Nicolas Cage Talks about his “Dark” Phase: Nicolas Cage is open about his colorful career and the financial factors that led him to get involved in films that did not reflect the roles he would often play. The actor revealed that his “over-investment in real estate” just before the market meltdown placed him in astronomical debt with the IRS in the most recent 60 Minutes report. Due to his predicament, Cage was forced to relocate from Los Angeles to Las Vegas and take on three to four films annually.
“I paid them all back, but it was about $6 million. I never filed for bankruptcy.”
– Actor Nicholas Cage
When Cage was taking on roles to support himself financially, it was seen as a somber period of dark characters. Naturally, this resulted in a large number of films that critics or spectators did not accept well. Cage defended himself and his work when questioned about claims that he “called” in on a performance.
“Even if the movie ultimately is crummy, they know I’m not phoning it in, that I care every time. But there are those folks that think that the only good acting that I can do is the acting that I chose to do by design, which was more operatic, larger than life, and so called ‘Cage-Rage’ and all that. But you’re not going to get that every time.”
The grandiose performances that Cage is known for today are the “Cage-Rage” to which he alludes. Those intense, “over-the-top” times that we have all grown to know and adore. One early illustration is from the 1988 film Vampire’s Kiss, in which Nicolas Cage portrays a guy who believes he is slowly transforming into a vampire. German expressionism, according to Cage, was a major influence on his more impassioned performances. He cited The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari as the source for his famed “I lost my hand” moment in Moonstruck. Although he achieved success in huge roles like that, he was most remembered for a small film called Leaving Las Vegas.
“… this was the movie I really wanted to make. A heartbreaking drama about two wounded people who somehow have this true love.”
– Actor Nicholas Cage.
Rage is Just Not Like Cage
Both the Golden Globe and the Academy Award for Best Actor went to Cage for his work in Leaving Las Vegas. His new age of high-budget action films was also launched by fame, significantly advancing his public appeal. The next chapter of Cage’s acting career is just beginning. After performing ceaselessly for so many years, the actor declared last year that he would be pickier about the jobs he accepts going forward. Cage shared a couple of his thoughts with GQ.
“I’m just going to focus on being extremely selective, as selective as I can be. I would like to make every movie as if it were my last.”
In the dark comedy Renfield, Cage is now starring as Dracula, the most well-known vampire. Cage acknowledged earlier this year that Christopher Lee, the Dracula of his youth, served as the inspiration for his own portrayal. A truffle hunter, like the one Cage, portrays in the 2021 thriller Pig, exists for every vampire, though. Cage later declared that the tiny film featured his favorite performance.
There is a side of Nicolas Cage for everyone, whether you adore him for his powerful energy or your subtle humanity. Even if his financial difficulties forced him into these occupations, there would always be amusing memories to reflect on.
