Nicolas Cage: 5 Awesome Performances And 5 That Sucked

5 Awesome Performances...

5. Charlie Kaufman/Donald Kaufman - Adaptation (2002)

What's better than one Nicolas Cage? That's right, eight million Nicolas Cages! Unfortunately, the eight million Nic Cage film hasn't yet been made (patience, Lewis...), but, luckily for us, we do have the two Nic Cage film - Spike Jonze's excellent and very meta Oscar-nominated comedy/drama, Adaptation. Cage plays a fictionalised version writer Charlie Kaufman and his imaginary twin brother Donald. The film, billed as an adaptation of The Orchid Thief, is actually about Charlie's struggles to adapt it into a film, something which happened to him in real life (albeit with some sensationalism added for dramatic effect). Cage is fantastic as both the self-loathing Charlie and the extroverted, wannabe scriptwriter Donald. This allowed Cage to do his classic loud, OTT schtick for Donald while also reigning it in for the melancholy Charlie. He is utterly convincing in both roles and manages to create two distinct characters with ease. The star was paid a handsome $5million for his dual-role, for which he wore a fat suit and ignored all of his acting instincts, playing the parts exactly as Jonze requested. He was deservedly nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor In a Leading Role (but lost to Adrien Brody in The Painist). Oscar or no, this is a wonderful Nic Cage performance in a very smart, often overlooked film.