Jessica Lange presenting Nicolas Cage the Oscar® for Best Actor for his performance in "Leaving Las Vegas" at the 68th Academy Awards® in 1996. Introduced by host Whoopi Goldberg.
Cage was a great actor, our younger contemporaries don't know control of emotions, they don't know what is research, they don't actually care if something is true or not...just spoil the person's reputation first, then let's not see if it was true or not...even the biggest news channels, tabloids do the same...most people seem to be getting stupider or not in line with the progress smarter people are making ...most people now have attention spans of not more than 2 minutes, and as I have said this, everyone will insult me as well, since most of them are vindictive considering life didn't treat them well due to lack of intelligence
Right? I really respect that. Because I know the actors in that room definitely didn't think Nick should have won. Or atleast imo I don't think they did?. So her standing and making others stand is a moment of true friendship and compassion. Don't matter wether she was a co star or not. That's a commendable moment.
@@joshuat5140 Well she knows how hard it is to embody a role to the point you no longer see the person you know but the character he plays and she appreciates his effort. Nic deserved it undoubtedly.
A lot of people are talking about "forgetting he won and Oscar" but it's not just that, he won one, get nominated to another, had a lot of highly praised performances, was an A lister that starred in a lot of big action movies
If you've seen Leaving Las Vegas you'd know this was a much deserved oscar. The first 15 mins is the greatest opening to a movie ever and sealed the deal for Cage's Oscar.
It's clear that many people in the comments section have not seen Leaving Las Vegas. Nicolas Cage does have a tendency to star in a lot of crappy movies, but when he's on, damn right he is ON. He managed to deliver one of the greatest Oscar-Winning performances ever. His performance as Ben Sanderson is tragic, heartbreaking, and haunting. For those who are bashing this win and haven't seen this film, watch it because he is still a good actor regardless of the crap he's starred in nowadays.
I was CEO of Lumière, the company that solely produced and financed "Leaving Las Vegas." I will never forget the night at the Oscars when Nic won the Best Actor award, and it was a thrill that he thanked my company during his acceptance speech.
The best movie Nicolas ever starred in. You can say whatever you want about him, about his acting career that went all the way down someday, but the way he portrayed Ben in this film is beyond measure. The whole movie, the story in the book is way beyond measure. Some of you people will never EVER fully understand the whole concept unless you have been through experience of being a full-blown, desperate and totally suicidal alcoholic. And my oh my, I hope you will never have.
Cyril Ivanov so your saying that you have to be a suicidal to understand his brilliance. That’s pretty dumb. He won that Oscar because people think he acted well in that movie which I agree with.
"I hope that there will be more encouragement for alternative movies where we can experiment and fast forward into the future of acting." Spoiler alert: there wasn't. Cage remains, as Ethan Hawke said, "the only actor since Marlon Brando that's actually done anything new with the art of acting." And he's taken endless shit for it, from critics from journalists from the public. That someone in the performing arts can't innovate and experiment and be creative without being mocked for it is a sad commentary on society. Still, he courageously remains true to himself and is still "the only actor since Marlon Brando that's actually done anything new with the art of acting." As a result he is by far the most entertaining and thrilling movie performer.
While I understand the point you are making, I feel you cant deny Daniel Day Lewis's method acting talent as arguably the greatest ever. I also feel certain movies, not necessarily actors, do experiment in acting i.e. the movie Her. It was such an original experimental storyline even if one did not like the movie.
@@DBBMed right, he’s great at it, but method acting is far from a “new” or “innovative” development in the field. It’s undeniable that guys like D.D. Lewis are powerhouses in the acting world and they deserve respect, but they don’t exactly offer a “new” take on the acting process in the same way that Nic Cage does
Since I was young, I had thought Nicolas Cage was all action and guns. When I watched Leaving Las Vegas, I was so totally moved by his and Elisabeth Shue's performances! They were incredible! He really deserved this one, regardless of what he became lately.
Read the book as well. The movie is excellent, but the book is (1). way different, (2). Explains alot that the film didn't and couldn't, (3). O'Brien was one of the most underrated of American authors. Imagine if he would've stuck around for all the acclaim.
Those of you dissing Nicholas Cage for winning this oscar, clearly haven't seen 'Leaving Las Vegas.' What a masterpiece. Brilliant and unique acting by Cage! And Shue.
