Scan barcode
thomasindc's review
1.0
DNF. I got to page 97 out of 220 pages of content in this book, and the writer made me work to get there.
This is a shallow recounting of Cage’s filmography. If you would like pages spelling out summaries of Cage’s films loosely connected by biographies of the various people directing, writing, and casting them, you may enjoy it. Very little of Cage’s personal life is covered. Very little of what informs Cage’s decisions is covered. The writer often suggests things very boldly with not much in the way of evidence — thankfully these are typically opinions, but it still feels odd.
The writing is shoddy. Maybe I’m on high alert for adverbs having just finished Strunk and White’s The Elements of Style and King’s On Writing, but wow! The author loves writing sentences like, “Hugh Wilson never really fit into Hollywood…” (that’s the hum-dinger that made me put the book down). At 97 pages, you could build a little home for yourself with all the “never reallies” in this book. I never really liked that phrase!
You know what else ‘never really’ satisfaction’d me? The pattern of sentences. The writing here feels reportorial, but not in a New York Times or David Simon way. It feels like writing where the author is paid by the word, and the sentences written as such. They are repetitive, and the structure repeats itself over and over again.
I’m annoyed, I’ll admit. Cage’s career is interesting! It beggars belief that this book is so dry and boring. For all the talk of Cage’s karate kicks and high-energy, I’m not sure this book would kick if you hit its knee with one of Gallagher’s hammers.
This is a shallow recounting of Cage’s filmography. If you would like pages spelling out summaries of Cage’s films loosely connected by biographies of the various people directing, writing, and casting them, you may enjoy it. Very little of Cage’s personal life is covered. Very little of what informs Cage’s decisions is covered. The writer often suggests things very boldly with not much in the way of evidence — thankfully these are typically opinions, but it still feels odd.
The writing is shoddy. Maybe I’m on high alert for adverbs having just finished Strunk and White’s The Elements of Style and King’s On Writing, but wow! The author loves writing sentences like, “Hugh Wilson never really fit into Hollywood…” (that’s the hum-dinger that made me put the book down). At 97 pages, you could build a little home for yourself with all the “never reallies” in this book. I never really liked that phrase!
You know what else ‘never really’ satisfaction’d me? The pattern of sentences. The writing here feels reportorial, but not in a New York Times or David Simon way. It feels like writing where the author is paid by the word, and the sentences written as such. They are repetitive, and the structure repeats itself over and over again.
I’m annoyed, I’ll admit. Cage’s career is interesting! It beggars belief that this book is so dry and boring. For all the talk of Cage’s karate kicks and high-energy, I’m not sure this book would kick if you hit its knee with one of Gallagher’s hammers.
graywild's review
informative
reflective
fast-paced
3.0
I know Nicolas Cage's work but I am not a super fan. Probably have seen around 15 of his films. Most I thought were entertaining but I always think he is an over the top type of actor. The author does a decent job of talking about his films along with a little context about the time and of his fellow peer actors. The author definitely thinks he is a better actor than I think. Nice little read for vacation.
ripleytide's review
4.0
The book is a well constructed and surprisingly informative timeline of filmmaking from the 80s onward. Perfectly balanced historical research and bizarre details about Cage to keep readers engaged. Great light reading.
read_byred's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
4.0
Do you like Nic Cage? Read/listen to this book!
livrad's review
3.0
The Age of Cage is a profile of Nicholas Cage's four decade-long career, and to a lesser extent, it is a lens for looking at the changes in the film industry, the world outside of film, how production studios and audiences have evolved, how genres have risen/fallen/combined in movies, and how other actors have kept relevant (or not) over similarly long careers.
The book starts with Cage both struggling against his Coppola legacy and yet continuing to work with his family, which sends mixed messages. As his career took off separate from the Coppola name, the walk through his filmography was a real reminder of how, despite being a more recent meme star and absent from theatrical releases, Nick Cage has never "phoned in" an acting job. Some of his character choices have been really out of the box, even over the top, and sometimes in just outright bad movies, but he has completely dedicated himself to each role and could never be accused of taking an apathetic approach to a character. This is backed up by the backstage stories in the book of his character prep and Method dedication to a part, such as when he once had four teeth removed for a role and then refused to unbandage his face until filming started.
I appreciate the nuanced breakdown of some of Cage's on-screen choices, but when talking about his career at large or the experience of working with him, I do wish this volume would have used more first-person content. It would have been nice to hear original content from his costars and those involved in Cage's career (if not Cage himself). The style of the book is very journalistic but relies on secondary sources, or at least it seems like all of the quotes are taken from existing sources, but it isn't made clear. While it contains a lot of interesting information, there's a lack of personal connection or intimacy in the book.
Thank you #NetGalley for the advance copy of this audiobook to review.
The book starts with Cage both struggling against his Coppola legacy and yet continuing to work with his family, which sends mixed messages. As his career took off separate from the Coppola name, the walk through his filmography was a real reminder of how, despite being a more recent meme star and absent from theatrical releases, Nick Cage has never "phoned in" an acting job. Some of his character choices have been really out of the box, even over the top, and sometimes in just outright bad movies, but he has completely dedicated himself to each role and could never be accused of taking an apathetic approach to a character. This is backed up by the backstage stories in the book of his character prep and Method dedication to a part, such as when he once had four teeth removed for a role and then refused to unbandage his face until filming started.
I appreciate the nuanced breakdown of some of Cage's on-screen choices, but when talking about his career at large or the experience of working with him, I do wish this volume would have used more first-person content. It would have been nice to hear original content from his costars and those involved in Cage's career (if not Cage himself). The style of the book is very journalistic but relies on secondary sources, or at least it seems like all of the quotes are taken from existing sources, but it isn't made clear. While it contains a lot of interesting information, there's a lack of personal connection or intimacy in the book.
Thank you #NetGalley for the advance copy of this audiobook to review.
lillulu's review
4.0
Great overview of everything Nic Cage has worked on from the very start of his career. The author clearly has seen every one of his movies multiple times, so if that sounds like you, this is right up your alley.
skvllresidve's review
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
3.5
A quick rundown of Cage's filmography that does a good job of contextualizing all of his films and gives some insight into why his career is the way it is. Makes Cage even more endearing, painting a picture of a true eccentric who cares deeply about his craft, but who became too successful for his own good.
The downside to Phipps'd approach is that it ends up trading depth for breadth by covering so much so quickly. If I wasn't already a big Cagehead I'd probably give this a 4+, but I found myself wishing for a deeper dive into a smaller number of his most pivotal films.
The downside to Phipps'd approach is that it ends up trading depth for breadth by covering so much so quickly. If I wasn't already a big Cagehead I'd probably give this a 4+, but I found myself wishing for a deeper dive into a smaller number of his most pivotal films.