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Age of Cage
Icon. Celebrity. Artist. Madman. Genius.
Nicolas Cage is many things, but love him, or laugh at him, there's no denying two things: you’ve seen one of his many films, and you certainly know his name. But who is he, really, and why has his career endured for over forty years, with more than a hundred films, and birthed a million memes?
Age of Cage is a smart, beguiling book about the films of Nicolas Cage and the actor himself, as well as a sharp-eyed examination of the changes that have taken place in Hollywood over the course of his career. Critic and journalist Keith Phipps draws a portrait of the enigmatic icon by looking at―what else?―Cage’s expansive filmography.
As Phipps delights in charting Cage’s films, Age of Cage also chronicles the transformation of film, as Cage’s journey takes him through the world of 1980s comedies (Valley Girl, Peggy Sue Got Married, Moonstruck), to the indie films and blockbuster juggernauts of the 1990s (Wild at Heart, Leaving Las Vegas, Face/Off, Con Air), through the wild and unpredictable video-on-demand world of today.
Sweeping in scope and intimate in its profile of a fiercely passionate artist, Age of Cage is, like the man himself, surprising, insightful, funny, and one of a kind. So, snap out of it, and enjoy this appreciation of Nicolas Cage, national treasure.
Nicolas Cage is many things, but love him, or laugh at him, there's no denying two things: you’ve seen one of his many films, and you certainly know his name. But who is he, really, and why has his career endured for over forty years, with more than a hundred films, and birthed a million memes?
Age of Cage is a smart, beguiling book about the films of Nicolas Cage and the actor himself, as well as a sharp-eyed examination of the changes that have taken place in Hollywood over the course of his career. Critic and journalist Keith Phipps draws a portrait of the enigmatic icon by looking at―what else?―Cage’s expansive filmography.
As Phipps delights in charting Cage’s films, Age of Cage also chronicles the transformation of film, as Cage’s journey takes him through the world of 1980s comedies (Valley Girl, Peggy Sue Got Married, Moonstruck), to the indie films and blockbuster juggernauts of the 1990s (Wild at Heart, Leaving Las Vegas, Face/Off, Con Air), through the wild and unpredictable video-on-demand world of today.
Sweeping in scope and intimate in its profile of a fiercely passionate artist, Age of Cage is, like the man himself, surprising, insightful, funny, and one of a kind. So, snap out of it, and enjoy this appreciation of Nicolas Cage, national treasure.
267 pages, Hardcover
First published March 29, 2022
70 people are currently reading
1288 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 283 reviews
June 14, 2021
Full disclosure: I’ve been married to the author since 2002. But as he would tell you (and as his first reader), I let him know when his work isn’t at five stars (or three…) so this is legit.
I feel like I got to know what makes Nic Cage tick thanks to this book. What I particularly like is the structure — whether on purpose or by accident, Cage has kept approximately two steps ahead of Hollywood trends, sometimes to his detriment, and AGE OF CAGE guides readers through how Cage’s career highs and lows mirror that of the film industry.
Also? FACE / OFF is the greatest movie I’ve ever seen and no one will disabuse me of this.
I feel like I got to know what makes Nic Cage tick thanks to this book. What I particularly like is the structure — whether on purpose or by accident, Cage has kept approximately two steps ahead of Hollywood trends, sometimes to his detriment, and AGE OF CAGE guides readers through how Cage’s career highs and lows mirror that of the film industry.
Also? FACE / OFF is the greatest movie I’ve ever seen and no one will disabuse me of this.
June 2, 2022
I certainly didn't expect this book to blow my socks off but it's still extremely weird. The first 20% is about the Coppolas, which, while relevant (and more interesting that Cage, honestly) is not *that* important to Cage's journey as an actor. Then the author just spends a lot of time putting their own opinion in as if it's fact- saying Con-Air was subpar, or that Cage brought nothing to certain roles. Just weird. I expected more of a biography and while it's technically that, I feel like I could write this book with a few weeks time and access to Wikipedia.
July 10, 2021
I ate up every word of this. It's terrific.
Read
April 28, 2023Yes, it's about Cage, but it's also about the ever-changing face of the Hollywood machine and the artists who inhabit it. I liked this.
April 3, 2022
Interesting book about Nick Cage's 40 year journey through Hollywood from his early days as an extra to his years as a highly paid movie star to years as a low paid actor. He made close to a hundred movies; some good, some great and more than a few duds but always entertaining. Good history of the ever changing business of making movies and how Nick Cage negotiated those changes. Recommended for those readers who like his movies.