The most truthful and vicious portrayal of the most depressing outcome of alcoholism there is. Watching this movie might make you think twice about partying. Lived it, know it, respect it.
I'm watching this movie right now for the first time....say what you will about Nicholas Cage, but he will always be able to say: "I, Nicholas Cage, have won the Oscar for Best Actor".
A great performance 100% worthy of an Oscar. But Shue should've won as well. She transcended from being an actress by not acting but feeling the entire part. Such a towering performance. Probably one the greatest I've ever seen.
No, he's an actual individual who says a big 'fuck you' to all the toolboxes out there. Like you, it would seem, who can't see past the end of your nose and dismiss anyone who thinks and lives outside the small-minded constraints of generic sensibilities 'insane'.
Prior to Leaving Las Vegas, Cage did 23 movies (not counting being an extra in Fast Times at Ridgemont High). 14/23 had positive reviews, 2 were nominated for multiple Academy Awards (Moonstruck & Peggy Sue Got Married), he was received 2 Golden Globe Nominations (Moonstruck, Honeymoon in Vegas), and 8/23 made a profit at the Box Office) Post Leaving Las Vegas(1996) to Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (2011), Cage did 34 movies. 13/34 had positive reviews, 25/34 made a profit at the Box Office, he received 1 nomination for Best Actor (Adaptation) by Academy, Golden Globe, etc), and 1 movies nominated for Best Picture (Adaptation). From 2012 to present, Cage has been in 24 movies. 8/24 have positive reviews, 4/24 have made a profit at the Box Office, 16/24 are Video on Demand/Direct to Video films, and no awards to speak of. So in summary, Cage's career has been a rollercoaster of sorts with ups and downs in different categories. 35/81 (43%) of his movies have positive reviews (pre-IRS problems was 54%), 37/81 (46%) have made a profit (pre-IRS problems was 59%), 2 nominations by Academy Award for Best Actor (1 win), and 4 Golden Globe nominations (2 Best Actor, 2 Best Supporting Actor) winning once. Verdict : Not elite, but has had a solid acting career spanning 35 years and an Academy Award to prove it.
I'm literally re-watching Leaving Las Vegas and I'm balling my eyes out at the sheer acting.. but also just how touching and convincing both of their performances are.. I'm only half way in and I forgot how powerful this movie was! I just had to take a small break and re-watch him winning an Oscar for his work. I'm sure Sean Penn didn't bother to show up because he also knew Nic's performance was just too good. Watch this movie again! And if you've never.. oh my god.. watch it tonight!
@@thecollector427 He also made a great performance in Joe. He was also very good in Lord Of War and Matchstick Men and several others. The man really can act.
Nicolas Cage is just a total film nerd who loves acting. He gives it his all every time. Even the less than desirable roles. He never phones it in, and that’s why we salute him.
Leaving Las Vegas is one of my favourite movies and I'm glad that Nic got an Oscar for this role. But Elisabeth Shue is a revelation for me and one of my favourite actresses as well.
This performance, along with de Niro in Raging Bull , Hillary Swank in Boys Dont Cry and Daniel Day Lewis in Lincoln, was extremely good. He almost made me drunk by just looking at him. When you get the audience emotionally involved like this you deserve the award
He was nominated in 2002 for Adaptation (which is was great in). However, that year had stiff competition with Daniel Day-Lewis, Adrian Brodie, and Jack Nickelson
His performance was brilliant, and it was because of her. He was right to share that award with Elizabeth Shue, and with Mike Figgis. Together they made a Genius film.
Adaptation, Moonstruck, Matchstick Men, Raising Arizona and this film feature some of the greatest performances of all time. I don't think we should judge him for some of the films he has done for a paycheck. Remember he lost a lot of money in that Bernie Madoff thing and we don't know what life for him is like. I think for every Left Behind he does, he tries to do a good film like Joe to compensate. Way to go, Nicolas Cage!
I think everyone has a "most hated Nicolas cage film that makes us hate him "...after watching ghost rider 2,i told to myself. Really? Was this the guy from Adaptation?
