With A talent in solid gold , Nicolas Cage enters the circle of actors who are iconic enough to be able to parody themselves. He joined, among others, John Malkovich (In the skin of John Malkovich by Spike Jonze) or Jean-Claude Van Damme (JCVD of Mabrouk el Mechri). In Tom Gormican’s new film, the actor plays on his image by presenting himself as a megalomaniac star in need of roles and in delicacy with his wife.
“Nicolas Cage has become a phenomenon that goes beyond his status as an actor, explains the director in the press kit. He stands out as the patron saint of strangeness! People are happy just to see his face. It’s frankly interesting and so I wanted to dig into the subject and better understand his personality. “The spectator is obviously aware that this is a game of massacre to which the star lends itself with a good dose of self-mockery.
Funny but never mean
Nicolas Cage, who once again proved his immense register in Pig released last year, embodies his alter ego but also a ghost, a kind of megalomaniac Jiminy Cricket who talks to him in his head and helps him identify his priorities (basically himself). Our fading star has plenty to do. He must embody “for real” a secret agent against Pedro Pascal (recently seen in the series The Mandalorian) to unravel a dark abduction story. Reality and fiction intertwine in an enjoyable delirium to seduce moviegoers and fans of “Nick” (as he is nicknamed in the film). Car chases, shootings and references to the actor’s filmography abound in this entertainment.
“There are very few actors as eclectic as Nicolas Cage, able to go from comedy to drama without difficulty (sometimes within the same film) and I find that fascinating,” insists the director. A talent in solid gold demonstrates this with all the nuances of the character, both unbearably smug, but also touching and courageous, that he embodies in the film. When his real existence becomes the equivalent of a film, the man rises to the occasion just as much as the actor. The tenderness for its subject prevents the parody from becoming too mean, reinforcing the complicity with the spectator. The laughter is that of an action movie lover, which makes the experience as satisfying as it is enjoyable.