May 12, 2022
Coming off of Alicia Malone's book, Girls on Film, I was really looking forward to reading another film biography. I love Nic Cage so I looked forward to seeing him and his work through another's eyes. Unfortunately, while I found the subject matter very interesting, the execution was pretty dry.
It's not a bad book, just not a wildly well-written one. It's very by the numbers which, when writing about Nic Cage's career, is a disappointing choice to make. I think this book would have benefited from being less of a serious look at the film industry, and instead including more of the author's personal experiences with Cage and his films. The most interesting chapter is the last one where the author mentions the time he interviewed Nic Cage.
The book tries to do too much and suffers for it. Often it reads as a 6 Degrees of Nicholas Cage book, giving career backgrounds of the writers or directors Nic worked with in order to show just how they wound up working with Nic. Sometimes those threads worked to add something to the book as a whole, but more frequently they felt unnecessary.
I would have preferred a book with more heart to it, more connection. As it is, it is a fine historical documentation of Cage's career as it fits within the larger framework of 4 decades of cinema, but it's not a particularly entertaining read, which is a shame.
The audio narrator was fine, but by the end I was listening at 1.5x speed because the delivery was dry and boring.
*there is a throwaway line in one of the last chapters, which takes a potshot at the last decade of Bruce Willis' career. Given recent revelations about Bruce's struggles with aphasia and how that has likely affected his acting, that line (which adds nothing to the book beyond a sense of petty meanness) left a sour aftertaste in an otherwise passable book
It's not a bad book, just not a wildly well-written one. It's very by the numbers which, when writing about Nic Cage's career, is a disappointing choice to make. I think this book would have benefited from being less of a serious look at the film industry, and instead including more of the author's personal experiences with Cage and his films. The most interesting chapter is the last one where the author mentions the time he interviewed Nic Cage.
The book tries to do too much and suffers for it. Often it reads as a 6 Degrees of Nicholas Cage book, giving career backgrounds of the writers or directors Nic worked with in order to show just how they wound up working with Nic. Sometimes those threads worked to add something to the book as a whole, but more frequently they felt unnecessary.
I would have preferred a book with more heart to it, more connection. As it is, it is a fine historical documentation of Cage's career as it fits within the larger framework of 4 decades of cinema, but it's not a particularly entertaining read, which is a shame.
The audio narrator was fine, but by the end I was listening at 1.5x speed because the delivery was dry and boring.
*there is a throwaway line in one of the last chapters, which takes a potshot at the last decade of Bruce Willis' career. Given recent revelations about Bruce's struggles with aphasia and how that has likely affected his acting, that line (which adds nothing to the book beyond a sense of petty meanness) left a sour aftertaste in an otherwise passable book
November 12, 2022
I’ve been trying to think of another working actor who this premise could truly work with; who has enough highs and lows and variations in between to pull this concept off. I genuinely can’t think of anyone who’s been active for as long or is as prolific. From 1981-2022, there are only two years in which he didn’t have a project release.
It makes for an endlessly fascinating, obviously Cage-centered, look at the film industry as a whole. It made me want to revisit movies I haven’t seen in years, and seriously extended my watchlist. It’s obviously not a complete history of Hollywood, but the view given here is impressively detailed on what defined success at different times throughout Cage’s career, which has been at so many times directly tied to changes in the culture. I enjoyed this so thoroughly.
For the record, my favorite Cage movie is technically National Treasure, however I am also endlessly fond of Moonstruck!!
It makes for an endlessly fascinating, obviously Cage-centered, look at the film industry as a whole. It made me want to revisit movies I haven’t seen in years, and seriously extended my watchlist. It’s obviously not a complete history of Hollywood, but the view given here is impressively detailed on what defined success at different times throughout Cage’s career, which has been at so many times directly tied to changes in the culture. I enjoyed this so thoroughly.
For the record, my favorite Cage movie is technically National Treasure, however I am also endlessly fond of Moonstruck!!
April 11, 2022
Omg this is such an entertaining read! The author did a wonderful job navigating and researching Nicolas Cage’s journey from being an extra to being the main star! I’ve always been a fan, but wow I didn’t realize his film career spans four decades! My favorites are Face Off & Moonstruck! I loved the chemistry he had with Cher, so good! Thank you Henry Holt Books for a gifted copy.
March 24, 2022
Thanks to William Morrow Books for the ARC and Netgally/Tantor Audio for the ALC of the audiobook.
