5 Times Nicolas Cage's Film Meltdowns Worked (And 5 Times They Didn't)
This man gives a whole new meaning to Rage In The Cage.
Nicolas Cage is the cinematic gift that keeps on giving.
Just this year, there have been two films announced that perfectly encapsulate his style of acting and type of film he loves to make. The first is titled Jiu Jitsu a film where Cage plays a ninja who recruits fighters to battle an alien that lands on earth every six years. The second, titled The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent is about a super villain who is a Nicolas Cage super fan and hires the actor to play every single character he has ever played as a birthday present.
Whether you think he is an over acting has-been or a shrieking genius, there is no disputing that the man has played a number of iconic characters who loved a good meltdown. The Oscar winner's performances can go from nuanced and subtle to in-your-face rage at the drop of a hat leaving audiences questioning whether half of his lines were scripted or made up in the heat of the moment.
Therefore, in honour of The Great Cage Dispute, this list will shine a light on five times his over the top nature worked in his favour and five times it didn't.
10. Bad: Confronting Tyler (Snake Eyes, 1998)
Best line: "Don't pretend you don't know who I am, girly-man!"
In this 1998 conspiracy thriller Snake Eyes focuses on rogue detective Ricky Santoro (Cage) as he is caught up in the assassination of defence secretary Charles Kirkland at a boxing match he was attending.
The only thing that has more ups and downs than this movie is Nicolas Cage's performance as he inexplicably goes from cool cucumber to raging radish in a matter of seconds.
During the film, Cage's interrogation techniques aren't, shall we say, by the book. Unless of course the book is titled "How To Scream, Punch And Threaten In Order To Get What You Want". His bad cop routine reaches a climax when he goes to interview Lincoln Tyler: a boxer who took a dive before the killer's gunshot rang out.
It's here that Cage goes off on what can only be described as Rob Riggle doing an Ace Ventura impression as he breathlessly shouts out accusations for a solid minute before slamming his hand on the bar asking for an autograph for his kid.
Despite being verbally attacked by Santoro for what seems like an eternity, the boxer gets out a pen and obliges as Cage smoothly drinks his whisky.