We’ve reached a fascinating juncture in Nicolas Cage’s illustrious career, where the simplest way to describe his latest films is by highlighting his unique antics within them. Dracula Cage, the overbearing boss — that’s ‘Renfield’. Moody chef Cage, seeking a cherished animal companion — that’s ‘Pig’. Serial killer Cage, a devotee of dark forces — that’s ‘Longlegs’.
This method works because Cage is a chameleon, effortlessly slipping into these and countless other roles. Though many have noted Cage’s penchant for roles that defy sanity, his career is far too expansive, and often more intricate, to be summed up by his more unhinged characters. Suggest he’ll portray a ballet master, a mob boss, or an enraged father (as he does in his latest film, ‘The Surfer’), and it’s entirely believable. Cage has consistently proven he embodies a multitude of personas, sometimes even portraying multiple characters within the same film — as he does in my personal favorite, ‘Adaptation’, where he plays twin brothers.
‘Moonstruck’ (1987)
In his early career, Cage was determined to carve a path distinct from his famous family. (His uncle is the acclaimed ‘Godfather’ director Francis Ford Coppola, and his cousins include directors Roman and Sofia Coppola, and actor Jason Schwartzman.) Cage quickly found success with a series of roles that portrayed him as a tousled, passionate, and somewhat unpredictable young man. What stands out in each performance is his unwavering commitment to capturing the emotional truth of his characters, encompassing all their desires, suffering, and ecstasy.
A quintessential performance from this era is his role as the impassioned Ronny Cammareri, who falls for his brother’s fiancée (played by Cher) in the 1987 romantic comedy ‘Moonstruck’. Despite missing a hand due to a bizarre bread-slicer accident, Ronny is brimming with rough-hewn charm and gallantry. This role is a perfect example of Cage’s compelling, unrefined romantic persona, which also makes appearances in the Coen brothers’ ‘Raising Arizona’ (1987) and David Lynch’s ‘Wild at Heart’ (1990).
(Stream ‘Moonstruck’ on the Roku Channel and the Criterion Channel, or rent it on most major platforms.)
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