Most people don't think that Nicholas Cage is a great actor. That's because most people think of him as the star of such high-class fare as Ghost Rider and National Treasure. But this man has done other work that you may not have seen. He's shown real talent and versatility in his other work.



His break-out year, in my consideration, was 1987. That year, he gave us two of the great characters in cinema history. Both were totally different from one another, both had different accents, and both were incredible performances.

The first was his role as the trailer trash/convenience store thief in Raising Arizona. This was directed by the now-famous Coen Brothers and is somewhat of a cult classic. This is due in no short part to Cage and his characterization of H.I. McDonough. You'll never forget his hair.

The second film for which we had to notice Cage was Moonstruck. Cher may have won the Oscar, but Cage steals the show. He plays an Italian baker who loves opera, has a wooden hand, and a broken heart.

Recently, in spite of his blockbuster success, Cage has given great performances in smaller films such as Adaptation, Leaving Las Vegas, and Matchstick Men. His role in Adaptation, playing the self-conscious screenwriter blew me away. I really didn't believe it was him.

I'm not alone in thinking that Cage is a highly skilled and talented actor. He has a large repertoire of award nominations and wins. He was nominated for the Golden Globe for his portrayals in Leaving Las Vegas, Adaptation, and Moonstruck, which he won for Leaving Las Vegas.

So give some of Cage's good roles a try the next time you're in a video store. Or you can stick with Ghost Rider. But you know what I'd choose.