Nicholas Cage. If you’re a film fan, odds are you have a strong opinion of him one way or another. Personally, though appreciating his deviation from the norm, I can’t say I’ve enjoyed his work overall. That, however, didn’t stop me from picking up this book, because as a movie enthuaist, I always want to know more.
Age of Cage explores the actor’s work, explores reasons why he’s endured for 40+ years, and shares a lot about film history in the last few decades through his filmography. I loved anecdotes from the sets of his films, and the exploration of how he made a name for himself apart from his family’s famous name gave me a new appreciation for this cult icon. If you like movies at all or have any interest in the film industry, I definitely recommend it, whether you’re a Cage fan or not. It’s out next week where ever you get your books.
Nicholas Cage. If you’re a film fan, odds are you have a strong opinion of him one way or another. Personally, though appreciating his deviation from the norm, I can’t say I’ve enjoyed his work overall. That, however, didn’t stop me from picking up this book, because as a movie enthuaist, I always want to know more.
Age of Cage explores the actor’s work, explores reasons why he’s endured for 40+ years, and shares a lot about film history in the last few decades through his filmography. I loved anecdotes from the sets of his films, and the exploration of how he made a name for himself apart from his family’s famous name gave me a new appreciation for this cult icon. If you like movies at all or have any interest in the film industry, I definitely recommend it, whether you’re a Cage fan or not. It’s out next week where ever you get your books.
February 20, 2022
I am a big fan of Nicolas Cage. This book was terrific as a fan of his and as a movie buff in general. Age of Cage by Keith Phipps talks about Nicolas Cage himself, his movies and the actors, directors and other movies of the times to give you the big picture and influences on him. It is very informative and entertaining. I highly recommend this book.
April 6, 2022
An interesting thesis: the story of Hollywood's past 40 years from arthouse to movie-star-centric to IP chasers can be summed up through the career of our most infamous actors. It's an insightful and well-researched read. PIG is also one of the best movies of the 21st century and more books should be proudly proclaiming that.
Read
March 20, 2024The book guided me toward some Cage performances I would have otherwise not seen. He's my favorite actor. If he's not your favorite actor, the book probably isn't for you, but if he's not your favorite actor then your opinion is worthless anyway!
July 8, 2022
One of the best film books in years. A fascinating look at the career of one of the singular actors in history, but also a reflective, insightful look at how the business of movies has changed over the last 40 years.
October 31, 2022
Really enjoyable (of note, I am a fairly big Nic Cage fan). Liked the flow of the book and how things were laid out chronologically + other details were given to provide context on the time. Nic Cage is a very impressive actor; this book does a good job explaining his contributions (so far). Learned some new things I didn’t know before. Especially liked the “complete cageography” at the end. Will probably buy hard copy version of book (listened on audible).
May 30, 2023
Yes. I did read 225 pages about the life and career of Nicolas Cage. What about it?
September 25, 2023
A really in depth look at the work of a legend. The book contains a critical analysis of most of his movies, but the overarching discussion of the evolution of the film industry over the course of his 40 year career was what I found most interesting. Ultimately, reading this book just made me want to rewatch all the Cage classics.
March 5, 2025
I like this! I like movies, and I’ve grown to like Nic.
Read
July 28, 2022Really liked this trip down memory lane
February 7, 2023
3.5 really. Some of the read was a slog but by the end I felt a new appreciation for one of the biggest actors in the industry. Definitely going to check out more of his work!
September 9, 2025
If you like Nicolas Cage and movies, then this book is for you. 4.5 stars
May 20, 2022
Normalizing Cage more so than amplifying his charismatic weirdness, this book deconstructs a cinematic icon as it would any entry from his deep filmography: with a fervent fanboi curiosity paired with a stoic coolness. Made me want to go back and watch Nick’s deeper cuts even if the end of book breakdown of Cage’s films proved there were a lot of stinkers.
May 8, 2022
Keith Phipps' "Age of Cage: Four Decades of Hollywood Through One Singular Career" offers a bold and well-argued thesis: Nicolas Cage is an expressionistic actor whose commitment to developing an acting style that is not naturalistic has led to his incredible longevity.
Phipps acknowledges that it is tempting to consider Cage as frenetic, random, or lacking craft, but he makes a persuasive argument to the contrary. Throughout Cage's career, the historical record shows that he has often been self-consciously expressionistic, playing with impression, maximalism, and absurdism in his work, and becoming an actor in command of his craft even if his films don't always serve his skills. In "Wild At Heart," he set out to prove Stanislavski wrong by building a role on a total foundation of imitation by merging his character and the spirit of Elvis Presley. In "Vampire's Kiss" he sought script changes to up the absurdity of the film's morality play. In "Peggy Sue Got Married," he took as inspiration for his character a cartoon horse.
