There are three things I try to avoid bringing up at parties: politics, religion, and Nic Cage. All of those topics will invariably leave me embroiled in a bitter argument with the people around me. See, Nic Cage is my favorite actor. I don’t think he’s necessarily the best actor of all time, though I will vehemently defend the fact that he has turned in some of the best individual performances ever. But damned if I wouldn’t want to watch him over anyone else.

This is not an opinion shared by most people. There is actually a surprisingly large (and quite vocal) contingent of celluloid junkies who also worship at the Cage altar (our own Oh Mars, I believe, included). However a majority of folks will laugh when I sing his praises. Eventually, when I finally convince them I’m not kidding, they’ll become inexplicably angry.

Then I’ll end up having to sit there for, like, an hour while they get continuously more worked up as I counter their Ghost Rider with Wild At Heart, or The Wicker Man with Red Rock West. But as many amazing films as I bring up, I can never seem to actually bring anyone into the fold. Fighting the good fight on Cage’s behalf can be difficult. Partly this is because, though I certainly have seen more of it than your average joe, I’m not 100% familiar with his oeuvre.

So I suppose, to an extent, I am a bullshitter. After all, how can I truly defend the Cage man without truly knowing the Cage man. Which brings me to my main point: The 66 Days Of Cage. In what is perhaps the greatest undertaking of any kind in the history of human existence, a true distillation of the fruits of our labor as a species, I will be watching all 66 of Nicolas Cage’s films in chronological order. And I will have an awesome time doing it.

I’m leaving it all on the field for this one. No pussyfooting around. No “only starring roles” ludicrousness. I’m talking everything from his debut appearance as an extra in Robert Redford’s Brubaker, to his Oscar winning turn in Leaving Las Vegas, to the February release of Drive Angry 3D, and everything in between.

It’ll undoubtedly be tough at times. I might get tired, and I might get hungry. I might get really bad hair. But no matter the trials I may face, in 66 days I will have reached Nic Cage apotheosis. I’m getting my PhD in Cage. So follow me friends, as I will be giving you (at least) weekly updates on my journey. My thoughts, my reviews, my varying levels of insanity. It’s gonna be a hell of a thing.

All Posts: Intro, Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10.

- Whole Milk