My good friend used to pose a question to me, “Nicolas Cage, great actor, or greatest actor?” It’s easy for us to forget since Cage went broke and now says “yes” to every script, but Nicolas Cage was a good actor who was enjoyable to watch. As Bill Simmons has noted, we have to love Nicolas Cage because he won an Oscar early in 1996 for Leaving Las Vegas, and then his next three movies were The Rock, Con Air, and Face/Off. I won’t link to their imdb pages, because you should know what those movies are.
With this in mind, my only reader wanted to know a list of movies that would be amazing if Nic Cage was in them. To make this list was a little art and a little science. The “art” being my subjective opinion, and the “science” came from looking at this list of movies that, according to the internet, Nicolas Cage could’ve been in! I call that part science because they are movies that casting agents/Hollywood thought Cage could potentially be in as well.
I will include a link wherever it feels applicable. I’m not sure if there will be SPOILERS, but that’s always a risk.
“Amazing” does not necessarily imply that they would be better. In some cases certainly, in others, they’re just movies that may be more interesting.
To the list!
Most honored of Honorable Mentions: One of the movies on that list is Dumb and Dumber, where Cage was up for the role of Harry Dunne, which eventually went to Jeff Daniels. Dumb and Dumber was a seminal movie in my childhood, and I don’t think that Nicolas Cage would’ve made it better, which is why it didn’t officially make the list. However, in a contest to see who can go bigger, is there a better match-up than Jim Carrey vs Nicolas Cage? That’s a Hall of Fame bout.
11). Hamlet (any of the adaptations)
I’ve never seen or read Hamlet, but I’ve come to understand that the dialogue and the delivery are paramount. Is there anyone better?
William Shakespeare’s immortal words have been uttered by the likes of Andrew Keegan and Jamie Kennedy, so let’s not act like we treat it as sacred text in Hollywood. I’d like to see Nicolas Cage recite Shakespeare. I chose Hamlet because it has perhaps the most famous soliloquy/monologue in history. “To be or not to be” has never been whispered or shouted. Let’s make it happen. “Madness in great ones must not unwatched GO.”
10). The Departed (2006)
Any actor who prides themselves on their ability to pull off accents has to try a Boston accent at some point. We know Cage can do accents, on top of accents. A Boston accent is certainly one of the more fun affectations for a character to have, and I want Cage to do it in some movie. So which movie?
I suppose, we could argue that of all of the Boston movies, The Departed won best picture, and shouldn’t be trifled with in any way. However, look how many stars are in this movie, you’re saying we couldn’t squeeze in another Oscar winner? If anything, The Departed, more than most other movies, especially Boston movies, is a great choice because you can have a throwaway scene with an A-list star like Cage. Alec Baldwin, Martin Sheen and Anthony Anderson are all completely incidental in this movie. That isn’t to say they aren’t good, it is just to say, those roles get 3 minutes on screen, and could’ve been played by lesser actors and been fine.
This movie rides a fun line between being a cool story, with great actors, and being a movie with over-the-top accents and characters. It isn’t necessarily some important (pretentious) period drama that we’re supposed to leave alone. I think Nicolas Cage would add to this movie, without taking anything away.
9). Risky Business (1983)
I’ve never seen Risky Business, but apparently Nicolas Cage was up for the starring role. It’s the movie that made Tom Cruise a star, so I’m sure it is enjoyable as is, but I want to see Cage do this dancing scene.
I don’t know what happens in the rest of the movie, but I don’t think most people do, they just remember this scene. Cage is clearly qualified, and would’ve brought some explosive movements to the dance.
8.) Godfather III (1990)
Any time a sequel/third movie comes out twenty-six years after the last movie, you know it’s going to be good. I don’t have as much commentary here other than to say, the first two Godfathers might be the two best movies ever made, and the third one was…NOT. So why not include Nicolas Cage?
Nicolas Cage’s real name is Nicolas Coppola, meaning that he is related to Francis Ford Coppola, the co-writer/director/co-producer of the Godfather trilogy (Cage is his nephew). Considering that the third movie was not good, and Coppola never shied away from putting his family in these movies, regardless of their talent level…
That of course is Nicolas Cage’s cousin, acclaimed writer-director Sofia Coppola. I just think if the movie’s going to suck and all family members are going to be in it, next time, please give my guy Nic a part.
7.) The Lord of The Rings Trilogy (2001-03)
Let me start by saying, The Lord of the Rings is not my thing. So, even though the movies were highly acclaimed, and really well-done, especially the battle scenes, throwing Nicolas Cage in there wouldn’t ruin it for me. Cage was reportedly offered the role of Aragorn, turning it down! Aragorn is a presumably beloved character from the trilogy, so I’m sure most are happy with the way things turned out. However, I’m interested in seeing Cage’s rendition of this…
6.) Iron Man (2008)
I am a fan of the MCU, but the idea that Nicolas Cage could’ve been Tony Stark is an interesting what-if. Mostly because, I’m almost certain that he would’ve been worse than Downey. So then what does that mean for the most profitable franchise in the history of movies?
