Nicolas Cage:A man with many sides
"Ghost Rider", a big screen adaptation of the same-name animation released early this month, has received rave reviews and already gained robust box office returns. Leading the cast is Nicolas Cage - an avid cartoon consumer. Having missed out on a number of chances to play cartoon heroes on the big screen, Cage made it a two-in-one scoop by getting to play one of his heroes.
Nicolas Cage is keen on collecting comic books. And "Ghost Rider" is one of his favorites. The animation drew its inspiration from Faust, giving it a strong religious bent.
Adapted from the animation, the movie tells the story of Johnny Blaze, a motorcyclist whose father has terminal cancer. In order to save his dying father, Johnny has to sell his soul to Mephistopheles, in return for his father's health. During the day, stunt cyclist Johnny is a real human. But when night falls, he becomes the Ghost Rider, blazing with fires from hell. Johnny's struggle is internal - how to control himself amidst an unpredictable world.
Nicolas Cage was born into an artistic family on the 1st January, 1964. His was christened Nicolas Kim Coppola. The son of comparative literature professor, August Coppola, and the nephew of noted director Francis Ford Coppola, he was able to be exposed to the art scene at an early age. He naturally developed an inclination towards drama and photography. At the tender age of 17, Nicolas Kim Coppola joined the movie circle as Nicolas Cage - using as inspiration for his name the comic book hero, Luke Cage, who suffers from depression and insecurity.
In 1984, Cage played the lead role in "Birdy" - a disturbing film about two friends returning from the Vietnam War. He drew the attention of both movie-goers and critics. Cage's performance was recognized at the Cannes Film Festival in 1985, and he walked away with the coveted Jury Prize. This paved the way for Cage's future success.
In 1990, Cage joined the cast of "Wild at Heart", which proved to be the turning point of his career. The movie, directed by David Lynch, gives a rather surrealist rendition of the weirdness of life. The scene in which Cage overacts Elvis-acolyte by singing the hit "Love Me Tender", has become a classic scene in movie history. "Wild at Heart" won the top prize at the 43rd Cannes Film Festival, and helped Cage to shake-off cries of nepotism towards his Coppola family.
1995 was a crucial year for Cage, when he appeared in "Leaving Las Vegas" - a small budget film of a mere 3-point-5 million dollars. He played an alcoholic writer set on committing suicide. Cage gave his heart and soul to the character, and was paid only one tenth of his usual salary. Cage's efforts finally paid off when he was awarded the Best Actor Oscar at the 68th Academy Awards.
Cage was determined not to rest on his laurels. With a golden Oscar statuette under his belt, Cage started to make his way into the action genre. 1997's "Con Air" and "Face Off" catapulted him to the status of Hollywood action star as well.
Over the years, Cage has gained a worldwide reputation for his performance in various movie genres, from art-house to blockbuster. However, in recent years the personal melancholy charm of the actor has been increasingly overshadowed by more and more stunning movie effects. Cage started to meander from more challenging genres to less subtle action blockbusters.
Cage understands that an actor cannot live in front of the camera and be surrounded by warm applause forever. He has indicated that he will gradually turn his attention to behind-the-camera roles, such as writing a screenplay.
The story of the musician Liberace is something Cage is interested in these days. Liberace is a sad example of a man struggling throughout his life, both materially and spiritually. Cage plans to direct the bio-pic, and also play the role of Liberace.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
