The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022) – That’s High Praise!
Although I can’t prove it – at least not yet – I have a theory that James Franco, Bruce Willis, and Nicholas Cage made a bet ten years ago to see which one of them could successfully act in literally every single movie. In all seriousness, though, per a quick glance at his filmography listed on IMDB.com, Cage has been in nearly forty films since 2012, and he has what appears to be at least five more coming out before the end of 2022. That is quite a pace! Even for those with a cinematic appetite on par with us here at MovieSlap, that’s a tall order to try and keep up. We’ve certainly seen quite a few along the way, though, and today we focus on what I consider one of Cage’s best in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent.
Let’s face it, if you’re going to get the ONE person who could play the fictionalized version of Nicolas Cage – “Nick Cage” – and absolutely crush it, then you’d probably get…Tom Hardy. But if Tom Hardy were, for some reason, not available or had a conflict, then waiting in the wings, ready to capture every nuance, quirk and classic facial expression of the real McCoy, is, logically speaking, the incomparable Daniel Day Lewis. As fate would have it, however, after filming Phantom Thread (2017), the guy just flat quit the profession. Can you believe that? But thankfully (and miraculously, given how busy he’s been lately!), Nicolas Cage happened to be available, and here we have, at long last – The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent!
Over the last 100 years of movie history, there have been hundreds of recognizable, even household name, actors, but when it comes to true icons of cinema, the list is far shorter. It is my opinion that Nicolas Cage is on such a list, and while he does tend to throw a whole lot of sh*t against the wall these days to see what sticks, what does stick, sticks well. Here we have Nick Cage (Cage) a bit unenthusiastically contemplating an offer for one million dollars to attend the birthday party of an overseas superfan. On the heels of an impromptu audition for a role he covets that did not go his way, he is talked into accepting the birthday invitation. But there is only one problem – the superfan has an unflattering reputation as a dangerous individual. Said individual, “Javi Gutierrez”, is portrayed by Pedro Pascal (The Mandalorian, Narcos) and while he doesn’t necessarily steal the show, he does steal the scene on several occasions, and the synergy between himself and Cage is undeniable.
While even those new to Cage will be able appreciate and have a great time with Massive Talent, those who are familiar with his past roles and films will surely enjoy all the callbacks, quotes, and references. Joining in the fun in supporting roles are Neil Patrick Harris (Doogie Howser, MD, How I Met Your Mother, Starship Troopers), and stand-up comedian-turned-actor Tiffany Haddish. Needless to say, I absolutely loved it. It was thoroughly entertaining, well-written, and a wonderful homage to the man himself – Nicolas Cage. Currently in theaters, it’s a trip worth taking.
Score: 8.7/10
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Pedro Pascal, Tiffany Haddish, and Sharon Horgon
To see our movie reviews, check here; to see our TV series reviews, check here.