For the longest time, I refused to watch anything he was acting in. I think it was sometime between maybe 1997 and 2002 when I realized how much his movies had started to suck.
More recently though, I caved and decided to watch Renfield, and I'm glad I gave it a chance. It's not like the greatest movie ever, but I thought it was cute. And I actually really enjoyed Nic in this movie for the first time in decades.
I totally get that, but for what it's worth, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is worth giving a shot, too! It breaks the 4th wall in a refreshingly humorous & self-deprecating way. Loved it!
I'd be willing to give it a try. I haven't watched much of his more recent filmography, and what I've seen was not in chronological order.
After seeing him in Renfield, I did end up watching Color Out of Space and Willy's Wonderland. Neither of those movies was something magnificent the way I view his performance in Renfield, but I enjoyed them. Well, Willy's Wonderland was meh, but I really liked Color Out of Space for what it is worth.
Nic was really good in KickAss. Not going to spoil it for you, but there was a scene where his performance pulled my heartstrings. And I thought to myself "I did not realise he can be that good as an actor". I also heard Nic is excellent in the recent movies Pig and Dream Scenario.
To be honest, I didn't even remember him in KickAss but for what it's worth I did enjoy that movie. Your comment inspired me to look at his IMDB page and compare to which movies of his I actually have seen since the 1997 - 2002 era.
The Flash - I don't really count this, especially given that his role is listed as uncredited.
Renfield - I liked this movie way more than I should have and I also particularly liked Nic in it. It has changed my view on him.
Willy's Wonderland - Nothing great, far from his worst movie. And I'm not sure it counts in this context since I saw it after Renfield.
Color Out of Space - I enjoyed the movie it's really my type of thing, but also I saw it after Renfield, so not sure it counts in this context. Plus, I can't say his performance was anything spectacular.
Mandy - I don't really remember the movie, let alone Nic's performance, but for some reason I'm thinking it was at least alright.
Ghost Rider movies - I didn't have much choice in watching these, but they sucked in my opinion and reinforced my dislike of movies that contain Nic Cage.
Kick-Ass - I forgot he was in it when I made my original comment, but I mostly just recall him as being unusually competent and in an usually good movie beyond his caliber.
One or more of the National Treasure movies - They weren't my thing. I thought they all sucked. Feel free to disagree, I won't hate you for it, but I disagree. It reinforced my belief that I should avoid movies with Nic Cage in them.
Last night i looked at this briefly and just thought "cool, thats nic cage through the years" this morning i look again and i realise what i missed and now im giggling by myself in the bathroom. Thankyou OP.
okay never mind the John Travolta picture but oh my gosh 1982, I never knew Nicholas Cage was kinda sorta handsome. Maybe he worked really hard with a photographer to get that shot.
I was a projectionist when that movie came out. As a consequence, there are parts of that movie that I watched and parts of the audio I couldn't ignore dozens of times.
Sometimes that didn't make me hate the movies that came out when I was a projectionist.