Nicolas Cage Wonders What Kind Career James Dean Would Have If He Hadn't Died At 24: "I Would Have Liked To See Some Of His Mistakes"
Nicolas Cage wishes the world had seen some of James Dean's mistakes.
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent actor is a huge admirer of Dean and he wonders what else the Hollywood legend would have done in his career had he not died in a tragic crash aged 24 in 1955, with only three movies under his belt, East of Eden, Rebel Without a Cause and Giant.
Cage told Empire magazine: "When I think about my heroes, like James Dean, what would he have done? He was robbed from us too early.
"He has a perfect career because he only got to make three moves. If you're in the game for 50 years, you're going to start making mistakes, but that's okay. I would have liked to see some of his mistakes."
The Oscar winner, 58, also reflected on his career change in the mid-1990s when he was seen more as an action hero with roles in blockbusters like The Rock, Con-Air and Face/Off.
However, Cage insisted while it was "a dream", he has other ambitions at this point in his own life and career.
He explained: "Well, it was a dream come true. An adolescent dream, but a dream nonetheless. I wanted to do that which I was told I was not capable of.
"It's not where my heart is now. My heat is in the movies we talked about earlier, like the Kore-eda films, but I am eclectic. I will keep mixing it up."
When it comes to his inspirations, Cage noted he will watch "anything" with James Cagney and Bette Davis, while his more contemporary influences include Cate Blanchett.
He added: "I'm also looking at a lot of Japanese movies, particularly [Hirokazu] Kore-eda.
"His picture Like Father, Like Son ripped my heart out. I think those actors are the best in the world right now.
"There's a cinéma vérité style to the performances where I feel like I'm in the room with them but they don't know I'm there."
Cage's new movie, Renfield, a horror-comedy where he plays Dracula, opens in cinemas on Apr 13.
— BANG SHOWBIZ
Photos: TPG News/Click Photos
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