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nicolas cage, ghost rider spirit of vengeance

A divisive character actor who is praised as often as he is lambasted for his over-the-top performances, which typically include him LOSING HIS COOL IN A SHOWY FIT OF EMOTION, transforming in unexpected ways or elevating an otherwise vacant popcorn movie to cult status, there's no getting around the fact that Nicolas Cage is one talented, unusual guy.

With almost 70 acting credits to his name over a career that stretches back to the '80s, the man formerly known as Nicolas Coppola has shown a range and unpredictability few actors can match. Though he started things off as eye candy - 1983 was a  VERY different time - he soon ventured beyond hunk and went for oddball, tortured and funny and we've loved every minute of it.

And we're not alone; a writer for GQ tried to explain what he called the Cage Paradox in a lengthy 2011 feature and a quick Google search of the term "defending Nicolas Cage" yields a hefty haul of pro-Cage enthusiasts.

So on the cusp of Ghost Rider: The Spirit of Vengeance's theatrical release, where Cage once again becomes fiery motorcycle demon Johnny Blaze, we're separating the good from the bad and the unhinged from the inspired to pick the Top 5 Nicolas Cage Performances. And trust us, there's plenty of great, wacky and bizarre moments to choose from.

 Get the list now!

 

#5 Moonstruck, 1987

The setting is Brooklyn, the players are Cher (who won an Oscar for her work) and a tank-top-sporting, chest-rug-showing Cage as would-be lover Ronny, a man pining for Loretta, who's convinced she's doomed to marry a man she doesn't love for lack of better options. A solid performance with enough eccentric moments to hint at what would become some of Cage's signature moves.

#4 The Wicker Man, 2006

This Neil LaBute, ahem, beaut, is so full of out-and-out bananas moments that it's hard to imagine the intention wasn't for The Wicker Man to be a laugh-out-loud comedy. A remake of the 1973 movie starring Christopher Lee and Edward Woodward, Cage is off the rails from minute one and his loopy character Edward not only dons a bear suit, wears a beard of bees and cold-cocks women, he is in a near-frenzied state at almost all times. Just try to look away.

#3 Raising Arizona, 1987

A Coen Brothers classic, before they got into the serious matter of murder most foul and the darkness that lives in the hearts of some men, they gave us goofy Nicolas as Hi, a bumbling ex-con trying to start a family with his baby-crazy wife Ed (Holly Hunter). When they get the news that they can't conceive, they kidnap a toddler to raise as their own and things really get out of hand. Showing an impressive knack for physical comedy, Cage offers us a sweeter side, one that's more idiotic wannabe criminal than psychotic gunman and it's a delight watching him fumble his way through fatherhood.

#2 Bad Lieutenant, Port of Call - New Orleans, 2009

Thank god for Werner Herzog. A remake in name and very basic premise only, Herzog's massively entertaining, weirdo version of the 1992 original starring Harvey Keitel allowed for full, unhinged Cage-ness and it's a hoot to watch his drugged-out, sadistic Terence McDonagh constantly abuse his power and position, ingest all kinds of narcotics, lock horns with Xzibit, defend Eva Mendes, threaten senior citizens and spew his lines with a degree of conviction and glee that's just plain impressive. A must-see. (Warning: The clip below contains ADULT material that may offend).

#1 Adaptation, 2002

Earning his second Oscar nomination - his first turned into a win for Leaving Las Vegas, another ace performance - Cage was on double duty playing fictional twins Charlie and Donald Kaufman. Directed by Spike Jonze and rife with meta references, neuroses and inscrutable moments that nudge towards genius, Adaptation is as close to perfection as Cage has ever tread. Funny, touching, mysterious, peculiar and entertaining in all the right ways, the movie allows Cage to show off his actual acting abilities without losing any of the spastic charm that gives him his edge. Kudos.

It's your turn! Fave Nic Cage performances? Share below!



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Cineplex Inc. ("Cineplex") is the largest motion picture exhibitor in Canada and owns, leases or has a joint-venture interest in 130 theatres with 1,359 screens serving approximately 70 million guests annually. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, Cineplex operates theatres from British Columbia to Quebec and is the exclusive provider of UltraAVX™ and the largest exhibitor of digital, 3D and IMAX projection technologies in the country. Proudly Canadian and with a workforce of approximately 10,000 employees, the company operates the following top tier brands: Cineplex Odeon, Galaxy, Famous Players, Colossus, Coliseum, SilverCity, Cinema City and Scotiabank Theatres. Cineplex shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) under the symbol "CGX".