Dear Nicholas Cage, It's Okay To Say "No" To A Script Once In A While

[Yavin4]

It's okay to say "no", and wait for a really, really good script. You've shown good taste in your movie scripts. You were great in "Birdy", "Peggy Sue Got Married", "Raising Arizona", "Moonstruck", "Red Rock West", "Leaving Las Vegas", "Adaptation", and "Matchstick Men".

But starting with "The Rock", "Con Air", and "Face Off", you've been making a string of really bad action films, "National Treasure", "Bangkok Dangerous", and now, "Knowing".

Get back to working with independent minded directors. Read the scripts instead of just taking the money, and above all else, just say "no" to bad scripts.

[DS1]

1. Bangkok Dangerous was unbelievably bad

[flvegan]

2. I liked "Con Air" but it was the cast that saved that flick.

Really good line up considering how terrible the script really was.

[Yavin4]

4. Remember the FInal Chase Scene In The Movie

Jon Cusak is on a motorcycle chasing the fire truck with the bad guys on it. Cusak's gun runs out of bullets. Then he throws his gun away. What cop just throws away his gun in the middle of a chase just because it runs out of bullets?

[jobycom]

21. That's the main flaw that jumped out at you?

Yeah, it was all ridiculous, but unlike every other ridiculous Hollywood film, it admitted it was ridiculous.

[jobycom]

20. I love that movie. Way better than Roadhouse!

Yeah, it sucked, was impossible, and the director should have been shot, but it had a brilliant cast, outrageous characters, and the most quotable script since Casablanca. John Cusack, John Malcovich, Steve Buscemi, Colm Meaney, Ving Rhames... I agree, the cast is what made that movie fun. You can't blame Cage for wanting to give that cast a try.

Plus lines like "He's killed more people than cancer," "Make a move and the bunny gets it," and "On any other day that might seem strange" are just classic.

[LynneSin]

39. Steve Buscemi owned that part, Malkovich rocked too

THOSE were the only reasons I'd watch Con Air

[AlCzervik]

3. is "Knowing" the one where he sees around corners or 5 minutes into the future?

I have major problems with his hair pieces as well, too distracting, either get rid of them ir give them some dialog.

[Yavin4]

5. No. "Knowing" Is His Latest

In this movie, he uncovers a sheet of numbers that accurately predicts catastrophes.

[AlCzervik]

10. hmm, sounds like National Treasure like, is it Jerry Bruckheimer shit fest?

[Dr. Strange]

8. No, that was Next.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0435705

In which he could see two minutes into the future, except when the script called for looking several days into the future, in which case he does that.

[AlCzervik]

11. 2 minutes into the future, i bet the trailer for that was hilarious.

Next up, Nicholas Cage in "I glow in the dark!"

[Dr. Strange]

12. Actually...

it was based (loosely) on a Philip K. Dick story, and had some good potential. Sadly, it was squandered.

[AlCzervik]

13. oh i'm sure the original story was good but the minute he was cast i'm sure it went wrong.

[jmm]

6. I've been saying the same thing about Samuel L Jackson

for years. Snakes on a Plane? Black Snake Moan?

[crimsonblue]

16. I loved both those movies....

Snakes on a Plane was possibly the funnest movie experience I've ever had... It was opening night, the theatre was completely packed with drunks, tons of people had rubber snakes, a guy came dressed in a snake costume, people were running in the aisles acting like they got bit.... it was amazing.. I imagine it is what RHPS showings are like in some places.

Black snake moan.. I thought it was well acted, plus Christina Ricci looked really hot in it.

[MrSlayer]

7. National Treasure was good.

So was the sequel.

[blue_onyx]

17. The first National Treasure was pretty good

I didn't like the second one. It was basically the same story, just less interesting the second time around.

[UTUSN]

9. He's a legacy kid. n/t

[Justyce]

14. I love Nicholas Cage. The only one I can think

of offhand that I *didn't* like was Ghost Rider...

[Tangerine LaBamba]

15. I liked the night Anderson Cooper

started his show with, "Another Tuesday night, another Nicolas Cage movie............"

[harmonicon]

18. no good taste

someone who will take anything doesn't have to have taste - they'll wind up with good things and complete crap.

[Lost in CT]

19. Like an abused spouse I kept making excuses for Cage...

After Snake Eyes, 8mm and Gone in Sixty Seconds I had my bags packed and was ready to leave.... but then he made Adaptation and I fell in love all over again with that Nicholas I remember from Valley Girl and Raising Arizona....


