The best thing to do when somebody throws out a comment about Nicolas Cage's inability to act ("He's the worst actor ever," for example) is to let them know that Cage actually won an Oscar for Best Actor back in 1995; then watch every face in the room drop as people's worlds begin to fall apart, unable to cope with the fact that such a thing is inarguably true. And it is true, by the way. It doesn't make much sense that the actor behind such "classics" such as Season of the Witch, The Wicker Man and Ghost Rider is also capable of taking home the greatest acting honour of all, but he did: for his actually brilliant turn in 1995's Leaving Las Vegas, Cage was presented with Hollywood's highest award for acting. He deserved it, but it seems like a far cry from his recent slew of performances; that's to say, pretty much everything he's done since, which - for the most part - have laid claim to his questionable acting chops. Cage has delivered a few great performances in that time, but most of what he offers up seems rushed, unfocused and the very opposite of self-aware - and it's that last point that has given rise to his reputation as the definitive terrible actor. And yet he has a huge fanbase regardless, and continues to pull in the pundits. Indeed, there's something mesmerising about his brand of over-the -top, "I don't care how this looks on the screen" style. As a result, Cage's tendency to polarise is near unrivalled in Hollywood. Still, it can't be denied that he must be doing something right. Also, he's insane?
Sam Hill is an ardent cinephile and has been writing about film professionally since 2008. He harbours a particular fondness for western and sci-fi movies.
