To say that Nicolas Cage has had a great run in Hollywood would be an understatement. During the 1980s and 1990s, he starred in hits like Moonstruck, Raising Arizona and Leaving Las Vegas, which are among Cage's best movies. We’ve seen him do it all, making us laugh, cry, and scream with excitement while doing so. In the 2010s, though, Cage tackled a lot of video-on-demand films, partially because he needed the money. His 2021 drama, Pig, got major love from audiences and high praise from critics last year. However, even amid that success, Cage remains conscious of the movies that didn't quite make a splash. With this, he's made a spot-on comparison regarding his bad movies and rock albums.
In recent years, Nicolas Cage's video-on-demand films like Primal and Jiu Jitsu have released to varied reception. While you would think critically panned movies like these would result in regret on Cage's part, that isn't the case, as evidenced by an interview he did with IndieWire. If anything, he's found the perfect way to sum up his poorly received outings:
I started making movies that were streaming before it was cool. I knew they would have a life. I could find these scenes I wanted to play, not unlike a rock album where maybe most of it is crap but you’ve got one song you want to sing. I could find one or two good scenes in these scripts that I was proud of and I stand by that. I do feel that the work I’ve done has been sincere even though not all the movies have worked as a whole.
This really is a good way to look at things. While a rock album can be weak as a whole, one can more than likely find at least one song that resonates with them. The same can totally be said when it comes to Nicolas Cage's more recent movies or many other panned productions at that. For example, Cage's 2019 action-thriller, Primal, may not be a strong movie for some, but there are a few scenes that are definitely entertaining. You have to love this kind of thinking from an actor who refuses to phone in roles for more work.
Most would agree that Nicolas Cage has not let any lack of critical acclaim slow him down, though, and he's continued to excel. While he was snubbed by the Academy for his critically-acclaimed role in Pig, the film itself still garnered him a Critic’s Choice nomination for Best Actor. At present, he's playing an over-the-top version of himself in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, and his scene-stealing performance is a major reason why the movie currently sits at 97% on Rotten Tomatoes. Overall, the star's career is sure to see its share of highs and lows moving forward but, with any of the latter, he'll surely continue to take those films in stride and dwell on the positive.
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent hits theaters on April 22, so be sure to check it out! Also, make sure you're in the know when it comes to 2022's other upcoming movies.
