Saying that Nicolas Cage is unpredictable is likely one of the largest understatements anybody could make. Whereas Cage has confirmed himself to be an exceptional actor, notably lately, most individuals will bear in mind him from the web memes that includes his most bug-eyed, completely insane performances. Whether or not it is the notorious “I will steal the Declaration of Independence” line from Nationwide Treasure or any scene from Face/Off, the Web loves “Loopy Cage”. 25 years in the past, he confirmed that he had severe dramatic chops when he starred in The Household Man.
The Household Man begins with Jack Campbell (Cage) dwelling what seems to be the right life. He is a rich Wall Road government, he lives in a top-notch penthouse, and he is a swinging bachelor. Issues take a flip after a run-in with a mysterious man named “Money” (Don Cheadle), and Jack finds himself dwelling a suburban life the place he is married to his previous girlfriend, Kate (Téa Leoni) and has two kids. At first look, this may seem to be one more riff on It is A Great Life, but it is Cage’s efficiency that elevates the movie.
Nicolas Cage Brings A Completely different Sort of Vitality to ‘The Household Man’
All through The Household Man, Nicolas Cage has the prospect to ship a extra subdued, layered efficiency than a few of his followers may anticipate. Jack appears to be pleased in his life as a Wall Road whiz, driving his Ferrari and keen to work by means of Christmas Eve with a purpose to shut an enormous deal. It is when he receives a name from Kate that the masks cracks, and the tiniest little bit of remorse glints by means of his face. Cage can say a lot with a single look all through this movie, whether or not it is loathing or longing.
It additionally does not harm that Cage has wonderful chemistry with Cheadle and Leoni. Cheadle’s Money, not like Clarence from It is A Great Life, is extra chaotic good than good; he is first launched when he is actively attempting to rob a grocery retailer, and winds up taking Jack’s fancy life, which ends up in a traditional Cage freakout. In distinction, Cage and Leoni’s scenes are heartfelt with out being too excessive, and make you imagine that Jack and Kate have been in love for years. The ending even options Jack monitoring down Kate in his unique timeline and passionately declaring his love for her, taking the inventory “airport confession” scene from any romantic drama and really making it work.
‘The Household Man’ Was Written With Nicolas Cage in Thoughts
You’ve got most likely heard the phrase “this film was made for this particular person,” however within the case of The Household Man, it really was written with Nicolas Cage in thoughts. Screenwriters David Diamond and David Weissman unpacked the genesis of the movie with SYFY Wire, noting that they wrote the movie with Cage’s voice in thoughts. Diamond additionally stated that setting the movie at Christmastime helped additional underline the large shift in Jack’s life:
“Christmas is a time of 12 months when individuals replicate on their lives…It is the top of the 12 months, New Yr’s is coming, it is a household time. We did not got down to write a Christmas film, but it surely felt like the precise time of 12 months to set a film that had these themes … If it was just a few random week in Might, it won’t have that affect.”
Serving to carry The Household Man to life was Brett Ratner, who on the time was greatest recognized for his work on Rush Hour. The Household Man could not be extra totally different from Rush Hour, as one is a romantic drama with a contact of the metaphysical whereas the opposite is an action-packed two-hander between Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan. But Ratner says it was his favourite movie to direct, and credit Cage as a big a part of that. “Working with Nicolas Cage was one of many best experiences I’ve had working within the film trade, and everybody who I do know who has seen ‘The Household Man,’ everybody tells me how a lot they like it and the way it reminded them of their very own life in some small method,” Ratner instructed Selection in 2017.
The Household Man is extra than simply your new favourite vacation film. It is a reminder that previous all of the memes and outright bonkers performances, Nicolas Cage is a legitimately good actor.
- Launch Date
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December 12, 2000
- Runtime
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125 minutes
- Writers
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David Diamond
- Producers
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Alan Riche, Andrew Z. Davis, Armyan Bernstein, Howard Rosenman, Marc Abraham, Thomas A. Bliss