Whether or not you like all of Cage's performances, his biography demonstrates that his heightened style was self-consciously created, from his early love of German Expressionism to his life-long passion for opera (which has been worked into a number of his roles) to his foundational connection with David Lynch. Cage can be fairly read as an avant-garde artist.
This unconventional, even experimental acting style may have been what has kept Cage afloat all these years. The Hollywood A-ilst graveyard is littered with Cage contemporaries, from David Caruso to Eric Stoltz, that played more to type and then were left behind when Hollywood's tastes changed. By contrast, Cage has surfed innumerable mini-waves, from the 80s "unfit caregiver male is saddled with a child" boom to 90s massive action heist spectacles to today's quirky indie revenge horrors. Through it all, Cage has been in the game.
Phipps further argues that Cage's greatest performances owe a debt to the actor's over-the-top process. More muted Oscar-worthy performances such as his work in "Adaptation" and "Leaving Las Vegas" were perhaps only possible because Cage knew what to strip away when he went with a softer key. With the perfect balances between maximalism and naturalism struck in "Raising Arizona" and "Moonstruck," we have no choice but to agree that Cage is a master of his own internal symphony.
This isn't to say that this book isn't a fun read (Phipps is a fine prose stylist), but it is the clarity and precision of his argument that will stick with you after you finish "Age of Cage." This is not a tawdry gossipy read nor is it a memeified tome of idol worship. It is a clear-eyed and fair assessment of an actor who has not always gotten a fair shake. Though I am not sure that this book will put Cage in a category with Beckett or Bunuel in the eyes of historians, it is a sorely needed and accomplished re-evaluation.
Phipps acknowledges that it is tempting to consider Cage as frenetic, random, or lacking craft, but he makes a persuasive argument to the contrary. Throughout Cage's career, the historical record shows that he has often been self-consciously expressionistic, playing with impression, maximalism, and absurdism in his work, and becoming an actor in command of his craft even if his films don't always serve his skills. In "Wild At Heart," he set out to prove Stanislavski wrong by building a role on a total foundation of imitation by merging his character and the spirit of Elvis Presley. In "Vampire's Kiss" he sought script changes to up the absurdity of the film's morality play. In "Peggy Sue Got Married," he took as inspiration for his character a cartoon horse.
Whether or not you like all of Cage's performances, his biography demonstrates that his heightened style was self-consciously created, from his early love of German Expressionism to his life-long passion for opera (which has been worked into a number of his roles) to his foundational connection with David Lynch. Cage can be fairly read as an avant-garde artist.
This unconventional, even experimental acting style may have been what has kept Cage afloat all these years. The Hollywood A-ilst graveyard is littered with Cage contemporaries, from David Caruso to Eric Stoltz, that played more to type and then were left behind when Hollywood's tastes changed. By contrast, Cage has surfed innumerable mini-waves, from the 80s "unfit caregiver male is saddled with a child" boom to 90s massive action heist spectacles to today's quirky indie revenge horrors. Through it all, Cage has been in the game.
Phipps further argues that Cage's greatest performances owe a debt to the actor's over-the-top process. More muted Oscar-worthy performances such as his work in "Adaptation" and "Leaving Las Vegas" were perhaps only possible because Cage knew what to strip away when he went with a softer key. With the perfect balances between maximalism and naturalism struck in "Raising Arizona" and "Moonstruck," we have no choice but to agree that Cage is a master of his own internal symphony.
This isn't to say that this book isn't a fun read (Phipps is a fine prose stylist), but it is the clarity and precision of his argument that will stick with you after you finish "Age of Cage." This is not a tawdry gossipy read nor is it a memeified tome of idol worship. It is a clear-eyed and fair assessment of an actor who has not always gotten a fair shake. Though I am not sure that this book will put Cage in a category with Beckett or Bunuel in the eyes of historians, it is a sorely needed and accomplished re-evaluation.
May 9, 2022
Some great context for Nicolas Cage’s career, Phipps has an obvious love for Cage and it’s infectious. I’ve always had an appreciation for him but there’s a lot that I didn’t know about Cage and this helped bolster my watchlist. Phipps also dives into the “memeification” of Nic Cage and how it’s a little unfair to take some of his crazier moments out of context in a youtube compilation. He can make strange acting choices but at the end of the day, he’s a fearless actor and that’s even more clear after reading this.
