Best buds George Service and Matthew Wright dive head first into the illustrious career of legendary actor Nicholas Cage. Each week for a whole year the boys will watch and review in chronological order the films of Nick Cage with the sole purpose of answering the question: 'Nicholas Cage, good or…
George Service, Matthew Wright
George & Matt are joined this week by Bamily's Louis Fulford-Smith for an exploration into the mysterious world of The Wicker Man. Expect genuinely mad dialogue, Fighting bears, lightning fast 6 year olds and bees ("Not The Bees!") as these brave boys dive headfirst into a Cage classic. One of the more meme-worthy movies on the list, this is not one to miss. Have any thoughts? Send us an email on gaugingthecage@gmail.com
A fierce debate is firing world wide: Just what is the deal with The Weatherman? Does this movie include the worst accent work from a legitimately good actor in the history of movies and just what the hell do you call an Icelandic weather system?! Joined by the spectacular Florien Pickering, the boys are set on course for a wild ride. One of the hottest podcasts in recent history, this is not one to be missed! Get involved! Cage? Bad? Who Knows?
Welcome to the cool out corner. A quiet record so as to not wake up some sleeping housemates this week as George & Matt dive into the very loud business of arms dealing. Joined by Lucia Garcia we go through questions like is Nicolas Cage actually an arms dealer, do sweets ever fall on the floor bottom down and can a film be narrated by Cage be bad? ALl will be discussed.... A coupe of notes upfront on this one. Matt's microphone didnt record so we had to do our best with what we had!
"I'm going to steal the Declaration of Independence."......Need we say more. Long time friend of the podcast and fan favourite Christian Cargill returns to the microphone for his, ours and your favourite movie about a treasure hunting family searching for the secrets behind America's founding fathers. We don't really need to eplain more. This is a good one and you're going to love it. Welcome aborad the Charlotte, buckle up and lets Gauge Cage!
The con is on! Sneaky Nic Cage teams up with even snaekier Sam Rockwell to pull off the con of the centuary! But who is double crossing who! Matt and George are joined by their sneakiest returning guest ever, sneak master Will Farrell. Join the gang once again for one hell of a movie, classic Life of Pi references and a surprise that no one saw coming.... Let's gauge Cage!
The project that just refuses to give up! The boys are back and do they regret it!? Matt & George sit down this time accompanied by the fantastic Jack Hawkins to watch his favourite film, 2002's Windtalkers. A truley harrowing and terrifyingly violent take on part of World War 2 in the Pasific. Cage suits up as the all action hero Ben Enders as he tries not to get blown up, learn the flute and drink just as much as he can. Fun fact, Cage sings the opening theme song....
Surely there can be nothing better than Nicolas Cage? Well how about 2 Nicolas Cages! Nicolas Cagei? We watched Adaptation and it was pretty wild. A bonkers but incredible performance around one of the most incredible scripts out there, this is peak Cage and the boys are here for it. We've made it to a new decade and the boys are feeling the run off from a tumultuous 2019 and as a result are finding it hard to put into words this incredibly complicated, multilayered and meta film. Brains are tired and only getting worse, but our boy gets us through it. Good or bad, you be the judge.
Christmas is here and the boys are celebrating with the only war movie about a mandolin player on Cephalonia starring Nicolas Cage. Joined by film and mandolin enthusiast Max Elton (previously on Episode 5) the gang dig into the film at quite some length coving suspicious accents, The Hindenburg and olives. The movie is wild with not one actor doing their own accent, but where are they really from! Find out this and much much more with a cool time with your cool friends George & Matt.
Hot damn! The boys are absolutely flying this week, no thanks to glorious guest Ranulf Kinloch-Jones and his magical resources. Tackling the 2000 venture "The Family Man", Nic Cage, George and Matt drive headlong through the world of high flying stockbrokers in New York City, a good ol' life in the Suburbs of New Jersey and terrifying audience reviews on Amazon. We have new features, a new lease of life and is that chills creeping up our spines? The Family man is a romp and the boys are along for the ride. You know the drill, Nic Cage, good or bad?
Sponsored by the Film 4 Summer Series at Somerset House. 8th-21st August 2019. Two Rogers don't make a right - That is the message given here as we speed into this episode. A couple of very sleepy boys are full of chicken and are waist deep in the 2000 action/car/romance/heist thriller Gone In 60 Seconds. Fake belly laughs, failed Bechdel Tests and 50 cars to steal in 60 seconds....or was that 3 days? George and Matt re write the script and put Nic Cage in an Avengers situation. What does it all mean? No one knows, but will Cage be good? You be the Judge, they be the Judge, I am the Judge!
This week Nic gets dealt some bad luck as he chooses to star in one of the few Martin Scorsese pictures that isn't actually that good...The boys are joined by good friend and filmmaker Will Farrell to try and figure out just what went wrong. Conversation quickly gets sidetracked as the boys talk a lot about Ellen Page, The Life of Pi and snakes. But is there anything to talk about this movie? Do the guys like Ving Rhames? And why is the world best selling tropical soul artist so damn thirsty! All will be discovered as the guys endeavour to one day find out, Nicolas Cage, good or bad? This episode was kindly and expertly recorded and produced by the lovely Jack Hawkins - so enjoy the premier sound quality.