Downey was the key cog in the whole universe. There were a few movies about the Hulk that did not do particularly well. I was never a reader of comic books, but as best as I could tell, Batman and Superman were far and away the most famous/mainstream superheroes, and neither were in the MCU. Iron Man really needed to be good to kick the franchise off. The Avengers is probably what propelled the franchise to where it is, but would they have felt good making The Avengers if not for the success of Iron Man and Iron Man II? It’s hard to say, but I would guess that they wouldn’t.
Or would the MCU have been better with Nicolas Cage as Iron Man? You’re right, it would’ve been better with Nicolas Cage. NEXT!
5.) V for Vendetta (2006)
I made this decision on the fly, I had not previously considered V for Vendetta. Similar to anything Shakespeare, the character of V has a ton of monologues that are communicated with an understated grandiosity – if that oxymoron-ic phrase is even possible.
His voice is smooth and clear, but he is somewhat soft-spoken, and yet, he likes to deliver lines. Every time he talks, he seems to be orating:
Between the dialogue and the movements, I think Cage would’ve had a ball with that role, and though the movie may have suffered, it may have been more memorable. VFV is a good movie, but it is often forgotten and seldom mentioned on “best-of” lists, etc. Cage changes that, and boosts the movie’s stock.
4.) Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)
Nicolas Cage was up for the role of Willy Wonka, in the remake of this classic. Similar to V, Willy Wonka basically speaks in monologues, and perhaps more beneficially, he is a quirky guy, to put it mildly. The remake stuck closer to the book, which was darker and weirder than the original movie. The role ultimately went to Johnny Depp, but Cage would’ve been a good fit here. If you ever want to go darker and weirder, Cage is basically always a good fit.
3.) Harry Potter Franchise (2001-2011)
I’m a big fan of the books, not as big of a fan of the movies. They just felt more childish to me than the books did, which is probably my bad because I’m sure the books are fairly childish. However, Cage fits in here.
Think about the many adults in the wizard-ing world. Many of them have a quirk or two, and the professors are actually a pretty deep cast of Oscar-nominated actors. Maggie Smith, Gary Oldman, Emma Thompson, Richard Harris, Alan Rickman, Ralph Fiennes, the list goes on – the adult roles were in capable hands.
You’re telling me Nicolas Cage couldn’t have been a random professor at Hogwarts? What about Nearly Headless Nic…olas Cage? They could beef that role up a bit, and it would be way more memorable each time the kids are approached by a ghost.
What about Barty Crouch Jr? Spoiler, Barty Crouch Jr is one of the villains of the fourth movie, and that actor is really going for it.
Did they not see Leaving Las Vegas?
Cage was in a movie called The Sorcerer’s Apprentice and another called Season of the Witch. You know he’s done the research already!
2.) Amos & Andrew (1993)
You’re probably like, “wait, I thought Nicolas Cage was already in that movie?!?!” He was, I think he should’ve played both Amos and Andrew! Two Cages! There are a couple of reasons for this decision.
a) I’d like to make a new rule. For movies with titles that are two names separated by “and” or “&” – from now on, one actor/actress has to play both parts. There are a ton of movies that fit this bill: it’s Bonnie and Clyde, Thelma & Louise, and then a bunch of forgettable nonsense. Given the low success rate for this overused naming convention, these movies should feature 1 person playing both parts, which, if nothing else, will make them more notable. In this case, Cage plays both parts.
b) There is a race element to this movie. I don’t want to get in trouble, and I’m not suggesting Cage go “black face”…BUT…I could see 1993 Nic Cage being so dedicated to his craft, that he’d undergo a skin pigmentation operation like Downey’s character in Tropic Thunder. Would that have set race relations back? Most likely. Do I want that to happen? Absolutely not.
c) We eventually saw two Cages in 2002’s Adaptation. It was awesome. This movie happened before that, so I guess we couldn’t have known? Poppycock! We had enough evidence prior between Vampire’s Kiss and Wild At Heart to know it would’ve worked out.
d) They could remove the race element and basically keep the same plot, and it would be similarly popular as a thriller. I could be wrong, but I don’t believe Amos & Andrew is considered an “important” race movie. So…then we don’t need it to be about race.
1.) Forrest Gump (1994)
There is a group of people on the internet that hates the movie Forrest Gump because of the Oscars – It won best picture at the 1994-95 Oscars over Pulp Fiction and The Shawshank Redemption, a decision that seems to have aged poorly. I am in this group of people. I like Hanks, I’m fine with him winning the Best Actor Oscar, but in my opinion, the movie is just sappy and silly in its premise.
Although we didn’t know it at the time, Cage could do the most convincing Alabama accent ever committed to film.
He could’ve easily been a supporting character for Gump. Maybe a friend, maybe a recurring bully. Anyone, just to hear that accent. Or, he could’ve been Gump….
What if there was a new part where Forrest writes letters to Jenny from the war…Deeyuh Jenny.
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All of the running scenes would’ve been fine.
The Vietnam stuff…
How well would Cage have worked with Mykelti Williamson?
The relations and love-making
Can he provide emotional weight?
What if, in a twist, Forrest Gump, maybe with Jenny, decides to smoke crack?
Whatever we need for Gump, Cage is our guy! He can handle the many different aspects of the character and the plot. It’s very clear he spent hours studying the Alabama accent prior to Con Air. Hanks is terrific, but if Cage was available, he’s my pick.
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