As a seasoned movie enthusiast with a penchant for action-packed films and a soft spot for Nicolas Cage, I must confess that some of his recent ventures have left me more bewildered than entertained. One such instance is the film “Season of the Witch”, which, despite Cage’s commendable performance, falls short due to its questionable theology, poorly staged battle scenes, and a repetitive narrative that borders on tedium. No action film should be a snooze-fest; “Season of the Witch” certainly fits that bill. To put it mildly, it’s not worth risking one’s fingers in a fire over.
Nicolas Cage is arguably one of the most well-rounded leading men working in the modern era. Name another actor who can effortlessly essay romantic comedies (“Moonstruck”; “Valley Girl”), action films (“Con Air”; “Face/Off”), free-wheeling, somewhat surrealist pieces (“Raising Arizona”; “Wild at Heart”), and dramas (“Pig,” which is Cage’s favorite among his works; “Adaptation”). There’s nothing he can’t do, and while he may be known for his fearlessly gonzo performances, he can also credibly do romantic dramas and quiet, smaller, character-driven pieces.
Just like many A-list actors in Hollywood, Nicolas Cage has had his fair share of box office flops and questionable roles. He’s starred in action disasters that were too outrageous, horror movies that were overly dramatic, and biopics where he seemed ill-suited for the part. While some of his performances can be appreciated for their campy appeal (you won’t find “Vampire’s Kiss” among them), it’s also worth mentioning that sometimes the problem lies with the production rather than his acting. However, those less-than-stellar movies are indeed a part of his resume. Here are five of Nicolas Cage’s most disappointing films.
Inconceivable
In the mid-2010s, Nicolas Cage made numerous direct-to-streaming films. Prior to his career revival with the movies “Mandy” and his role as Spider-Man Noir in “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” many films featuring him as a rogue cop or vengeful father were abundant on his resume. One of the least impressive among these is “Inconceivable,” where he portrays a father who is tempted by his unorthodox babysitter.
In this storyline, the actor portrays Brian, a character who shares beautiful offspring with his spouse, Angela (played by Gina Gershon), through surrogacy. Angela unexpectedly meets Katie (portrayed by Nicky Whelan), another mother, in a neighborhood park. A bond forms between them, and Angela offers employment as a nanny to Katie, who is struggling financially. As time passes, Katie becomes aware of Brian and Angela’s search for another surrogate. In an attempt to secure what she desires, Katie resorts to eliminating the competition ruthlessly. Later, Katie attempts to win over Brian by pretending the children are her own offspring and becoming pregnant with his baby.
Out of all the extravagant, puzzling movies Nicolas Cage has made straight for streaming, this one is particularly unoriginal and tedious. It doesn’t offer anything new that wasn’t executed better in “The Hand that Rocks the Cradle” or an ordinary Lifetime movie. Despite reuniting Cage with Gershon for the first time since their collaboration in “Face/Off”, the film fails to utilize their talents effectively, even undermining the genuinely chilling performances of Whelan, who is the main reason it’s at the bottom rather than the top of this list. Interestingly, Lindsay Lohan was initially cast for the movie, but the studio eventually decided against it. In this case, she managed to avoid a major misstep.
The Boy in Blue
As a gamer, I might rephrase it like this: “Playing Nicolas Cage in a heavy historical drama could seem a bit odd, but he nails it in movies like ‘Birdy,’ ‘Captain Corelli’s Mandolin,’ and ‘Windtalkers.’ Regrettably, in ‘The Boy In Blue,’ he’s tasked with convincingly embodying Canadian rower Ned Hanlan, a national idol and sculling champion. No, he doesn’t attempt a Canadian accent. No, there’s not an ounce of his performance that feels authentic to the era. Yes, if you’re not into sculling, you’ll find yourself struggling to stay awake.”
1. It’s important to note that the majority of performances in this production are generally poor, lacking both depth and humor. The story is set in the late 1800s, but the staging and marketing don’t give off an authentic feel of the era. The plot follows a predictable pattern of a bad boy redeeming himself, which seems rather unoriginal. Overall, the production lacks the excitement, charisma, and vitality usually associated with Cage’s work, making it quite different from his typical body of work.