"Snake Eyes! The house always wins!" These are the words that will echo through Matt & George's minds this week as they watch the film that could have been by Brian De Palma; Snake Eyes. For a film that has such an exciting and inventive start the movie does trip up in a lot of places and the boys are right there to lay down exactly where. This week we face non existent tidal waves, non existent swimming scenes and non existent plot points in this modern day whodunit. We see the boys create a new feature, dig out some horrific impressions and open up a can of worms with there question "where will Cage go next"? All good clean fun this week - classic Nic, classic gauging.
This week the boys settle down to watch the particularly tepid 1998 opus "City of Angels." Our guy Nic takes on the role of an angel, something which comes naturally, as he falls in love with an human doctor called Meg Ryan. For a movie that is full of talking to dogs, teleportation and absolutely no blinking it is in fact a pretty uneventful watch. But does this stop our boys? Absolutely not - firing on all cylinders George & Matt are not going to stop before they pick apart every hole in this Swiss cheese of a film.
The boys are back and more confused as ever. George is Matt and Matt is George, and the 2 guests are both no one. What the flip is going on? Only Cage knows... This week the team had the total pleasure of watching face-swapping movie "Face / Off". Feeling a little rusty the guys dive in to one of the cagiest Cage performances John Travolta has ever made. This one is full of good will, jokes about bears and is confusingly full of spoilers for other movies made in the 90's and early 2000s. You have been warned... Either way, time to stroke faces, it's Gauging The Cage!
This week George and Matt return, and for the first time ever they are outnumbered...With 3 guests to help them along surely this time these two brave boys can Gauge The Cage. If you ever listen to any episode of this ridiculous podcast let it be this one. We have tears, journeys through space, the return of Samuel L Jackson, arousal, wig conspiracies, an official reporter from the BBC, a Spanish musician and a brand new game called Bandwidth Sandwich. Con Air is a frankly ridiculous movie and it seem only fitting that wear tear it up into tiny pieces all in the aim of figuring out that age old question. Nicolas Cage good? Or Nicolas Cage bad? We decide, you decide, Cage decides.
Good lord it's been a long time since we've done one of these....George and Matt, your 2 favourite good boys are back, and this time they've dragged another good man into the mud with them. Joined by film aficionado Christian Cargill the boys are over the moon to find out that they get to escape to Alcatraz. Nic Cage has never been better with several "big" moments to let his unique acting style shine. The movie is also boasted by fan theories of Armageddon, Fabriisio from Titanic and a potential outshining from Sean Connery's sex appeal. We'll try and do another podcast soon but as ever we can't make any promises. Peace out and thanks for sticking with us. x
The boys are back! After Matt and George took quite a long hiatus surfing in Baha they are back on the Case/Cage! In answer to this the concept has now changed from every week for 52 weeks to whenever we feel like, forever. The boys will now watch every Nic Cage movie until he, or more likely they die... This week, after apologising for the lack of episodes, they apologise for some truly TERRIBLE audio quality. The movie is 8MM, and the mood is high. This week Nic investigates snuff films in the illicit world of porn, he makes friends with Joaquin Phoenix and eats revenge for breakfast. All with the sole purpose to answer the question, Nicolas Cage, good or bad? Again, sorry for the sound quality...or mic's have got lost. We will have got better ones for the next episode.
It's the big one! The one George and Matt thought would never happen. It's Nicolas Cage's Best Actor Academy Award winning performance. It's "Leaving Las Vegas." After last week's pretty wild and sassy plane episode the boys get a bit more serious and get pretty down and dirty into what this film actually is and why it's great. But fear not! They still have the good judgement to get into the benefits of working in basements the Las Vegas police department and Matt's ever worsening cough. Prepare to be bombarded with film knowledge. LET'S GET A DRINK!
The boys are back and we're coming at ya from the skies! Recorded live in an actual real live aeroplane. After knocking back more than 1 or 2 beers George, Matt and 350 other passengers watch and review the 1995 gangster flick "Kiss of Death"! As the podcast goes on the fellas are distracted by a baby in the seat in front, a Robert De Niro fan in the seat next door, and 2 past guests within shouting distance. Prepare for one of the most sidetrack-able episode ever, as the boys get 35,000 high and prepare to Gage The Cage!
George and Matt feel bad for missing a couple of weeks, so to get back up to speed they decide to take on a terrifying task. A Nic Cage double bill. The boys start this adventure with 1994 bodyguard flick "Guarding Tess." We're joined by Guarding Tess enthusiast Christian Spruit to discuss Cage's love affair with an old woman, The fellas then move swiftly onto yet more Cage with the lottery winning true story "It Could Happen To You!" Its a tough trip through the mentality of the nicest human we have ever met. Joining the gang here is the golden haired guitarist Jack Hawkins! Then as an extrea special treat, the boys also get the inside scoop from TV presenter Vic Hope who has actually met the man himself. Prepare for some big discoveries.