I think he still does a lot of good movies. Kick Ass, Seeking Justice, Knowing, Bad Lieutenant, The Frozen Ground, Joe, The Trust, Snowden, and Dog Eat Dog. These are all movies he did in the last ten years that I thought were pretty good. Although Rage, Left Behind, and Outcast were complete and utter garbage.
ive seen Nixon but not Dead Man Walking i want to though and might rent it soon or something and yes Hopkins was great as Nixon of course you know Penn went on to win 2 oscars for Mystic River and Milk which i feel are overrated performances having said that i do like Sean Penn a lot
ive now seen Dead Man Walking and i still feel Nic Cage was better there was so much going on in the performance to play an alcoholic like that was truly an artist at work it was amazing
I'm happy he won 1 Oscar in his career, didn't know he did. I thought he was one of those really good actors that never got to win one just like DiCaprio, Cruise and Carrey. But I'm glad he did, I find him to be a great talent, although he's not starring in great movies these days. Btw another great actor who sadly wasn't even there at the Oscars that year but made it to be nominated anyways is Massimo Troisi, as shown in the video. I admire and respect him a lot and he was another great actor.
Cage is one of the most underrated actors ever. People see him as a guy who does nothing but overreact but I see a talented actor and a charismatic man.
@H.K.5 He's been in many a great movie too mind. Moonstruck, Kick-ass, Con-air, Adaptation, Lord Of War, Raising Arizona, Wild At Heart, 8MM, Bringing Out the Dead, Leaving Las Vegas. Then there's othere that I think are a lot of fun like Face-Off, It Could Happen To You, The Rock & The Family Man. Cage is nearly always great to watch even in his crap movies.
Nic Cage's problem is that he's a quirky character actor at heart with some serious dramatic chops, but Hollywood tried to turn him into an action star after movies like The Rock and Con Air. That, plus his financial problems, led to him taking every shit role he could find, and that's where he is today even though he really is a great actor when he's in the right role
I watched Leaving Las Vegas just a month back. I hadn’t googled about the movie. I saw no reviews prior to watching it. It was on my laptop and I just saw it. The film started out good, meandered into okay-ness and it was good overall at the end. But I was just completely minblown and emotionally shattered by Nicholas Cage’s performance. And I thought to myself as the movie was running, “this certainly is an easy Oscar worthy performance” and after the movie ended was I glad to see that it had gotten a great a deal of recognition not to mention an Oscar for Nic Cage’s performance!
I suppose it's arguable but once he got consistent with his shitty movies, that's when he went down the drain. Anyway, it was over a decade later so I don't see any immediacy.
Jack Mancuso Subject's acting skills remain hidden so it is not surprising subject "went bankrupt." Entire career has been "bankrupt" but those who can't see it are the folk who couldn't find New York City if they landed in Brooklyn.
Massimo was literally dying during production of IL Postino - it’s an incredible performance considering that ever scene his is in was the first of second take.
Look we all know Penn is a great actor, but Cage deserved the win. This was his best work in a film. Leaving las Vegas is such a great, dark memorable movie. The music in it really great also btw.
Nicolas Cage deserves another nomination this year for his performance in Pig. After years of questionable movies (with nice roles along the way) we finally got a career-rejuvenating performance!
What's interesting about the 1996 Oscar winners for lead acting (Susan Sarandon & Nicolas Cage) is that their then-spouses would later go on to win Oscars for supporting roles - Tim Robbins for "Mystic River" (2003) and Patricia Arquette (3:07) for "Boyhood" (2014)
I really miss these old movies. I actually watched Leaving Las Vegas last week for the first time in 20 years and this came in my recommendation page. Google is watching everybody...EVERYBODY!
Agreed. If it aint cool the lets rip apart peoples hard work because we are so thick we don;t understand it. Cage done alot of great roles way before this
I really enjoyed Nicolas Cage in Leaving Las Vegas and that has nothing to do nor can be compared to what he's been doing now... But Massimo Troisi?... The Postman was one of the most moving movies I've ever seen in my life and he was an amazing actor, he was sick during the movie and he postponed his surgery to finish the film and he died 12 hours after the last scene. That is commitment and true passion, and you could see it in that performance, I will never forget him.
Nic can act well, he can also act the fool and he can act weird. No doubt about it when you have talent and the freedom to express it, the fearlessness to reveal your character traits (even the dark ones), the willingness to make mistakes and learn from them you have Nic Cage