But then he did this....




He is dead to me....


YOU HEAR ME DEAD.....

[DainBramaged]

22. National Treasure (and thensome)

Worldwide: $347,512,318

NATIONAL TREASURE:BOOK OF SECRETS

Worldwide: $457,364,600


Some here may think their version of 'the movies' is the same as what the public perceives, but in the end, no matter what this small crumb of the Universe known as DU thinks, the box office rules, and the combined box office of the movies you list as really bad action films would make most actors jealous, but not here at DU, where purity reigns supreme.


Date Title (click to view) Studio Lifetime Gross / Theaters Opening / Theaters
6/7/96 The Rock BV $134,069,511 2,426 $25,069,525 2,392
6/6/97 Con Air BV $101,117,573 2,941 $24,131,738 2,824
6/27/97 Face/Off Par. $112,276,146 2,851 $23,387,530 2,621

Lifetime Gross Total (42): $1,904,992,338
Average: $45,356,960
Opening Gross Average (30): $14,451,405 (Wide Releases Only)


www.boxofficemojo.com

[bigwillq]

23. I think Knowing looks good

It'll most likely be one of those generic thrillers but it still looks pretty interesting.

[kentauros]

31. I won't be seeing it.

Not because I don't like Cage (I think he can be a good actor given the right material) but because it looks like they have gone for the most explicit depiction of violence possible; a seeming trend in movies lately.

Here are two clips (part 1 & 2) of the subway disaster. If you are not bothered by seeing people (digital or not) killed by tumbling, out of control subway cars, then go ahead and click.

http://www.traileraddict.com/clip/knowing/subway
http://www.traileraddict.com/clip/knowing/subway-part-ii

The other thing that bothered me about this scene was the lack of proper physics. I'm not an expert, but I do know that when any vehicle derails, it loses momentum. Also, I don't think subway cars have the mass typically found in freight engines, as this one seems to have acquired. If you watch, you'll see what I mean.

[jobycom]

24. Who cares? He makes bad scripts fun, and makes great scripts even better.

He's a talented actor, but he has fun with roles, too. And I liked some of those you panned. "National Treasure" was a great movie for what it tried to be, and "Con Air" was hilarious.

Some people aren't fulfilled with Sean Penn's choices, and want to try different roles and different challenges and appeal to different audiences. That's their definition of range. Cage makes some good films, has some fun, makes a ton of money, and appeals to a wide range of actors. He's shown he can win Oscars and make blockbusters.

As for "Bangkok Dangerous," he must have owed someone a favor, that's all I can think. Or he just wanted to work in Bangkok.

[S_E_Fudd]

25. Ok so I enjoyed "The Rock" and "Face Off"...

Mindless, but well made entertainment...

[azmouse]

26. I'd like to see Knowing but Cage's presence may make me wait to

see the movie on cable. The story sounds interesting but Cage is one crappy actor.

[rcrush]

27. hahahahah I was saying the same thing the other day

Nicholas Cage will NOT turn down a script. Which has resulted him doing at least 3 or 4 good movies in his career. Leaving Las Vegas, Adaptation and Lord of War were my favorites.


This trailer for Knowing just makes me LOL.

[Blue_Tires]

28. some great actors are just in it for the $$$$ and will take just about anything

folks like Michael Caine have openly admitted this in the past...

[KamaAina]

29. Dear Nicolas Cage, It's Okay To Be Balding

The rug's not fooling anyone. :P

Cage factoid: He owns one of the most prominent homes in the French Quarter, the LaLaurie house -- but refuses to sleep in it 'cause it's haunted :scared: and has in fact put it on the market.

It is said to be the most haunted place in New Orleans. :scared: :scared: :scared: Mme. LaLaurie inflicted unspeakable horrors to her slaves. :(

[AzDar]

30. Speaking of scary... Jeebus Christ, Nic...those TEETH!

:scared:

[moggie]

33. Uh-oh

[JVS]

32. No. Take the money. Cage is well on his way to becoming a Troy McClure type omnipresent actor.

[jobycom]

43. I keep thinking of him as Michael Caine.

Some great stuff, some embarrassing stuff. Overall, he'll die rich and remembered and some of his films will last for decades. Not a bad career in an idustry where the average success story lasts five years, tops.