Season of the Witch
Some films starring Nicolas Cage have a unique blend of intrigue and peculiarity, such as “Willy’s Wonderland” and “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent.” However, “Season of the Witch” attempts to be thrilling but instead feels clumsy and confusing in its plot structure.
The action-packed series set during the Crusades follows Cage as Sir Behmen von Bleibruck, an Austrian knight who resigns from his position after observing his fellow Teutonic knights brutally slaughter a peaceful village. Accompanied by Sir Felson (Ron Perlman), they return to their Austrian castle only to find it ravaged by… yes, the plague. A young woman named Anna (Claire Foy) has been labeled as a witch and blamed for the plague. The two knights are instructed by their cardinal to transport Anna to a monastery where a priest will perform a ritual to halt the plague, thereby stripping her of her supposed powers.
Felson and Bleibruck concur on the condition that the accusations of desertion are withdrawn against them, and Anna receives a just trial. However, it’s possible that Anna isn’t a witch, and the forces they encounter differ significantly from ordinary witchcraft.
The issue isn’t about Cage’s impressive acting, but rather the questionable theology, confusingly arranged fight sequences, and the monotonous tedium that “Season of the Witch” offers. It’s unusual for an action film to be dull, and this one certainly fits that description. In short, it’s not worth risking a burnt hand over this movie.
Left Behind
It appears that stripping Kirk Cameron and poor quality special effects from the “Left Behind” faith-inspired apocalypse movie series leaves a slightly improved production. The reboot is led by Nicolas Cage, who takes on the role previously played by Cameron as Rayford Steele, a pilot who is taken aback when his plane’s passengers mysteriously disappear in an instant one day. His wife Irene (Lea Thompson), a devout Christian, shares this disbelief. However, Rayford, his daughter Chloe (Cassi Thomson), and the woman he was having an affair with (Nicky Whelan) face numerous trials to survive together. Had the film been successful, they might have made it through the inferno. Unfortunately, the movie fell short of achieving any real success.
In the film “Left Behind”, all the actors showcased skill – they’ve excelled at more complex roles before. However, their performances in this movie are dreadful, and the script is a mere shadow of the original novel, even falling short compared to the weaker of the three Cameron films. Cage and every other actor in the film deserve better material to work with.
The Wicker Man
Say it with us now: “No! Not the bees! Ahh, my eyes!” Believe it or not, that moment was chopped from “The Wicker Man” and left on the cutting room floor. It was made legendary by its extended DVD cut, which doesn’t help its case for existence. Whether you see it as an intentional exercise in camp or not, the weirdly misogynistic tone of the 2006 version of the British horror film drags down what could be a fun exploration of faith against reason.
From a devoted fan’s perspective: In the original film, it’s not about man versus woman, but rather a struggle between hippies and the system they oppose. For me, Nicolas Cage’s character, Edward Malus, isn’t on a quest to fight women, but to find a little girl who might be his biological daughter, hidden away on an isolated island off the Oregon coast. When I discovered that this community is devoid of men and overflowing with women harboring resentment towards “masculine symbols” and their carriers, it became clear to Edward – and me – that something far from ordinary must be unfolding here. Whether or not he can escape the sinister secrets lurking within remains to be seen.
In “The Wicker Man,” Nicolas Cage delivers an exaggerated, angry performance that’s reminiscent of camp. On the other hand, Ellen Burstyn and Leelee Sobieski offer realistic portrayals in contrast to Cage’s eccentric act. However, the film suffers from the flat, vacant performances of Kate Beahan and a script devoid of depth by Neil LaBute. A scene where Cage assaults women while wearing a bear skin leaves an indelible impression, though for all the wrong reasons. While you might find yourself chuckling at “The Wicker Man,” it falls flat as a horror movie, dramatic film, and commentary on gender struggles. The final slap in the face comes from the end credits, dedicating the whole debacle to Johnny Ramone’s memory.
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2024-08-27 21:00