Publications
He was once one of the biggest stars in Tinseltown with an Oscar on his mantelpiece and directors falling all over themselves to sign him up. Quirky hits, action films, romantic weepies – you name it, Nicolas Cage starred in them all. But then it all went seriously pear-shaped and Nicolas went from being a big deal to a bit of a joke. The 58-year-old became better known for starring in memes and appearing in YouTube clip compilations of his most outrageous movie moments. And the movies he did make – even pre-pandemic – were never going to be screened in cinemas.
To top it all, Nicolas was practically broke after burning through a $150-million (R2,25 billion) fortune and owing the US revenue service property taxes of $6,3m (R94,5m).Little wonder then that he took on as many jobs as he could – and he did have a few cult favourites, such as Pig, Mandy and Color Out of Space. His box-office clout might have vanished but he never gave up.
And his tenacity has paid off. Nicolas’ combination of old blockbuster smashes, prestige indies and mangled mix of duds made him the perfect choice for the new movie The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent.
