I can't remember the last time I had any interest at all in anything Nic Cage was is. Putting him in it makes me not want to see it.
This happens with lots of actors, but in particular, everything Cage does these days plays (to me) like Nic Cage Pretends to be a Hit Man (Bangkok Dangerous), or Nic Cage Pretends He Can See the Future (Next), or Nic Cage Pretends to be a Comic Book Character (Ghost Rider), or Nic Cage Pretends to Save the World From Armaggedon (Knowing).
Which all just sounds like Nic Cage Wanks Onscreen for Two Hours.
yeah...sometimes you can become so famous that all we see is that.
I don't think it's solely due to fame. Russell Crowe is at least as famous for example, yet I generally perceive him as whatever character he's playing within the film.
Yeah. It's not all just fame, as Matt says. Most of the time with Russell Crowe, I feel like I'm watching the character, not Crowe. Even Leonardo DiCaprio can occasionally make me feel like I'm watching the character.
And it's not even necessarily about ability to act. Gene Hackman never played anything but Gene Hackman, but I still usually felt like I was watching Gene Hackman the Character, not Gene Hackman Playing Make-Believe.
Nic Cage of late makes me feel like I'm watching Nic Cage Plays Make-Believe.
Yeah, I'm with Sean.
It kinda breaks down to three levels with me:
Russell Crowe Type: Russell who? Whatever, this functionally retarded bad-ass LA cop in the '50s is totally compelling!
Gene Hackman: Wow. This is what this guy would be like if he was Gene Hackman. Which somehow is awesome.
Nic Cage: What next, Nic? Two hours of "Nic Cage Plays Cops and Robbers and Then Has a Cookie and a Nap"?
I agree about Nic Cage and disagree about Hackman. He is an incredibly natural actor so you never see him working, but if you watch several films of his in a row, you can spot real differences between the characters. I loves me some Hackman.
He is an incredibly natural actor so you never see him working, but if you watch several films of his in a row, you can spot real differences between the characters. I loves me some Hackman.
Allow me to defend my Gene Hackman love further. I think he's a fantastic actor, because even though there never seems to be a LOT of diversity in his characters, I always feel like I'm watching the character. I don't ever see Gene, or watch Gene acting. I mean, I *adore* him. I'll sit through almost any otherwise blah film, just to watch Gene at work.
Although, to be fair, possessing a broad range of "characters" doesn't make one's acting great either.... I'm looking at
you
Jim Carrey and sometimes Dustin Hoffman.
I love Nic Cage and his movies.