[Zavulon]

34. Although I agree there's been too much Cage lately,

"The Rock", "Con Air", and "Face Off" are the only movies he's in that I had any fun watching. "Raising Arizona" wasn't nearly as funny to me as it seems to be to others, and I thought "Leaving Las Vegas" was a horrifying bore that could have been told in a tenth of the time it took.

[Evoman]

35. Nicholas Cage: A career in baffling pictures.

http://www.cracked.com/blog/lets-play-nicolas-cage/

Prepare to laugh.

[Lost in CT]

37. Or prepare to cry..... great link nt.

[PVnRT]

36. What if it involves thwarting bees with a bear suit?

[kwassa]

38. There are not enough good dramatic roles to sustain a career for anyone.

Most movies demand little real acting, and an actor has to eat, and if he wants to eat well ...

Big box office movies also give greater visibility and pump up the paycheck.

I think Cage is being smart about his career, given the economic realities in Hollywood.

[LynneSin]

40. Nic Cage could learn alot from his old buddy Sean Penn

When has Penn done a really bad part since the days he was Married to Madonna? Sure, some might say "All the Kings Men" was lacking some but on paper the movie seemed like a good idea and I blame the director more than the actors in the movie (when you have a cast that includes Penn, Jude Law, Anthony Hopkins, Kate Winselt, Mark Ruffalo, Patricia Clarkson, James Gandolfini, Jackie Earl Haley and Kathy Baker and the movie is bad, you have to look at what the director has done to affect this movie).

But you look at this guy's career you can tell he puts great thought into the parts he selects. He doesn't make movies to get rich, he makes them because he has a amazing talent he wants to share with the world. There is a reason why Penn has 2 Oscars in 5 nominations (personally it should be 6 - he should have gotton one for 21 grams) vs. Nic Cage's one Oscar for 2 nominations (and the one he didn't win - Adaptation, was really because Spike Jonze is an amazing director - when a movie has 3 of it's actors like Streep (who was robbed of an Oscar), Chris Cooper and Nic Cage all nominated you know the director has great vision to work with talented actors like this).

[Lost in CT]

41. I think Penn was the best thing in All the Kings Men...

And yes that is Damning with faint praise... most miscast movie ever... all star casting almost everyone of them wrong for the roles they were given.... The only thing that saved that film was that Nicholas Cages the Wicker Man came out a week earlier... so All The Kings Men wasn't the worst film of the year

Here is a great synopsis.

1. It's an inferior an unnecessary remake of a film which was considered a classic.

2. It was cast with stars instead of actors. Tony Soprano, Jude Law, and Kate Winslet don't even seem to realize that they are supposed to be in a film about Louisiana. Winslet and Law have rich American "r's," drawn-out and exaggerated, as one might hear eavesdropping on an imaginary plane between Minneapolis and Dublin. Law and Winslet not only struggle with their half-Southern, half-Midwestern accents, but their character interpretations are shallow and boring, although those characteristics seem to be Jude Law's specialty, now that I think about it. Of all the major actors in the film, only Patricia Clarkson sounds like she's from any place on the globe within 500 miles of Louisiana. And she probably would have found a way to screw up the accent for this movie except that she actually is from Louisiana and it just came pouring out.

3. The central performance is all strutting arrogance with no emotional core. Sean Penn, normally a fine actor, turns in a performance of such superficial and theatrical bombast that it would embarrass Bill Shatner. Richard Burton, in his foulest and most drunken condition, had more subtlety than this. Forget Burton. It must be the hammiest performance since Arnold the Pig was featured on Green Acres. In all fairness, though, I have to say that the film is more interesting when Penn is on camera than when the focus shifts away from him to the subtler, but also more boring, Jude Law.

4. One word: voice-over.

http://www.scoopy.com/allthekingsmen.htm

[jobycom]

44. Penn could learn a thing or two from Cage, too.

I love Penn and the roles he takes, but he's got a narrow, loyal audience and rarely appeals outside of it. In some ways, he's the one taking the safe roles, staying within a comfort zone he knows he can handle and that his fans will like. He shouldn't become the slut-puppy Cage is, but taking a different role now and then would stretch Penn's range and maybe make his more interesting roles appeal to a wider fan base.

Not that either man has to answer to anyone. Both are quite as successful as they want to be, doing what they want to do, in the toughest industry in the world to stay successful in. I doubt either much cares what we think. :)

[Bake]

42. The Rock. Con Air. Face-Off. I loved all three of 'em!

Some of his later stuff, not so much.

Bake

[Auggie]

45. Why? He's making millions from suckers who don't know any better.