May 9, 2022
Books on cultural and artistic implications of an actor's work are much more interesting than the gossipy ones. This book falls into the former category and fully explores all of Cage's strange and expansive film career.
May 17, 2022
Pleasantly surprised by this brief, earnest overview of Cage's 40+ year career. Phipps sticks almost entirely to the films, with some brief dips into his famous family, economic hardships and marriages. Through those films we get a sense of how Cage has evolved as an actor and how Hollywood has, in many ways, devolved. To say nothing of the fickle nature of celebrity.
May 4, 2022
An overview of Nicolas Cage’s career, this isn’t an in-depth examination of his life, but rather a summary of his professional path and public persona. So if you want a deep psychological breakdown of Cage, this isn’t the book for you. If you’re a movie fan who wants to trace the unusual career of a man who has been one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, you’ll dig this book.
June 28, 2021
If you're a Nicolas Cage fan, this book is definitely a must-read- however, if you're an Uber-fan, that is, one who has read every article already written about the actor, then you might be fine to skip this, as it doesn't (so far as I could tell) contain any primary sourcing. There are some quotes from ancillary people in Cage's career but I got lost as to whether the author had interviewed them or if he was quoting them from another source. As a reporter, I find that attribution is blurrier and blurrier these days. (Not a good thing, btw) So this is more of a retrospective of his career, a rounding up, with a lot of background on the time and place - some of which was quite interesting, such as the state of Hollywood at the time a movie of his was released - ie the rise of the indie, which allowed for Cage to find success in quirkier, non-mainstream fare like Raising Arizona - which today would be relegated to a streaming service.
Other times, this context felt forced - for instance, the year that Cage gets more successful than David Caruso. Or how he takes on Tom Hanks like roles at one point in his career. There was some fun trivia - such as that Cher was a huge fan of his performance in Moonstruck (I had no idea he was so young when he did that role), and even how Kathleen Turner, who has been critical of his nasaly, bizarro turn in Peggy Sue Got Married, did, at the end of the day, appreciate the uniqueness he brought to the role. (Keep in mind Cher and Kathleen Turner were not interviewed.)
All in all, a fun, informative read, especially for those (like me) who weren't super familiar with Cage's oeuvre. But those who are will likely not find much new here. Now excuse me while I go watch some Cage movies....
Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and Keith Phipps for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Other times, this context felt forced - for instance, the year that Cage gets more successful than David Caruso. Or how he takes on Tom Hanks like roles at one point in his career. There was some fun trivia - such as that Cher was a huge fan of his performance in Moonstruck (I had no idea he was so young when he did that role), and even how Kathleen Turner, who has been critical of his nasaly, bizarro turn in Peggy Sue Got Married, did, at the end of the day, appreciate the uniqueness he brought to the role. (Keep in mind Cher and Kathleen Turner were not interviewed.)
All in all, a fun, informative read, especially for those (like me) who weren't super familiar with Cage's oeuvre. But those who are will likely not find much new here. Now excuse me while I go watch some Cage movies....
Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and Keith Phipps for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 27, 2021
Title: Age of Cage: Four Decades of Hollywood Through One Singular Career
By: Keith Phipps
Publication Date: October 19th, 2021
Keith Phipps, a critic and journalist on popular culture, writes a comprehensive and amazing book about the actor Nicolas Cage. Phipps writes that he is a huge fan of Cage's work, and his experience as a well-respected journalist makes him the perfect vessel to absorb everything he can about Cage. As an actor who has starred in almost 100 movies and who comes from a titanic-size movie/film family, Nic Cage is one of those people who most of us have heard of. We may even be fans of his multitude of films. Phipps really starts from the beginning with the actor, who was born Nicolas Kim Coppola on January 7th, 1964.
Each chapter of the book focuses on a particular era for Nicolas Cage, such as his early life, his first acting jobs, and his development into one of the most famous actors in the world. Phipps conducted extensive interviews and research for this book, and it really shows. The reader, who may or may not know about Nicolas Cage or his career, is introduced to Cage in a straightforward way.
Although this book won't be released until October 19th of this year, there is already buzz surrounding the book and Phipps's long tenure in the business of filmmaking and popular culture.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and not only as a fan of Nicolas Cage's acting and life. It was well-written, funny, and sometimes quirky.
