Throughout his career, Nicolas Cage has seen his ups and downs. From Leaving Las Vegas’s Academy Award-winning performance, to repeatedly screaming “I’m a vampire!” in Vampire’s Kiss, Cage is no stranger to doing his thing and fully exploring his roles and characters. It’s no wonder that he’s one of the greats. He throws everything he has into his roles, and has never failed to deliver throughout his long and prolific career. One of the drawbacks of being as prolific as Cage is that some of his films are overlooked and underrated. It comes with the territory, but we felt the need to highlight some of the great films that deserve a second look.
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Bringing out the Dead (1999)
Paramount Pictures
Bringing Out the Dead is Nicolas Cage doing what he does best in a number of his films: narrating and acting. We’ve seen him do this comedically in films like Raising Arizona, but this is a shining example of the same voiceover method in a more dramatic role. Frank (Cage) is a strung-out paramedic who is haunted by those patients he could not save. The plot follows him through three days of distressing calls, and Frank trying to get fired, quit, and maintain his sanity as he tries to navigate through his own personal New York City hell. He has given up on saving others, and we’re not sure if he’s even going to be able to save himself.
The Weather Man (2005)
The Weather Man has Cage portraying David Spritz, a Chicago weatherman who is going through a midlife crisis. His family is moving on post-divorce, but he is not. His daughter is getting in trouble at school, and his son has a troubled relationship with an older male counselor. Dave finds out that his father Robert (Michael Caine) has late stage lymphoma and doesn’t have much longer to live. Cage delivers a stellar performance in this film that treads the line between comedy and drama. He’s got his usual quirks, but underneath the surface you see a troubled man trying to hold his life together when everything seems to be falling apart.
Matchstick Men (2003)
Warner Bros. Pictures
2003’s Matchstick Men is a comedy crime flick with a heart of gold. Roy Waller (Cage) is an accomplished and affluent con man whose bread and butter comes from staging elaborate heists and reaping the benefits. He is also obsessive compulsive, and falls to pieces (and into cleaning frenzies) without his medication. The plot takes a turn when he’s reunited with who he is told is his estranged teenage daughter. He tries to rekindle his relationship with her, and she wants to be a con artist just like her old man. He reluctantly shows her everything he knows in a strange “take your daughter to work” kind of way, and falls off his meds. Waller shows us all that even a conman can have a heart, and Matchstick Men is as hilarious as it is sentimental.
The Frozen Ground (2013)
Lionsgate
The Frozen Ground has Cage playing Sgt. Jack Halcombe, an Alaska State trooper who is racing the clock to find a serial killer before another victim is claimed. Robert Hansen (John Cusack) has been praying on and killing women for 13 years, and needs to be brought to justice. While Cage is the star of the show, there is an excellent chemistry between him and Cusack that is surprising– we all know and love Cusack for his rom-coms, but seeing him portray evil personified is unnerving, especially when being interrogated by Cage. This dark crime drama is a must-see.
Mom & Dad (2017)
Momentum Pictures
Nicolas Cage is known for his own style of over-the-top performances, and Mom & Dad lets the master himself do his thing with verve and grace. When a mass hysteria causes all the parents in the community to want to murder their offspring, Brent Ryans (Cage) smashes a pool table and chases his kids with a Sawzall (because it “saws all”). This is only before he and Kendall (Selma Blair) wholesomely decide to gas the kids out of the basement— a tactic that has explosive results. Considered to be like a “twisted remake of Home Alone on bath salts,” Mom & Dad is a hilarious film that’s definitely not for the faint of heart.
Next (2007)
Paramount Pictures Releasing
While 2007’s Next may not be Cage’s finest hour, the film does have legs. Chris Johnson (Cage) can see two minutes into the future, and makes a living for himself by performing magic and gambling in this Philip K. Dick adaptation. When both the NSA and a terrorist group find out about his talent, Johnson is on the run. He plays out various scenarios in his head like some sort of live action “choose your own ending” story, and it leaves the viewer guessing how it will all play out. Whole critics and fans alike say the ending was underwhelming; it was still an ambitious film that only Cage could bring to life.
Lord of War (2005)
Lions Gate Films (United States) 20th Century Fox (Germany) SND Films (France)
2005’s Lord of War is a film that exposes underground gun trading for the problem that it truly is. Yuri Orlov (Cage) sees the opportunity in illegal arms trading and gets in deep as Interpol tries to take him down. Yuri wants glory, not fortune, so he’s impossible to buy off. Lord of War also gets into the dark side of politics. Sure, Yuri is committing crimes against humanity, but sometimes that benefits the U.S. government, and maybe some of those charges will be dropped. Lord of War received mostly favorable reviews, but most importantly was endorsed by Amnesty International for bringing attention to the illegal arms trade.
Joe (2014)
Roadside Attractions
2014’s Joe is what many critics consider to be a return to form for Cage. There’s no argument that Cage has taken on some questionable roles throughout his career, but it’s only because the man has range and bravely leaves his comfort zone in the pursuit of his craft. Joe is a simple coming of age story that doesn’t have a complex delivery. Joe is an ex-con who mentors Gary, a 15-year-old with an abusive father. He’s a troubled man who is for once trying to do the right thing despite his flaws. Sometimes the simplest plots have the most powerful performances, and for many, Joe is the start of a Nicolas Cage renaissance that has gone strong for the last decade.
The Family Man (2000)
Universal Pictures
If you’re looking for a satisfying “what if” kind of plot, then The Family Man is right up your alley. Career Driven Jack Campbell wakes up one day on a different timeline. He’s married to his college sweetheart, and navigating through life with two children in a New Jersey suburb. He’s faced with the choice between the love of his life and his career, and is willing to give it all up to stay on this alternate timeline. The Family Man is exactly how it sounds: wholesome, funny, and charming.
Pay the Ghost (2015)
RLJ Entertainment
If you’re looking for something in the supernatural thriller genre, then Pay the Ghost is a must-see. Mike Lawford (Cage) is frantically searching for his son after a Halloween abduction. He thinks he’s being reached out to by his son from another world, and consults a psychic to help him make sense of everything. Pay the Ghost falls flat in its composition, but Cage explores the role with confidence and makes it worth a watch.
It goes without saying that if you’re a diehard Nicolas Cage fan, then you know that there’s a little something for everybody if you take a deep-dive into his catalog. If you’re not a fan, you might want to revisit some of these films to see Cage’s full range of style and delivery.
