Happy Thursday everyone! I’m kind of in a list-y mood so I’m doing yet another list post today, with the collaboration of my friend Josh of JJames Reviews … AND also all of you fine friends of FlixChatter!

Inspired my our recent viewing of JOE featuring the inimitable Nicholas Kim Coppola, aka Nicolas Cage was in top form, I thought we’d collaborate on this post. Ever since his feature film debut in Fast Times at Ridgemont High back in 1982, the prolific actor has done nearly 70 films, more if you count the ones that are not yet released! So I’m guessing most of you have seen at least 10 of his work. Love him or hate him, he’s made quite a name for himself in Hollywood, with perhaps the most erratic role choices that seems to be as mercurial as his temperament, on and off screen.

So, let’s get on with the list, shall we?

JOSH’s picks:

First, a word on how I made these selections. I did not select the ten best movies in which Nicolas Cage has appeared; instead, I considered whether or not a given performance demonstrates range. For example, Moonstruck (1987) is certainly a better film than Con Air (1997), and, strictly speaking, Cage is likely superior as Ronny Cammareri than as Cameron Poe. Yet, Poe made my list and Cammareri did not. Why? I submit that Con Air solidified Cage as an action star, something at which we had only hints in the late nineties, whereas Moonstruck showed us what we already knew: Cage can be funny, romantic and dramatic, capably shifting between the three seamlessly.

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10. Cameron Poe – Con Air (1997)

9. Grug – The Croods (2013)

8. Charlie Bodell – Peggy Sue Got Married (1986)

7. Frank Pierce – Bringing Out the Dead (1999)

6. Seth – City of Angels (1998)

5. Damon McCready, AKA Big Daddy – Kick-Ass (2009)

4. Charlie & Donald Kaufman – Adaptation (2002)

3. Joe Ransom – Joe (2014)

2. Ben Sanderson – Leaving Las Vegas (1995)

1. H.I. McDunnough – Raising Arizona (1987)

One last word: Please, Joel and Ethan, please cast Nicolas Cage again. He was pure gold in your hands, gentlemen.

RUTH’s picks:

JOE was the first film since Kick-Ass in 2010 where I saw Nic Cage on film. It seems that in from 2007 and on he’s hellbent on making a string of crappola movies. Yes I know an actor is allowed a few bad films in their career but Cage seems to make it the norm instead of the exception! Yet for me, I think there’s a certain charm (or whimsy) about him that made him so watchable even in laughable material [ok, maybe with the exception of Ghost Rider which is just ghastly].

Now, like Josh said, my picks aren’t exactly about his best movies or best roles, but it displays his versatility and I think that’s part of his undeniable appeal. Whether playing a saintly cop or a devil-incarnate villain, he seems effortlessly convincing playing them. Please note that I have not seen some of his earlier work like Peggy Sue Got Married, people’s favorite Raising Arizona or his Oscar-winning role in Leaving Las Vegas. As with any list, these are by no means comprehensive as it’s based on the ones I have seen.

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10. Damon McCready, AKA Big Daddy– Kick-Ass (2009)

9. Stanley Godspeed – The Rock (2009)

8. Seth – City of Angels (1998)

7. Cameron Poe – Con Air (1997)

6. Ronny Cammareri – Moonstruck (1987)

5. Joe Ransom – Joe (2014)

4. Charlie & Donald Kaufman – Adaptation (2002)

3. Charlie Lang – It Could Happen To You (1994)

2. Jack Campbell – The Family Man (2000)

1. Castor Troy – Face/Off (1997)

So what’s YOUR favorite Nic Cage roles? Even better if you can share your top 10!

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