Really, what purpose do Nicolas Cage films serve other than a chance for him to showcase his latest wig/hair do?? I admit I love The Rock and actually like the first National Treasure however those are two high points among a resume of films where I personally find little else appealing. In my eyes, he offers nothing of value to any film and the crazy antics he’s know for just don’t fly in film these days. I will give him that he was pretty damn good in Bad Lieutenant and his small role in Kick Ass was unexpectedly hysterical but face it. You won’t stay in the Yankee’s starting line up if all you can deliver is base hits. Which is far from the home runs he used to rake in in the 90s. But somehow he just seems to make at least 3 movies a year. Now I don’t want to say I hate the guy but for me, that’s still 3 movies too many. Cage continues to make unappealing films and with Drive Angry 3D (look it’s Ghost Rider in a car) and of course the sequel no one has been waiting for Ghost Rider 2 (shudder), I can easily identify which movies I won’t be seeing.
So while I’ve been thinking about this for some time, I have to give thanks to Darren at The Movie Blog who posted this awesome video from College Humour that really caused me to post this. For those of you who haven’t see it, this is genius…
Now that your laughter has subsided, let’s move on to Mr. Brett Ratner. Personally I don’t have it in for the guy as much as Cage, I just think he’s about as useful and appealing as melted Popsicle. Sure music video directors have made fairly successful transitions to film (Marc Webb, Spike Jonze, Micheal Bay) but he still has a way to go if you ask me.
I didn’t hate X-Men: The Last Stand but think it could have benefited more from a rewrite than having Matthew Vaughn at the helm. Though it’s tough for me to dislike anyone who is friends with Michael Jackson, but these two just need to stop making movies. The Rush Hour films ran their course and he’s still got a few things in the pipeline (including some producer work on this Fall’s Catfish and Skyline). Though a number of you might wonder what Ratner has to do with Cage. Well, Ratner directed Cage in The Family Man and it was a decent flick for the two of them I still feel they individually aren’t doing us religious theater-goers/film fans any favors.
Since (somehow) both of their films make money it’s a good bet that they won’t stop making them. Further they are both undoubtedly laughing all the way to the bank but it won’t stop me from disliking their work. So I guess the point of this post, aside from my personal opinion on the matter is to ask, is it just me or does anyone else feel the same way? Also are there any other filmmakers/actors that need to go to this island as well?? McG perhaps???
9 Comments
sundryandco
Can we leave Pierce Brosnan on the island too? I’d be ever so grateful.
Or just place him on a raft-for-one and nudge it towards the choppy open sea.
MarcC
As a passing fan of Pierce (solely for Goldeneye) I would say how about we send him to a retreat rather than exile him completely. For him I think there’s hope of good work around the bend. For Cage and Ratner I’ve given up all hope:P
rtm
An awful ‘yes man’ director and a used-to-be-good-but-have-gone-off-the-deep-end actor definitely need to be exiled. I’m sure we won’t miss ’em. I do still have an ittibity hope for Cage though, as I LOVE Face/Off, The Rock and even Con Air… he’s not a terrible actor but seriously that dude needs to pick better movies!
As for Pierce, I just saw two movies with him in it (Remember Me and Ghost Writer) and I don’t think much about both of his performances. Goldeneye is the only Bond film I like and that’s probably because Martin Campbell directed it.
Heather
I liked Con Air too! Of course it also sported Malkie, he’s another one that is a “yes man” that I love and will watch any of his movies.
MarcC
Well Martin Campell has the magic touch and I think he can make any movie work. I think Brosnan does ok with his material but he just needs better material. He was pretty great in The Matador…maybe he needs more comedic roles.
Heather
He’s going to become a cult hero over his bad movies. Ten years down the road, teenagers are going to dig up a slew of bad Nic Cage movies, have a marathon and laugh their asses off all day like he’s Charlie Fucking Chaplin or something. I saw that college humor bit somewhere else and I died laughing. It’s funny because it’s TRUE though! I don’t know if Cage is an idiot savant or a genius, but he still keeps getting into movies and the occasional casting in films like Kick Ass and Bad Lieutenant keep it in peoples minds that the guy does have talent, meanwhile he’s making flicks like Ghostrider and Next. Who knows? I’m so lost that I’m damn near a fan again. I cannot hate the guy and admit to have seeing most of the crap he’s put out in the past decade with absolutely to rhyme or reason to why I keep putting myself through the misery. But then again……..maybe I’ll start a Nic Cage fan page.
MarcC
Yeah he’s not my favorite that’s for sure. I like what you say about the occasional great film he does make people forget the crap in his resume. But the more I think about it while I love The Rock, it’s for everything in it except Cage…namely Connery, the short lived Michael Biehn and Hans Zimmer:)
Although someone I would rather see on an island waaaaay above and beyond Cage would be Ben Stiller. I would take 5 Cage movies over a Stiller flick. Further I, as always, have to agree with Peter Griffin on this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fct19uNhaRs
Peter E.
Good call and Nice post. It’s unfortunate really, because Cage does have talent and when he selects a good project, it is usually worth it. The problem is he picks so many stinkers. Only a few good ones in the bunch. Ratner can chill out with Michael Bay and Kevin Smith on that same tedious island.
MarcC
Haha, funny how you included Bay on it and would add Stephen Sommers. But since they both made some films I love (Bay’s Transformers and The Island and Sommers’ The Mummy and G and G.I Joe) I’d give them a pass to leave the island once in a while. Still I have a great respect for Smith for writing/directing Dogma, but the rest of his stuff I can do without so I’m with you there.