What you should ask is how an actor like cruise can play the same damn arrogant overachieving jerk over and over and be considered talented. Every time I see a Cruise movie I think”gosh, When did Maverick become a lawyer? Why is Maverick tending bar,…
And Denzel is just a black Tom Cruise with a big laugh.(although he was perfect for the Training day role)
Either they, their managers, or the producers seem to understand that they have no talent and they only get roles that fit their narrow range.

How is this related to NC? Cage has been in a lot of movies, many of which have sucked. A lot. And yes, he’s been at least somewhat responsible for the suckitude of said movies. However, he’s been in some movies that I’ve greatly enjoyed: Valley Girl, Family Man, the National Treasure movies, Moonstruck, The Rock, Face Off, Racing With the Moon. It’s kind of difficult for me to NOT like someone who is the lead in movies that I’ve enjoyed so much. Do I think that Cage is a great actor? No, but I do think he’s a decent actor who at times has (a) tried to go beyond his limited ability or (b) made some really bad script choices. The second error is made by Hollywood types on a routine basis, so I don’t see it as a real problem.

I’m purposely trying to not mention some of the awful movies that NC has been also been dreadful in. Someone mentioned Vampire’s Kiss and I’d like to thank that person for making me want to huff glue so as to forget about it again. However, I do like Cage up to a point. He just needs to make better career choices so as to stay in his limited comfort zone. No one ever accused Ahnuld of being a great actor, but his movies were consistently successful. Cage should take note of that.

He has no talent. None whatsoever.

To me, trying to watch a Nicholas Cage movie is actually a painful experience, largely because I cannot suspend disbelief . . . it is always like watching a Cher movie.

They both always get that stupid look on their face that projects the following:

“Okay, look everybody . . . I’m acting now!

See?

And I think that the rest of tedjoy’s comment pretty much spells out the rest of my thoughts on the matter as well.

One movie I think Nicolas Cage did a good job in, which also is a GREAT representation of pre Guilani New York, is “Bringing Out The Dead”. About NYC Paramedics living in the throes of madness and PTSD.

I think Angelina Jolie, and Leonardo DeCrappio are excellent actors and you can see Leonardo’s brilliance even back when he was playing a mentally handicapped boy in “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape” also starring another weird watchable guy, Johnny Depp, who cooincidently was talked into trying acting by Nick Cage, even before he ever thought about it.

Still, the fact I had forgotten about them kind of lends credence the idea – at least for me – that NC is not really all that great an actor.

Still, those roles were often similar characters so that likewise reinforces the idea that he should be pickier about the roles he plays to those he can play well.

mea culpa

But he is better than halfway decent at most action-adventure stuff: think of Gone In 60 Seconds, Ghost Rider, Next, National Treasure, Con Air, Windtalkers and Face/Off.

And if you’re looking for sort of odd-ball Brooklyn-type anti-heros, he does a decent job with them to, a la, Snake Eyes, Matchstick Men, Bringing Out The Dead, Bangkok Dangerous and World Trade Center.

It’s a fairly limited range, but our greatest movie actor ever — John Wayne — and the best one now going (more or less) — Clint Eastwood are also pretty limited in the kind of roles they excel at.