By: Keith Phipps
Publication Date: October 19th, 2021
Keith Phipps, a critic and journalist on popular culture, writes a comprehensive and amazing book about the actor Nicolas Cage. Phipps writes that he is a huge fan of Cage's work, and his experience as a well-respected journalist makes him the perfect vessel to absorb everything he can about Cage. As an actor who has starred in almost 100 movies and who comes from a titanic-size movie/film family, Nic Cage is one of those people who most of us have heard of. We may even be fans of his multitude of films. Phipps really starts from the beginning with the actor, who was born Nicolas Kim Coppola on January 7th, 1964.
Each chapter of the book focuses on a particular era for Nicolas Cage, such as his early life, his first acting jobs, and his development into one of the most famous actors in the world. Phipps conducted extensive interviews and research for this book, and it really shows. The reader, who may or may not know about Nicolas Cage or his career, is introduced to Cage in a straightforward way.
Although this book won't be released until October 19th of this year, there is already buzz surrounding the book and Phipps's long tenure in the business of filmmaking and popular culture.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and not only as a fan of Nicolas Cage's acting and life. It was well-written, funny, and sometimes quirky.
April 19, 2022
Late in this book, Mr. Phipps references an episode of the sit-com Community where Abed has a debate on the career of Nicholas Cage. Is he a brilliant actor or a terrible hack? There's plenty of evidence on both sides, and ultimately it's a draw. It's also probably the reason I picked up this book.
Nicholas Cage really has had the most extraordinary career! From the choices of his projects to the bold, bold choices in his performances! Love him or hate him, he is never boring--on screen or off. Mr. Phipps' book does an excellent job of exploring all of the above, using biographical elements of Cage's life to add context, but without writing a biography. His look at Cage's body of work is clear-eyed and well-informed. And Nicholas Cage truly is a fascinating subject. The timing of this release is ideal, coinciding with the release of The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, in which Mr. Cage plays a fictional version of himself. As Mr. Phipps reports it, he seems to have a healthy self-awareness of how he is viewed, in one notable instance confirming with a director that he wants "the full Cage."
For all the excesses and occasional folly, I came out of this reading liking and respecting Nic Cage as an artist a lot. I have a whole list of films I'd like to find time to revisit or watch for the first time. The unbeatable weight of massive talent, indeed.
Nicholas Cage really has had the most extraordinary career! From the choices of his projects to the bold, bold choices in his performances! Love him or hate him, he is never boring--on screen or off. Mr. Phipps' book does an excellent job of exploring all of the above, using biographical elements of Cage's life to add context, but without writing a biography. His look at Cage's body of work is clear-eyed and well-informed. And Nicholas Cage truly is a fascinating subject. The timing of this release is ideal, coinciding with the release of The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, in which Mr. Cage plays a fictional version of himself. As Mr. Phipps reports it, he seems to have a healthy self-awareness of how he is viewed, in one notable instance confirming with a director that he wants "the full Cage."
For all the excesses and occasional folly, I came out of this reading liking and respecting Nic Cage as an artist a lot. I have a whole list of films I'd like to find time to revisit or watch for the first time. The unbeatable weight of massive talent, indeed.
January 14, 2024
This book is a good essay about the journey of Cage’s professional career. What it certainly isn’t; a biography nor a movie / Hollywood history book. It’s full of biased opinions and personal insights. Also, for people who are allergic to spoilers; this book contains lots of short summaries of movies and spoilers.
What makes this book special?
The author took one of the most eccentric artists of the last 50 years and wrote an essay about his habitat, his work field, how he got influenced and what influence he had on his environment. Don't think you will get to know the real Nicolas Cage because all the interviews and insights into his private life are part of his public persona and the mystery he carefully built around himself.
The best Nicolas Cage quote you'll find in this book is from a small, weird public diary he wrote at the end of the eighties:
What makes this book special?
The author took one of the most eccentric artists of the last 50 years and wrote an essay about his habitat, his work field, how he got influenced and what influence he had on his environment. Don't think you will get to know the real Nicolas Cage because all the interviews and insights into his private life are part of his public persona and the mystery he carefully built around himself.
The best Nicolas Cage quote you'll find in this book is from a small, weird public diary he wrote at the end of the eighties:
"I am not a demon. I am a lizard, a shark, a heat-seeking panther. I am one watt above darkness. I am a glow-in-the-dark rollercoaster. I am a hard-on. I want to be Bob Denver on acid playing the accordion; I want to drink Jack Daniel's while driving my Corvette off the Grand Canyon. I am the frog you never kissed. I am a sinner looking for some peace. I believe in the sword that gives life. I am a family man and a bachelor. I don't believe in God but I'm afraid of Him. So I'll pray"
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