At the time, I thought this was a tough maneuver considering most of the movies in Cage's queue stir up some very dark themes. It really didn't look like he was in a position to do family movies any time soon.
Now comes the news Cage has pulled out of 'Trespass', the thriller directed by Joel Schumacher, co-starring Nicole Kidman, in which Cage was to play a husband who, with his wife (Kidman), is taken hostage when burglars invade his home.
I don't understand the decision. While clearly not a family movie,'Trespass' might have represented a move to material with a more mature tone than most of Cage's recent efforts -- something which would have supported a move to family movies in years to come.
In 'Trespass' Cage would have been a loving husband. His wife is a beautiful woman. He defends his home. There are no deals with the devil, it isn't loaded with CGI and explosions, and Cage doesn't portray a killer, ex-con, or a biker whose skull shoots flames. He would have played a man married to Nicole Kidman -- a good thing for a guy looking to be in family movies.
His character in 'Trespass' was certainly more wholesome than the one he plays in the upcoming 'Drive Angry 3D' (pictured): a father bent on vengeance after his daughter is murdered. The same could be said for 'The Hungry Rabbit Jumps' which, while it sounds like a family movie that features a cute hungry bunny rabbit, is about a husband (Cage) who seeks (that's right) vengeance after his wife is assaulted. The list of Cage's upcoming roles reads much the same with the exception of voice work in the animated comedy-adventure 'The Croods', and the pending family comedy 'The Courtship of Eddie's Father' (which is so far off it may not happen).
Cage is in bad-boy mode in about everything he has in the next few years. 'Trespass' was potentially a refreshing change for him. Schumacher always makes his characters three-dimensional, playing up the emotional and psychological sides of stories, and Cage would have looked very good as a husband protecting a very lovely wife. The movie, if production continues (word is Liev Schreiber has been offered Cage's role), may turn out to be a character-driven psych-thriller that both teens and adults can sink their teeth into.
Before pulling out of the project completely, Cage decided he would rather play one of the thieves. Hmm? I'm sorry. Could you run that past me again? That's right -- first Cage was set to play the good guy -- the hubby opposite a beautiful Nicole Kidman -- then he wants to be one of the crooks who jeopardizes the happy couple. So, in one fell swoop, he goes from lovable/huggable family guy to crazed/desperate loner guy. One day he's married to the lovely Kidman, the hero who bravely defends her, the next day he's a home invasion specialist, a nefarious nutcase who menaces Nicole and her (actor yet to be named) husband.
Well. This doesn't make sense for someone positioning themselves to become the next Jimmy Stewart. But, all in all, I don't think it really makes any difference. That's right. I'm thinking Nicolas Cage should keep playing the bad guy. It's not a bad thing. It's earned him a fortune and he's really good at it. Besides, given a few more years and a few more edgy dark roles as men hell-bent on revenge or vengeance or to somehow settle the score, it's not plausible that audiences will be able to accept Cage in family movies anyway. So, why fight it?
Nicolas Cage is probably best and most appealing to audiences when his character is a man who goes up against incredible odds and utilizes extreme measures to combat very bad people in order to right a wrong, especially when a spouse or child or other family member has been hurt or is threatened.
He may be a little confused about what kind of role he wants right now. He may say he wants to do family pictures but it seems like he has issues with that. Something tells me 'Trespass' would still be a go if Cage had originally taken a role as one of the bad guys (the script calls for two). In fact, the movie could have been a gem if Cage was the only bad guy. I can see him now -- the conflicted thief who only wanted to do a by-the-numbers smash and grab job but finds himself saddled with hostages -- people he doesn't want to hurt but who can identify him and send him to prison if he lets them live. Dilemma anyone? Intellectual and dramatic thriller anyone? I think audiences would have loved that. Could have been statuette-worthy.
Cage should let someone else do family movies, and stick to playing the guy who, although seeking vengeance, has a heart of gold and is doing it for all the right reasons. That's what we expect from him. That's the Nicolas Cage we love. Besides, it's probably a bit late in the day for a radical change in the type of roles he takes. I'm betting, deep down, Cage wants to play the lovable bad guy working his way through a difficult situation. Look how 'Trespass' shook out.
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