Nic Cage is somehow both the most underrated and overrated actor in Hollywood. From unbelievably bad to some of the most amazing acting I’ve ever seen, here are 9 films that highlight the crazy career of the craziest actor of his generation.
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Valley Girl
This is the film that launched the long and crazy career of Nicolas Cage. The 1983 romantic comedy has Cage starring as a dreamy L.A. punk rocker who falls in love with a “valley girl.” Hijinks ensue.
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Wicker Man
Don’t get me wrong, The Wicker Man is a truly awful film. But if you’re a fan of Nic Cage, this is truly the performer at his most… Cagiest. In between punching women while wearing a bear costume, and screaming at CGI bees, this is a performance that justifies the entire movie’s existence.
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Bad Lieutenant
If Nicolas Cage hallucinating lizards and yelling at old ladies is your thing, you’re going to have an absolute ball with Bad Lieutenant. Cage plays a crooked cop, downright buried under a drug addiction, but still looking to find his moral center. And if director Werner Herzog’s career has taught us anything, nothing he puts his hand on is going to turn out quite “normal,” especially with Nicolas Cage in the mix.
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Face/Off
Despite having John Woo at the helm, Face/Off is easily one of Nic Cage’s craziest career moves. Playing two separate characters (one of whom is also played by John Travolta), Face/Off was arguably one of Cage’s biggest acting challenges, and for the most part, he does a pretty stellar job. At least, as good a job as you can do when playing John Travolta.
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Kick-Ass
Kick-Ass was one of the most surprising films of 2010, and the performance that really tied it together was Cage’s turn as Big Daddy, the superhero vigilante who trains his daughter into a miniature killing machine. Doing his own unique spin on Adam West’s iconic Batman, Cage is both an intimidating presence, as well as constant source of comedic gems.
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