Considering Nic Cage.

"Bangkok Dangerous," the second U.S. film from Hong Kong sibling directorial team the Pang brothers, isn't being screened for critics -- this leaked clip provides a pretty good explanation as to why. Regardless, "Bangkok Dangerous" is a remake of an unexceptional Asian action flick of the same name (the Pangs' 1999 debut) notable for being about a deaf-mute Thai street urchin turned assassin who, in this new rendering, is neither deaf nor mute nor Thai, but who is played by Nicolas Cage. The awesome shamelessness of Cage's recent career has lead a few writers to giddily reflect on the once critically adored actor. Dave White at MSNBC compares him to Michael Caine, explaining that "Back in the day, it was an easy assertion that Michael Caine was the hardest working actor alive. And the least reliable marquee name." White's actually all about late Cage, who he deems the "anti-Sean Penn"...

“Bangkok Dangerous,” the second U.S. film from Hong Kong sibling directorial team the Pang brothers, isn’t being screened for critics — this leaked clip provides a pretty good explanation as to why. Regardless, “Bangkok Dangerous” is a remake of an unexceptional Asian action flick of the same name (the Pangs’ 1999 debut) notable for being about a deaf-mute Thai street urchin turned assassin who, in this new rendering, is neither deaf nor mute nor Thai, but who is played by Nicolas Cage. The awesome shamelessness of Cage’s recent career has lead a few writers to giddily reflect on the once critically adored actor.

Dave White at MSNBC compares him to Michael Caine, explaining that “Back in the day, it was an easy assertion that Michael Caine was the hardest working actor alive. And the least reliable marquee name.” White’s actually all about late Cage, who he deems the “anti-Sean Penn” — “if I never saw him in any ‘quality’ movie again it would be too soon.”

And then he made “The Rock,” which grossed one zillion dollars, and he was liberated from the shackles of artistic purity he’d begun gnawing at around the time of “Honeymoon in Vegas.” From that moment on Cage didn’t have a care in the world. And by that I mean he just didn’t care. Which is a nice place to be in life. You’re finally free.

Drew Tewksbury at Chicago Metromix actually pens haikus inspired by various haircuts in the Cage career.

Mac Rogers at New York‘s Vulture blog wonders “How much more abuse are we going to take?” and declares the upcoming Cage/Herzog non-remake of “Bad Lieutenant” “easily the title to beat for Batshit Craziest Flick of the Decade.”

Elsewhere, Roger Clarke at the Independent gets the straight story on Cage’s consumption of a live cockroach back in 1989′s “Vampire’s Kiss” from director Robert Bierman: ” ‘Nick ate it, chewed it, and after the shot spat what was left out and took a shot of vodka.’ Bierman asked him to do it again. ‘In fact the second take wasn’t so good, and the cockroach didn’t move enough.’ “

[Photo: "Bangkok Dangerous," Lionsgate, 2008]

+ Nicolas Cage: The anti-Sean Penn (MSNBC)
+ Hair today…gone tomorrow (Chicago Metromix)
+ Are We Approaching a Nicolas Cage Tipping Point? (New York)
+ Story of the Scene: ‘Vampire’s Kiss’ (1989) (Independent)