Book Review: "Age Of Cage" By Keith Phipps

Nic Cage is truly one of a kind.

Nicolas Cage is one of those actors who does not really need an introduction. I am pretty sure the average person has seen at least one of his films from his surprisingly diverse filmography. His intense, exaggerated mannerisms and attention-grabbing persona have become quite synonymous with popular culture and random trends on the Internet. Even before social media changed how we pursue entertainment, audiences quickly figured out that this star is forging his own path.

One critic, Kenneth Turan, who wrote for the Los Angeles Times, described him as "one of the few American actors who gets more and more interesting from film to film." Now that is what being an actor is supposed to be. You might think you know a lot about this Oscar-winning actor, but Keith Phipps pulls back the curtain about Cage's personal journey through Hollywood in his amusing, personable book, Age of Cage: Four Decades of Hollywood Through One Singular Career. The latest book about one of the most eccentric actors out there fills in gaps in a career marked by euphoric highs and ego-shattering lows. No one knew what was coming when he graced the big screen for the first time in movies such as Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Valley Girl. From there, such a well-outlined book confirms that the rest is history. If there is one thing that I learned from reading such a captivating account of the man originally known as Nicolas Kim Coppola, it is that you cannot knock down this leading star, not even Hollywood. He always finds a way to get back up. 

Of course, there are many intriguing tales about Cage's personal life, his road to stardom, and his odd acting methods. You can easily find memorable clips of him on talk shows or compilations of him freaking out in most of his movies via YouTube. There is a likely chance that you have snickered at him, shouting the alphabet out loud, or shuddered at him, creepily intimidating a secretary in the disastrous 1988 cult film, Vampire's Kiss. Do not forget about that outrageous scene in the infamous 2006 remake of The Wicker Man (which broke the Internet) where Cage bemoans the use of bees as a form of torture.

Behind these stories, however, the core of this book focuses on the Hollywood system and how it has evolved during the last 40 years. This nephew of acclaimed filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola just happens to be Phipps' selected compass to help readers understand and navigate their way through the film industry's expectations and popular trends that can be associated with some of his most iconic roles. Phipps knows better than to just make Age of Cage a biography. Instead, he offers another perspective of Hollywood that will hopefully make you perceive various studios and even movie genres in a new, more analytical light.

The star, who has explored many different genres, has developed a persistent, thicker skin as an actor. His reputation as a credible actor has swung to varying degrees just like a pendulum. He is never afraid to take risks, no matter what the cost might be. This is why he can be a gamble for certain directors and well-established studios. Cage has always stressed how important individuality and artistic expression should be, especially when he won the Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role for Leaving Las Vegas. He shared, "I just love acting, and I hope that there will be more encouragement for alternative movies where we can experiment and fast-forward into the future of acting." At the same time, the Long Beach, California native took it in stride during the 2000s and the 2010s. In the long run, his resilience proves how a true star must stick to his or her guns in the face of the entertainment industry that is changing more frequently than ever. 

Cage's ongoing career is not limited to just his on-screen persona and unapologetically quirky antics. His filmography can be broken down according to various stages that he went through as a performer. In fact, his various acting gigs reflect what he personally desired, whether it was just to be the oddball or just to get a paycheck during hard times. The actor behind films like Moonstruck, Con Air, and National Treasure never exactly conformed to the Hollywood norm. Phipps easily dissects each stage that this actor naturally experienced, as if Cage's mere presence was a carefully orchestrated lab experiment. In fact, this breakdown of all the eclectic chapters in Cage's career is my favorite aspect of this book. 

For instance, it is pleasant and enduring to watch him play a modest, well-meaning protagonist in movies such as Honeymoon in Vegas, Guarding Tess, and It Could Happen To You. These films are even referred to as the "Sunshine Trilogy" by the lead actor himself. After watching him let loose in the Coen Brothers' Raising Arizona and David Lynch's Wild at Heart, it is surprising to learn more about Cage's softer, gentler side in film. He appeared as if he was aspiring to be the James Stewart of the 1990s at that point in this career. Then again, let us not forget how ridiculously entertaining he is alongside Sean Connery in The Rock and John Travolta in Face/Off. He quickly shed the nice guy persona for car chases, gun fights, and mushroom cloud explosions. Once again, this is what acting is all about, especially for a risk-taker. 

Although Age of Cage briefly mentions his much more recent films such as Pig and The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, this book reminded me to stay excited for some of the future, remaining films that Nic Cage can bring to all of us. He will most likely keep acting until his very last days. Dan Harmon, the creator of the TV show Community, perfectly summarized Cage's acting capability regarding one episode:

"You have to embrace the fact that Nicolas Cage is a pretty great actor. He's done a lot of weird, dumb movies...It's like—what is Nicolas Cage? What is he? Is he an idiot? Or a genius? Can you write him off, or is he inexplicably bound to your soul?"

Watching the Oscar winner act can spark a nuanced discussion about finding purpose in your talent. I never thought that I would find myself connecting this existential thought with the passion and fury wrapped around Cage's filmography. Tom Hanks is America's dad. Sean Penn is its grisly, cynical uncle. Brad Pitt is its more upbeat, enthusiastic uncle. That makes Nicolas Cage the wacky, entertaining close friend of the family who always has an unbelievable story to share with the whole neighborhood. 

Check out Age of Cage: Four Decades of Hollywood Through One Singular Career from one of the many members of the Jefferson County Library Cooperative, including the Birmingham Public Library.

By William Anthony | Librarian Ⅰ, Citizen Services