Nicolas Cage is one of those actors that everyone used to really love, but then he fell out of fashion and everyone sort of stopped paying attention to him. If you're one of those people, here are some hidden gems from his oeuvre that prove, without hyperbole, that he is one of the greatest actors of our generation.
Johnny Blaze in "Ghost Rider"
What made him so great?
2007's film adaptation of the "Ghost Rider" was a fun, over-the-top take on the books, and Nicolas Cage delivered exactly that type of performance. Was it cheesy? Sometimes. But it was just what was required from him.
John Koestler in "Knowing"
What made him so great?
Because of the way the movie was presented in ads before the release, not many people gave "Knowing" a chance, but it was actually one of the most memorable science fiction films released in recent memory, and that is due in part to Nicolas Cage's haunting performance.
Milton in "Drive Angry 3D"
What made him so great?
He escapes form Hell at the beginning, shoots a bunch of dudes while having sex with a waitress, and then at the end, he blows a dude's head off and drinks beer out of the skull. What about that doesn't sound awesome?
Terence Mcdonagh in "Bad Lieutenant: Port Of Call New Orleans"
What made him so great?
Not many people have heard of "Bad Lieutenant: Port Of Call New Orleans," but it was actually directed by Werner Herzog, and stars a lot of big-named actors.
If that isn't enough for you, Roger Ebert said of his performance: