Nicolas Cage. Biography. Cult Icon or Genius Actor?

«Everything will not be as we decide. Everything will be when we decide».— Nicolas Cage

He is one of the most unrestrained actors in Hollywood history. His name has become synonymous with unrestrained passion for cinema. This book reveals all facets... of the Nicolas Cage phenomenon — from Oscar-winning triumphs to the status of «king of strange roles».

Film critic and film historian Ivan Afanasyev has conquered all peaks, found all national treasures, and tamed all wild hearts to analyze the entire creative path of the actor:

• Analysis of legendary roles — from «Leaving Las Vegas» to «Mandy»: how Cage turns every role into a performance.
• Ups and downs — how he made his way from Oscar-winning fame to a record holder for the «Golden Raspberries» and triumphantly returned.
• The method of his acting madness — why directors call him a genius, while viewers either love or hate him.
• The actor's crazy antics — the truth about buying a dinosaur skull, castles, and a pirate wedding.
• Financial hell — how he spent $150 million and starred in 20 bad films in a row to pay off debts.
• Redemptive horrors — how a low-budget horror film returned him to the status of a cult actor.

Ivan Afanasyev is a film critic and film scholar. He graduated from the screenwriting and film studies department of VGIK. He writes for publications such as «Rules of Life» (formerly Esquire), «Afisha», «City», «Big City», Setters Media, «KinoTV», and others.
He has also worked as a screenwriter and producer on the documentary series «Bears on the Server» by Kirill Alyokhin and has directed several short films.