Nicholas Cage, one of Hollywood’s most recognisable actors, certifiable Internet God and all-round incomparable human being is this week’s Yellow Tail Colourful Character.
By Eoghan Doherty
Born in to an absolutley iconic film dynasty, Cage is the nephew of director Francis Ford Coppola (The Godfather/Apocalypse Now) and actress Talia Shire (The Godfather/Rocky), the cousin of director/writer Roman Coppola (The Darjeeling Limited) and Sofia Coppola (Lost in Translation), film producer Gian-Carlo Coppola and actors Robert Carmine and Jason Schwartzman.
Actually born Nicholas Kim Coppola, the comic book-obsessed actor changed his name to Cage, supposedly after superhero Luke Cage, in order to quell any nepotism-related myths that he may get acting work simply on the basis of who he’s related to.
He needn’t have worried though because the man is blessed, that’s right people, blessed, with a God-given and unique acting talent that the actor himself defines as a style called ‘Noveau Shamonic.’
Whatever the hell it means, we think it’s perfect.
In recent years he’s almost become a parody of himself and Internet-dwellers everywhere have taken to worshipping him as an unintentional comedy God, but it’s important to remember that the man is genuinely held in high regard as an actor.
As well as deservedly winning an Oscar in 1996 for his performance in Leaving Las Vegas, he’s worked with directors David Lynch, Ridley Scott, Martin Scorsese and the Coen Brothers to name a few so he’s clearly doing something right.
Although, if this College Humour sketch is anything to go by, it seems that Nicholas Cage would say yes to anything, despite the protestations of his agent:
Regardless of what you think of the man and his ability or style though, you have to admit that he gives it absolutely demented socks no matter what part he’s playing. In the words of the now deceased and legendary film critic Robert Ebert, “however improbable his character, he never winks at the audience. He is committed to the character with every atom and plays him as if he were him.”
Then again, Ebert did give one of Cage’s worst films, The Knowing, 4/4 stars. So make of that what you will…
It’s generally agreed that no one does unhinged quite like Nicholas Cage and, as a result, one Youtuber created what is now widely regarded as one of the greatest Internet videos ever made.
I give you, “Nicholas Cage Losing His Shit.”
(The bit he’s dressed as giant, punching bear is at 2.48 in case you’re wondering – he was just excercising his right to bear arms after all).
And here’s a clip where the great man talks about watching himself losing his shit in the freak out montage. That’s some mazin’ meta mayhem right there:
Always a magnetic character to say the least, Cage has been married three times, firstly to Patricia Arquette and currently to Alice Kim. The most interesting of his relationships, however, was when he married Michael Jackson’s ex and daughter of Elvis Presley the King, Lisa Marie Presley.
The couple married in August 2002 after Cage had proposed just ten days earlier, but the actor filed for divorce after just 108 days of marriage in November 2002. The divorce was finalised on May 16, 2004, with the divorce proceedings lasting longer than the marriage itself. That’s Hollywood baby!
The weirdest thing out of all of this though is that Cage once used the King as inspiration for his role in David Lynch’s Wild at Heart.
So basically Lisa Marie married her da.
A word of warning, whatever you do, do not send the man out to get your groceries because his shopping track record isn’t fantastic judging from these outrageous purchases. Who knows, maybe that’s why things didn’t work out with Presley?
In recent years, in spite of a number of tax issues, he’s bought a castle, America’s most haunted house, a pyramid-shaped super-tomb for when he dies (he’ll never die), Dean Martin’s old house, a private island in the Bahamas AND he beat Leonardo DiCaprio to buying a giant dinosaur skull at auction in 2007. As you do.
And then there’s his comic book collection. Although he had to sell it to take care of some dodgy tax debts, Cage once owned the most iconic comic-book ever made – Action Comics #1 (Superman’s first ever appearance). He bought it for $110,000 in 1997 and then sold it in 2011 for $2.16 million.
In fact, Cage is so obsessed with Superman that he named his son Kal-El (Superman’s birth name) and was at one point lined up to play the Man of Steel in a Tim Burton-directed film.
One of the greatest things about Cage is that he is a genuine inspiration… for the ridulous and the sublime that is. Thankfully, due to the man’s own crazy contagious actions over the years, many, many demented others have followed in his absolutely bonkers footsteps in order to pay homage to him in their own special way.
As my Granny used to say, crazy Nicholas Cage-related stuff doesn’t just have to be restricted to Nicholas Cage. So have a look at some of the best.
One particular US quiz team have a somewhat unhealthy obsession with the actor. Well, they’re only human after all:
Many have also tried to copy the man’s style but few come close. Comedian Rob Magnotti pretty much nails him in this excellent impression though:
And in one of life’s great mysteries, someone went to the trouble of putting Nicholas Cage’s face on the bodies of different ladies. It’s strange, it’s beautiful and most importantly, it’s very, very funny. Plus we’re pretty sure we met the spit of the this one out in Coppers the other night…
You’re NOT attracted to it so stop it. Just keep telling yourself “Margaret Thatcher naked on a cold day, Margaret Thatcher naked on a cold day.”
The contagious Cage crazy doesn’t just stop there though as you can see in the following clips. One Youtuber was particularly moved to remix and animate a famous Cage scene from The Family Man and teaches us all that we should NEVER come between the touched thespian and his cake.
Original clip from The Family Man (2000):
Nicholas Cage cake remix:
Whatever you say about Nicholas Cage though, you have to agree that he’s a breath of fresh air. A completely barmy, fruity, wacky breath of fresh air.
As you’re obviously now inspired to watch a Nicholas Cage film or 27, JOE highly recommends the golden 90s action triple bill of Con Air, Face/Off and The Rock.
We’ll leave you this classic comeback Cage line from The Rock when he put Sean Connery back in his box:
