I have concerns about Nicolas and the fact that his latest films aren't drawing money at the Box Office. Just checked Fridays take for Drive Angry and is only made Two Million and is sitting @ #9 at the boxoffice after one day. I know its only one day, but it is only expected to make 5.5 million which is less than SOTW and Bangkok Dangerous. I am really really concerned that Nic has indeed lost his audience as far as a BoxOffice draw and truely wonder if Hollywood will "turn its back" on Nic in a way and not put him in Big Budget films. I love Nicolas, but something has to give with him not drawing at the box office and the fact that his films cost $50-$75 million and are bombing. It makes me sad that only 5 people were in the theatre w/ to see Drive Angry. I love Nicolas very much, but am concerned as a fan if Ghost Rider: SOV will be his last big budget film. I am in no way bashing Nic at all. I hope I have gained all my fellow Nicsters respect on here, but I would appreciate it if you guys would read this post with an open mind and reply with your thoughts. I am honestly worried that Nic's films may not come out on the Big Screen in a couple years due to his lack of draw anymore. The only Box Office draws are Depp, Downey Jr and Will Smith now. I want Nicolas to get back into the good graces of the mainstream and not just have diehard fanatics like us. Keep putting in Work Nic because you can't give in!!!!
The theater that I went to last night was an ultrascreen and it was for the 7:30 showing which is normally the big draw of the night. Honestly....it only had maybe 30 people in it and that doesn't bode well for the movie. I can't quite put my finger on what is wrong for Nic other than I believe at this point he is over-exposing himself in being in so many movies. We can all try to guess why he is in so many movies and while we can also understand why he might be doing so many movies, the truth is.....that in being in so many of them he is losing his mystery.
Combine that with how he has been getting skewered right and left for years now for EVERYTHING he does, says, wears and such...and......well......
Personally, I see in Nicolas a fearless and phenomenally talented actor and I believe he has many, many years left in him in which to create characters and to try out new styles....to work on his "Nouveau Shamanism", so to speak. But, the truth is, no matter how much I would miss seeing him on the bigscreen and reading his interviews and such, I really do believe his career would benefit greatly if he would take some serious time off from the screen and dedicate himself to his life, some directing and maybe even some screenwriting.
And then......I want to see him, come back in a character/role that we've never seen him do before.....something totally different than what he's been doing for years now...(which, with the exception of the NT movies, all seem to have in common a man who carries angst and anguish within)......and excuse my language here....
****ING BLOW THE AUDIENCE OUT OF THE WATER!
I know that my opinion may not be a popular one, so I apologize for any unintended bad feelings.
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"Love one another but make not a bond of love. Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls" ~~~~Khalil Gibran~~~~
Thank You for responding to my post White Fay. I agree with everything you say and think if Nicolas went the route of Ben Affleck and did some directing and script writing that produced Oscar Worthy films like The Town and Gone Baby Gone, I think the general movie going audience would have a whole new respect for Nicolas. Like Mr. Affleck, it is becoming a trend to "hate" on Nicolas. One thing that would be beneficial to Nic's career too, would be to not have films come out back to back like SOTW and Drive Angry. Nicolas and his supporting people may need to realize that this isn't 1997.....like when Face Off & Con Air came out back to back but made money. I would actually gain a whole new respect of Nic and his craft as a complete artist if he did some directing because it would show he has an eye for film as a whole and working with actors in a totally new and different angle then he ever has. I know that I respect Ben Affleck more as an artist due to The Town and Gone Baby Gone and has recieved a lead role in a Terance Maleck film due to his hard work in my opinon. Please Nic, take some time off because that would make the heart grow fonder.......
I don't know that i agree about him being overexposed. i tend to view him more as having a cult following. i think his left field performances are his best. besides, i have never known an artist who could stop creating. it's a compulsion. every artist i know would rather stop breathing that stop creating. some are just more prolific than others. patrick rothfuss vs. stephen king for example. as much as i loved sonny i am wholeheartedly on the behind the camara angle, tho. also, this may seem odd, but i would like to see him write. bet he would produce a fantastic steam of consciousness work.
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The happiness of most people we know is not ruined by great catastrophes or fatal error, but by the repetition of slowly destructive little things - Ernest Dimnet
Great new input Ronnie, I thought for sure this topic I started was offically dead. I think that the public in general are not going to see Nic's films in droves because is has turned into an actor that is thought upon as a characacher of himself. I don't believe Nicolas is that, but I will say that these next few films Nicolas has coming out will determine his self life in the Cinemas Worldwide and Ghost Rider: SOV will either be his Box Office return or his death nail. I am a Nicolas Fanatic like the rest of you but I am a realist when it comes to seeing how his career is veering at the moment. I think Nic could go the way of Val Kilmer and have his films go straight to DVD even though films are being converted quicker to dvd anyway. I love Nic and will support him and watch his films at the first showing on the first day they come out as it is my tradition.......but sometimes stepping away is a good thing because the writing is on the wall that even a blind man could see.
There was loads watching drive angry when we went and i was surprised has it is usually quiet i think the problem is based not with the films at the cinemas but that always wins ,the fact that people can get the download from internet sites or fake copies and unfortunatly with it being a recession it is the cheaper option and thay kills the movies . I think thats the main issue with the box office , also the expense of cinema is crazy its thirty pound to see a film near us for 2 thats not incluing popcorn and a drink which most people buy ( at a guess) i have a odeon points card so every now and then i get a free film but some people cant afford to go and watch there favorite movie stars its sad to see though but i dont think that it will effect the films nic gets offered they will be the big budget films on offer and also i think reviews help so give a review for the local cinema you saw drive angry at i do mine as soon as i get back and i know people look at them when deciding films as they give feedback so film fans can help . i will always watch nic has i totally love him to bits discuss the films with people as well gets people excitred and they go see the film then , you cant beat the cinema watching a copy on dvd is not good at all .
Nice input and thoughts, CageCrazyMinx. I do hope Nic gets on track with his Box Office results as it pertains to the general publice and not just superfans. I wish Nic was still big time here in the US but he is not. Depp, Downey JR, Dicaprio and Will Smith are the only for sure draws right now and it makes me sad that Nic is out of the loop, but I will support anything he does. I actually prefer to watch movies at home and enjoying them with my family without other people I don't know, but that is me. I really don't see anything wrong with movies coming straight to DVD. I think it makes film more accessable to the masses by being able to pick it up and watch it in comfort. I actually don't see shame in Nicolas going the way of Kevin Costner or Val Kilmer you know what I mean. Costner was Boxoffice gold in the late 80's and early 90's but he was fazed out of the spotlight just as Nic is being phased out. It hurts me that he is not well recieved but his films make more money on DVD anyway. My view is unpopular, but sometimes overexposure forces people to tune you out: IE Nicolas. I looked up Tom Cruises IMDB page and he has only starred in 36 films while Nic has been in over 40 the past twenty years. I was amazed to see a guy like Cruise who started in movie film acting in 1981 a year before Nic who did tv in the Best of Times in 1981, but has doubled Cruises film listings. Anyway, thought it was interesting.
hiya clcdmd, i hear ya. i even see that you have a valid point. i think that big budget, studio production is part of the problem. when he does one right after the other people react (or don't react) like it's just another cage flick. but when he breaks it up with what i see as a quintessintial cage film, the critics as well as his fans, seem to get a new rush. i.e. matchstick man, bad lieutenant, kick ass, adaptation, etc. as long as he returns to his roots regularly, then i think he'll be okay. i also think the dvd sales shouldn't be discounted as a major source of income. a lot of movies make the bulk of their revenue here for a variety of reasons. love the discourse. love the topic!
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The happiness of most people we know is not ruined by great catastrophes or fatal error, but by the repetition of slowly destructive little things - Ernest Dimnet
Thanks for the new thoughts Ronnie. I am glad you agree with some of my views and disagrees with the others. I enjoy starting topics about subjects I enjoy and view my enjoyment of Nicolas Cage films and filme in general the same way I view my favorite sports teams and favorite rock band. I think Nic is on a losing streak like some sports teams and will come up with something to redeem himself in the coming years.
