Born on this Day: Nicolas Cage. Jeremy Renner.

Just realized it's been a couple of days since I've updated my blog, my bad, my bad. Anyway...so on this day, many years ago, the man, the myth, the legend that is NICOLAS CAGE came into existence. Several years later, Jeremy Renner was born with what I'd assume was relatively less bug-eyed, histrionic fanfare as he came out the womb.

So what, two actors born on the same day, you say. What's the big deal? Well I just thought this little bit of trivia actually tickled the writer's instinct in me to briefly discuss what makes these two actors such talents, but in such different ways; and showing that there really is no singular way of judging 'good acting'.

 If I'm to use the simplest of metaphors for both actors' styles, Renner is a trusty, solid anchor, Cage an explosive water mine. Both are so different in general in their acting styles, yet both stand out in every film they make, even the earlier ones in each career. You'll notice Cage in Fast Times at Ridgemont High just because it's Nic Cage. You'll have been drawn to Renner in his tiny roles in his relatively minor roles in North Country and The Assasination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford because he just stands out in a very unassuming sort of way.

Both actors' first Oscar nominations (and for Cage, his first win) perfectly exemplify the unique ways which they broke onto the Hollywood scene. Cage, having gained traction critically with his quirky, offbeat romantic heroes in Raising Arizona and Wild at Heart, parlayed that unique brand of tics, mannerisms and pure comedic energy into a devastating portrayal of a suicidal alcoholic in Leaving Las Vegas. It's the sort of 'showy' role that could be too much, but Cage makes it work entirely. Renner's mainstream breakthrough came, fittingly, in an awards season underdog that ended up winning Best Picture, The Hurt Locker. Renner's portrayal of a bomb disposal sergeant is played very close to the chest and deeply internalized. It's the very antithesis of a showy role, but he plays it perfectly. In a reserved fashion he depicts the intensity of the war situation, and his character's inability to stay away from its allure.

Both performances are great, but in such different ways. I should also note that far from dropping off after their first nominations, both actors have continued to carve solid careers after their breakthroughs. Cage had a great deal of fun after his Oscar playing every sort of ludicrous villain and hamtastic rogue, in the process choosing a few pretty terrible films, but even in those he was always interesting - and I'm fully convinced the supposedly 'unintentional' comedy of his Wicker Man performance is entirely intentional. Renner, on the other hand, has consistently made good career choices. The Marvel films of course, to provide a solid source of income, carrying intriguing films like Kill the Messenger on his back, being one of the best parts of American Hustle. He'll always have that misguided Bourne film of course, but that's hardly enough to pull me away from the fact that both these actors are some of the powerful assets to their respective films.