The boys welcome in Nic's highest rated movie with open arms! Red Rock west features a Marlboro cowboy style Cage as he navigates the perils of pretending to be an assassin. George and Matt on the other hand venture to the beach for this record and navigate the perils of high wind noise and people throwing frisbees at them. Hugely apologetic about the noise at the start the boys discuss Illumiate heaven, Nicolas Cage's new face and the sweet delicious taste of Lipton Ice Tea. In the words of Nic; "Fuck Mexico."
The boys leap into the heart of the bees nest with one of Nicolas Cage's most Cage-y performances to date! The Christopher Coppola directed Deadfall puts Nic in the centre of a Santa Monica con artist group as he struggle to deal with his addiction to poppers, wrap around sunglasses and karate chops. For the first week Matt and George are joined by their musical co host Pablo as he adds some funky fresh rhythm to the boys' talk of magic tricks, wigs and the warning of the mysterious Mr. Snippy!
Spirits are at an all time low. The boys accidentally watched an hour of the wrong movie before having to start again with the frankly pretty flat 1993 movie Amos and Andrew....safe to say it was a tough watch. As the episode continues though, the boys start to perk up. This is helped by an appearance of Elvis himself, a potential sponsorship from Nespresso and an entrance from a miniature yacht race. Can the boys keep it together? Or will George's obsession with tiny boats turn the podcast into a sinking ship.
As another week goes on the boys just keep on trucking with Nicolas Cage. This episode is all about love and laughter as the boys sit through the 1992 rom com Honeymoon in Vegas.A hungover George and Matt get pretty weird in this one as they talk R Kelly, Bruce Willis and what would happen if Bruno Mars was Batman. We also find out that Matt is a black belt in Karate.Is watching all this Nicolas Cage taking it's toll on the boys? We are soon to find out as once again, they try to answer the question, Nicolas Cage, good or bad?
Lock up your daughters, Nicolas Cage is back and it looks like he's made an erotic thriller. Armed with a mullet and a moustache Cage forces himself onto the screen and in front of George and Matt as they once again attempt to Gauge The Cage.This week the boys are joined by Spanish señorita Lucia Garcia as they discuss Cage's mysterious past life in a secret society (∆), his relationship with Madonna's laser vision and the imminent danger of killer horticulture. You best put seat belts over your ears, because were about to take them on the ride of their lives!
Hot damn! If it isn't another brilliant Nicolas Cage film thrown in front of the fellas this week. The boys' whole worlds are rocked as perceptions of Cage go from God awful to Godlike genius.Topics include snake skin jackets, capoeira dance fighting and the origins of the mysterious cult; known only as 'The Butterscotch Planes.' George and Matt once again accept the mantel of discovering the answer to the universe's only question: Nicolas Cage, good or bad?
It's the one George and Matt have been waiting for and the one film critics have been dreading ever since it came out in 1988...This week the boys are joined on the couch not only by Nicolas Cage but also by special guest Max Elton! Max makes some wild claims about Nic being a genius, describes a Vampire movie as 'fast and loose' and almost misses his train. All in the quest to put the puzzle pieces together to form the answer to the question: Nicolas Cage, good or bad?This is not one to miss.
Oh boy! The boys are back! It's late, George and Matt have just watched the frankly bizarre 'Peggie Sue Got Married' and they're feeling funky.Nic Cage stars in this high school/rom-com/drama flick that is also some how about time travel. The boys dive in deep and try to deconstruct what makes Cage's voice so weird, where he got his fancy jacket from and how he managed to loose his voice at a Kasabian concert.All with the purpose of answering the question: Nicholas Cage, good or bad?.....and trying not to fall asleep.
A big week this week as the fellas are back together again to watch the 1987 classic, Raising Arizona. From the minds of the Coen brothers, the film features Nic trying to get to grips with his criminal past, his criminal friends and his police officer wife...and to cap it off now he's just stolen a baby!The boys get excited to watch an actually good Nic Cage movie, wrestle with the concept of it being a prequel to Ghost Rider and a whole lot more as they try to once again answer the question: Nicholas Cage, good or bad?
The boys sit up at the table and tuck into another piping hot bowl of Nicholas Cage.This week George and Matt sit through the 1984 film Birdy. Set in post Vietnam America, Cage tries to help his friend Birdy, become a bird...The guys discuss important themes like time-travel, Nicholas Cage's hair pieces and his inability to age in real time....But what will the answer be? Nicholas Cage, good or bad?
In this, the first ever episode, the boys tuck into the 1980 high school flick, 'Valley Girl.'George and Matt tackle some big questions like, Nicholas Cage, good or bad? Why does he seem to only wear red shirts and leather jackets? And how come everyone's parents are the same age as their children?All with the sole purpose of delving into the raging cage that is Nicholas Cage. A film review that answers some big questions about life. What more could you want?