd like "Birdy," so I had it sent and watched it. WTF, Netflix?
I think cage is a pretty good actor, and I like some of the movies in this compilation. That said, I could not finish watching it. It was just too disturbing to watch that much freaking out.
HKat, Planes, Trains is a great movie, and the "mild freakout" scene is great, especially followed with a very deadpan "You're *****ed."
Gobble gobble.
So good as "Ronny Cammareri" in Moonstruck; when I think of that character I smile. Love that movie.
especially followed with a very deadpan "You're *****ed."
A point of order...there are only four stars in ****ed. :)
Vampire's kiss is kind of a quirky gem.
Cage is a superb actor who takes about any role presented to him. The reason is not that he can't discern good from bad. He is just so incredibly cavalier w/ money, he simply needs the cash
Cage is as good as his source material/director:
Raising Arizona (Coen Brothers)
Wild at Heart (David Lynch)
Moonstruck (Norman Jewison)
Bad Lieutenant: New Orleans Port of Call (Werner Herzog)
Bringing Out the Dead (Martin Scorsese)
Adaptation (Spike Jonze)
Keep Calm and Carry On
Maybe they could play this at "Anger Management" meetings. Because afterwards all that anger seems ridiculous.
OTOH, maybe this would just tic some people in that situation of...hmmm?
off.
Tic those people off, that is.
I have noticed that Nic Cage is a particular *kind* of actor. There is this over-the-top-ness to his portrayals. Going all the way back to Peggy-Sue Got Married... I dunno if it started out as a self-conscious mask type thing and then became a "style". Even when he plays it "straight" he's a little too straight, or a little bigger-than-life in some other way. So yeah, if he's playing a guy who is going to get upset; that guy is going to be VERY UPSET!
E.M. Davis, don't forget:
Valley Girl (Martha Coolidge)
Oh, film snobs will pan it as a typical teen flick with a vapid female lead whose career disappeared without a trace not long after. And I won't say they're wrong.
But I thought Cage's work there was very good for an early film; and I really liked Coolidge's storytelling. She's not an A list director, maybe not even a B list. I doubt many will even recognize her name. But she has delivered some pretty solid comedies, and I like her work, at least what I've seen of it. Her pilot for Sledge Hammer had me laughing for days.
Valley Girl! Deborah Foreman! She tried to make a comeback a few years ago after being retired for 15 years or so.
But besides Foreman and Cage, voice great E.G. Daily, Colleen Camp, Michelle Meyrink, Frederic Forrest!
Foreman followed-up with the better (IMO) "My Chauffeur" with "Flash Gordon" star Sam J. Jones.
I am extraordinarily happy to report that while I guessed one film was "Wicker Man" I had no idea what any of those other awful things were!
Nicholas unCaged
The Crack Emcee said...
Scott, is "Kickass" good?
I thought kick-ass was great, but then again, I also thought Unbreakable was great too. Most people didn't get it.
"The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom." Or anyway to a few Oscar nominations. His excess and the romanticism of Shanley's lines in Moonstruck were a perfect match.
Kick Ass was the most fun movie of 2010.
It's all about the nuance, isn't it?
I couldn't quite get to the halfway point. When Cage wants to chew the scenery, he can really work those molars.
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