You either love him or hate him. Nicolas Cage has been a staple of Hollywood for the best part of four decades at this point and has split audiences since day one.
Now back in his latest movie, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, Cage has been receiving rave reviews for his role as... well, himself but larger.
Something of a cult favorite, Cage has a plethora of work for film fans of all ages to entertain themselves with this weekend, and here are five of our favorites:
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Gone In 60 Seconds, 2000
Your classic late-night, tire-shredding, gun filled, stereotypical action movie, Gone In 60 Seconds isn't much of a thinker. But that's far from a criticism. It's fun-filled edge of your seat nature is exactly what you want from it, and sometimes its exactly what you need after a long days work.
Cage plays a former car thief, who is drawn back into the business. He's tasked with oh-so-delicately acquiring 50 cars in one night for gangster Raymond Calitri, played by former Doctor Who Christopher Eccleston, in order to save his brother's life. Helped along the way by his crew, including the likes of Angeline Jolie and Robert Duvall, Gone In 60 Seconds is a solid way to unwind and pass a couple of hours on a quiet evening.
Gone In 60 Seconds can be watched via subscription on Amazon Prime Video.
National Treasure, 2004
Another shameless fun-filled Hollywood blockbuster, National Treasure is, you guessed it, your prototypical treasure hunting story.
Tasked with finding a fabled national treasure, National Treasure sees Cage venture to steal the Declaration of Independence which will guide him to the treasure, in order to protect both from getting into the wrong hands - in this case, those of Sean Bean.
Again, this isn't necessarily much of a thinker, but it's an easy-to-follow and entertaining movie, safe to watch with little ones around.
National Treasure can be watched via subscription on Disney+.
Kick-Ass, 2010
A nerdy, wannabee superhero takes his hometown by storm when he saves a man from a group of ruffians outside a convenience store dressed as his new character Kick-Ass (played by Aaron Johnson). This heroic action inspires others to join him in the superhero business.
One such budding hero is Nicholas Cage's character Big Daddy who, along with his daughter Hit-Girl (played by Chloe Grace Moretz), is looking to right some wrongs in his own life, with his and Kick-Ass' roads ultimately becoming entangled.
A smart, stylized action/comedy, Kick-Ass is an excellent watch and one of Kingsman director Matthew Vaughn's best movies to date.
Kick-Ass can be watched via subscription on HBO Max.
Willy's Wonderland, 2021
Taking a swift left turn from the conventional to its absolute antithesis, Willy's Wonderland is a bizarre, funny, and slightly creepy horror/comedy in which Cage's unnamed character is stuck in a Chuck-E-Cheese-esque animatronic nightmare.
Stuck in a small town with a punctured tire and no way to pay for a replacement, Cage is offered the chance to work off his payment. Cage's job is to clean up a now-closed family restaurant clearly inspired by a certain electronic rat's franchise. However, it turns out Cage is nothing more than the sacrificial lamb as his focus turns to survival.
This won't be to everybody's taste, and it seems almost guaranteed that this will garner a cult following in years to come (think Killer Klowns From Outer Space - objectively its terrible, but there's something to it people adore). But for those who enjoy moving away from the conventional, Willy's Wonderland is worth a try.
Fun Fact: Cage doesn't say a single word in the entire film despite being the main character.
Willy's Wonderland can be watched via subscription on Hulu.
Pig, 2021
Another left-field option that promises to show you a very different side of Cage, Pig is perhaps his best performance to date.
A grief-stricken drama with hints of action, Pig focuses on a former Portland-based renowned chef-turned Oregon forest recluse. After his truffle-hunting pig is stolen, his focus turns to finding his beloved pig, while being forced to confront his past along the way.
Pig is far from a cheerful afternoon watch as is the case with some of our other recommendations, but it is arguably the most artistic and beautiful suggestion, not only thanks to its wonderful cinematography and sound design but also its overarching message.
Pig can be watched via subscription on Hulu.
Local Lead
If you're in the mood to visit a movie theater this weekend, why not enjoy a blast from the past at the Grapevine Palace Theater? A retro theater that also screens classic movies, they'll be showing the likes of Jumanji, The Sound Of Music, Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory, and The Maltese Falcon this month.
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