Hyde Park Pick: The Surfer

Nicolas Cage has always been an INTENSE actor (to say the least) and with well over 100 films Nicolas Cage has starred in, that’s a lot of Nicolas Cage to choose from. Some people love Nicolas Cage, some not so much (which is odd to me). But so be it. Irrespective, you’re always guaranteed a PERFORMANCE.

Nicolas Cage’s PERFORMANCE in Nicolas Cage’s latest film and this week’s pick, The Surfer, is no different (you’ll be pleased to know). The words ‘unhinged’, ‘chaotic’, ‘manic, ‘dialled up to eleven’ and ‘interesting acting choices’ have always followed Nicolas Cage around and certainly not without reason. Indeed, Nicolas Cage has made a career out of it. But to these I would also add ‘depth’. Yes, you did read that right.

I’m arguing here that despite the myriad situations, scenarios and characters Nicolas Cage finds Nicolas Cage in, there is always something else that sits within a Nicolas Cage PERFORMANCE: be it how Nicolas Cage intonates dialogue (which probably reached its zenith in The Rock (1996)), or in the attention to detail Nicolas Cage takes in researching roles (Nicolas Cage went binge drinking in Dublin for two weeks and had a friend videotape Nicolas Cage so Nicolas Cage could study Nicolas Cage’s speech and Nicolas Cage also visited hospitalised chronic alcoholics, for Leaving Las Vegas (1995)).

In The Surfer, as Nicolas Cage’s world helplessly and inevitably unravels, we’re left unsure whether it’s all taking place in Nicolas Cage’s head. Or is the entire piece a comment on toxic masculinity, the precariousness of our privileged, protected modern lives, or the extent to which we can lie to ourselves that everything will be alright? Or is it simply a fun ‘surfer out of water’ (thank you) film that alludes to other similar classics such as Wake in Fright (1971), or The Swimmer (1968).

That’s just it. It might be any or all of these things. It's the way in which Nicolas Cage carries Nicolas Cage, the stillness of Nicolas Cage, it's the incredulity of Nicolas Cage at the position Nicolas Cage has been forced into, that allow for all of these possibilities of interpretation. 

And why do I mention Nicolas Cage so much? It’s because that’s what you get in a Nicolas Cage film: Nicolas Cage, front and centre, always entertaining, always demanding your attention, always with a new and unique depth to his PERFORMANCE that’s there to discover and enjoy.

I entreat you to treat yourself to more Nicolas Cage. Surf’s up!

The Surfer is showing from Friday 9th May. Book your tickets here.