Mitch Gross
Veteran
I must admit that I get the two “Nicholas Cage seeing-the-future” movies ‘Knowing’ and ‘Next’ confused. They’re both fairly b-grade fill some time on a Saturday afternoon fare.
Know about Knowing?
- Thread starter Sagan
- Start date
I didn't know that, about the RED, Jim. There is a scene where he's driving across the Brooklyn Bridge, a helicopter shot following him, and I didn't notice any rolling shutter there. I think Proyas avoided lateral tracking shots as much as possible, and very many shots are the actors approaching the camera head-on. There is a scene where Cage is running along the platform of the subway, with the camera staying level with him, and no rolling shutter is evident. But now that I think about it, in that shot he appears/disappears behind the pillars as he runs. Maybe that was layered over to try to conceal the rolling shutter.
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combatentropy
Veteran
Uh oh, sounds like I need to use more little smiley faces.
Sagan, Alex Proyas also directed Dark City, which is generally awesome, if you haven't seen it.
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Looking back at all of those early digital films is kind of funny. On the one hand digital was still just barely there, and on the other, i don’t think some shooters really handled the exposures optimally. With exception to ‘Apocolypto’ and a handfull of others. But movies like ‘Smokin Aces’ and almost any Red One film. Idk, the films have a rough edge. Nostalgic looking now, but definitely not aesthetically preferred.
Seeing what people can do with digital cameras of all types now, i attribute the lofi look to treating digital improperly.
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@Sagan
I think you are pretty spot on with your Nic Cage assesments.
Though it is these idiosyncrosies that are also what make him appealing... or rather, can’t-look-away-ing.
Even Cary Grant was was one of those actors with a weird way of speaking, that ended up being a good thing for screen acting. It is almost expected of movie stars. And i say “stars” not actors.
You could make a long list of stars that have weird ways of speaking.
Mr. Cage also revealed in an interview how much he liked the early German Expresionism acting style, and some of his acting choices become clearer once you view it from that perspective.
Study a bit about the acting style. Good history if nothing else. Then think how incredulous for a 90’s-2000’s actor to be trying to implement the style into modern North American commercial films. Pretty odd combination. But then think that he ends up becoming an action star and leading man... even more odd.
I think you are pretty spot on with your Nic Cage assesments.
Though it is these idiosyncrosies that are also what make him appealing... or rather, can’t-look-away-ing.
Even Cary Grant was was one of those actors with a weird way of speaking, that ended up being a good thing for screen acting. It is almost expected of movie stars. And i say “stars” not actors.
You could make a long list of stars that have weird ways of speaking.
Mr. Cage also revealed in an interview how much he liked the early German Expresionism acting style, and some of his acting choices become clearer once you view it from that perspective.
Study a bit about the acting style. Good history if nothing else. Then think how incredulous for a 90’s-2000’s actor to be trying to implement the style into modern North American commercial films. Pretty odd combination. But then think that he ends up becoming an action star and leading man... even more odd.
Mitch Gross
Veteran
It's a movie with half a dozen or so clever ideas in it and some Jessica Beil eye candy. Pretty forgettable.
NorBro
Major Contributor
What happened to the song you had? Did you figure out later I was just referencing the chorus? lol
Mitchhhhhhh, you dog!
lol, j/k.
Mitch Gross
Veteran
Hey, I'm just talking about what was presented. I recall the poster being pretty obvious about it as well, with her cleavage emphasized dead center. Rather crass, actually. Standard Hollywood sexism stuff, especially as he probably has close to 20 years on her.
What happened to the song you had? Did you figure out later I was just referencing the chorus? lol
It was MY story. (my, my, my)
Which reminds me of a great Steven Wright joke -- "Last year we drove across the country. We switched on the driving ... every half mile ... We had one cassette tape to listen to on the entire trip ... I don't remember what it was."
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@Sagan
In case reading about German Expressionism is a bit too dry
Nic Cage and Nosferatu (possibly the most well known film that is drenched in German Expressionism)
Although, German Expressionism has influenced many a film maker, Cage’s use can border on satire.
In case reading about German Expressionism is a bit too dry
Nic Cage and Nosferatu (possibly the most well known film that is drenched in German Expressionism)
Although, German Expressionism has influenced many a film maker, Cage’s use can border on satire.
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I used to have a T-shirt from the movie. Maybe still do somewhere. The place where I was working in LA got it from Hemdale, which went bankrupt half a decade later. As if it was kissed by a real vampire.
No, that's not Nicolas Cage.
combatentropy
Veteran
It was Nicolas Coppola.
Hey, sorry gents, I haven't received email notifications about this thread for a few days now...??
Anyway, I'll just respond en masse by posting this pic of Nicolas Cage, as he would look if he finally decided to grow up, accept his age, and ditch the "young" hairstyle. And stop doing bad dye jobs on his his beard.
Anyway, I'll just respond en masse by posting this pic of Nicolas Cage, as he would look if he finally decided to grow up, accept his age, and ditch the "young" hairstyle. And stop doing bad dye jobs on his his beard.
I agree with your "Can't-look-awaying" thing, James. As in when you see a jerk being a jerk but not realising he looks like a jerk, and won't stop being a jerk even after people have told him not to be one.
I always thought Cary Grant's way of speaking was just his British accent plus a personal habit. He never sounded as if he was trying to imitate someone else. Cage always sounds like he's trying for a "voice", and it's annoying and distracting.
That would be alright if German expressionism was a "style" that suited the characters he plays. But he never seems to play the same style each time. It always seems to me like an invented manner, purely for the sake of being "different". Trouble is, it's always the same.
Well that's probably the issue, James. If he really is trying to do that, then it should be obvious to him by now that it doesn't really work, people just think he's odd and annoying, (I'm sure I'm not the only one).
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I see what you are saying.
