Thank you for this New Year treat Sprocket! As you may or may not know, Vampire's Kiss is one of my favourite Nic movies, so I devoured your review with hungry eyes!
You liked it then??
I am coming to realise that your reviews are not only works of art themselves, but like chapters in a highly articulate Cagetastic book...and I truly hope you get that book published one day..I will be your first customer!
you may like to cast your discerning eye over areas where we have discussed this film previously, this is not laziness on my part I promise, i just don't want to over egg my opinion, and you might be interested in getting a feel for the group perspective!
oooh thanks Lula! I'll read them forthwith! :D 'Citing!
It's interesting that you mention the book vibe as it was something that occured to me only today and might well have informed my writing of this review. I've certainly tried to interrelate things in the past with a holistic view to Nic's career because, as yourself and Ladytrue haev both mentioned at separate points, people often compartmentalise Nic and how they talk about his films, which I suspect is the last thing he wants or plans for!
Now to read your opinions, which, of course, you should never be afraid of over-egging like some articulate and imaginative omelette!
Aw your passion for the movie is so keen and clear-sighted, Lula! :D
Also, thanks for the links because I don't know if the German Expressionism influence would have clicked into place without them (I've been watching a little Hammer recently, so that was more on my mind).
On that note, have you seen Herzog's remake of Nosferatu starring Kinski? It's magnetic and often very beautiful!
That opening paragraph of yours is amazing, Sprocket, making me think in a different way about Nic in this role.
I have only watched it once, and have been thinking that it is time for a revisit, since we often bring it up on this forum.
Tragic is the word in my head to describe Peter, as it is for Jack in The Shining. And as unpleasant as they get, always I feel great empathy for the two men. They were used by something, whether figments of their troubled mind or reality. Personally, I thought it was rather ambiguous in VK as to whether there was a vampire or not, I kind of thought there might have been. But I think I am in a minority there.
Still mind blown even now, when thinking of Nic's performance, a role perfect for him at that age. I think young actors use all of their senses and aren't afraid to try things in a new way. Good young actors, I should qualify. I am glad Nic had the opportunity to bring his unique young presence to the screen.
“Usually, when an actor plays a freak you can still spot the feet-on-the-ground professional. Nicolas Cage doesn’t give you that rootedness. He’s up in there in the air, and when you watch him is Raising Arizona or Moonstruck it’s a little dizzying — you’re not quite sure you understand what’s going on. It could be that this kid — he’s only 24— is an actor before he’s a human being… Cage strips himself, he takes flight, he wings it.”
“Usually, when an actor plays a freak you can still spot the feet-on-the-ground professional. Nicolas Cage doesn’t give you that rootedness. He’s up in there in the air, and when you watch him is Raising Arizona or Moonstruck it’s a little dizzying — you’re not quite sure you understand what’s going on. It could be that this kid — he’s only 24— is an actor before he’s a human being… Cage strips himself, he takes flight, he wings it.”
I've never really clicked with Pauline Kael, but that quote is amazing! Thanks for that, Ladytrue! :D
Also, never thought that way about The Shining... but when you said that about Jack, if you think of stripping the freedom of will from all of Kubrick's anti-heros/ monsters (Jack in The Shining/ Alex in A Clockwork Orange/ Private Pyle in Full Metal Jacket) then they become tragic figures - compelled to rage and attack family, society or work colleagues but never really knowing why or how they've become that way! Yes, same with Peter Loew perhaps.