“The question of authorship frequently crops up when dealing with Cage’s films. Given the actor’s tendency to exceed the confines of his roles—to colour outside of the lines—his presence naturally overshadows that of all but the most adept filmmakers. David Lynch, Spike Jonze, Werner Herzog, and the Coens diligently contain Cage. Or, more accurately, they ensure that their films have the necessary elbowroom for Cage to move around in.
Filmmakers who are less skilled don’t do this, or they don’t realize they have to do this. Cage explodes out of control in The Rock, too cartoony even by Michael Bay’s standards. And more recently, the usually adept Neveldine/Taylor team mismanaged what could have been the best asset of their Ghost Rider sequel. In that film, it feels as if Cage’s overflowing mania is competing with that of the film’s directors, instead of achieving that harmony of coauthorship that marks Cage’s best films.”
- The Wicker Man (2006) | Film | Caged Wisdom | The A.V. Club Toronto (via joshishollywood)
Filmmakers who are less skilled don’t do this, or they don’t realize they have to do this. Cage explodes out of control in The Rock, too cartoony even by Michael Bay’s standards. And more recently, the usually adept Neveldine/Taylor team mismanaged what could have been the best asset of their Ghost Rider sequel. In that film, it feels as if Cage’s overflowing mania is competing with that of the film’s directors, instead of achieving that harmony of coauthorship that marks Cage’s best films.”
- The Wicker Man (2006) | Film | Caged Wisdom | The A.V. Club Toronto (via joshishollywood)