But then I saw Joe, David Gordon Green's drama about a guy named Joe that hates cops, people who shoot him, and homeless dads that beat their hard working sons. The film itself is fantastic, but the fucking incredible performance by Cage is what sends this already great film over the top. His character is one filled with regret, constantly having to keep his rage at bay. Even with small bursts of violence, Cage is actually quite nuanced in the film, filled with bits of odd humor and great humility that only someone like Cage can deliver.
I've met numerous people in the past few years who've never known Cage to be anything other than a joke. Granted, these people are children compared to my old age, but they've only known him as the man who saved the Declaration of Independence, or this. Or, as I mentioned earlier, as the star of numerous recent films that look and feel as if they were made 15 years ago. So I can't blame them, really. And to be fair, I also enjoy watching Cage in a film called Rage as much as the next guy. Shit, The Wicker Man is one of the all time great "How does this exist?" films, top to bottom.
But when Cage goes and delivers one of his best performances and reminds people that he really is the shit, I expect people to take notice. Yet Joe came and went. Honestly, I get it. It's a small independently made film, and was never going to get a huge release. And Green, when not working with the likes of Seth Rogen or Danny McBride, tends to make realistic and unsettling films that rarely reach mainstream audiences. But damnit, the film was great, and was even met with high praise (!) from the film community.
So what the fuck? Even with all the shit that has made up his career the last 15 years or so, Cage seems to come back every few years with a genuinely great performance. For every Windtalkers, there's an Adaptation. Bangkok Dangerous sucks, you say? How about Matchstick Men? "But Jordan, Captain Corelli's Mandolin was terrible!" "Fuck you, Lord of War is great!" Ok fine, those are all at least 10 years old. Well, he was amazing and hilarious in Kick-Ass, and his reprisal of Ghost Rider in Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance was the kind of lunacy that us true Cage fans know and love.
Why then is this beloved icon sitting in Hollywood's shitter? And before you say " Well he did it to himself, not paying taxes blah blah blah." Fuck that. Hollywood loves a comeback, and Cage's performance in Joe is just that, even though he never actually stopped being great.
Look, I guess all I'm saying is, please don't forget about the Cage. Don't forget how good he can be. How funny he can be. How fucking insane he can be. The man is a legend, and he deserves to be treated as such.
