Nicolas Cage or Scarlett Johansson: The Better Actor?

That's sort of my feeling. Many times I've strongly disagreed with Rotten Tomatoes and their ilk, it's almost become a rule of thumb for me that the lower they rate a movie the more I'll probably like it.

@captain_batman_ftw: No, not from what I've ever watched or heard. The only one mixed performance I have heard about her is the Broadway revival of Cat On A Hot Tin Roof.

But why? Is she not convincing? Does she not act good enough to make it appear as real feelings? I don't pay so much attention to these things (unless the actor is really horrible or really good and persuading), so I don't remember anything.

The GIF is very convinving

@captain_batman_ftw: Oh a lot of people consider ScarJo a great actress, I included, I just don't know why she's being put against Cage. She's actually got a slew of good films behind her that praise her acting.

Okay.

Exactly.

How can Scarlett Johansson not be anyone's celebrity crush? She's awesome.

People actually like Nicholas Cage. Only on CV. Only on CV....

I haven't seen either movie, so I can't give a personal opinion on it. But, if the general consensus states that a movie is good, then it's generally accepted as a good movie. Also, liking a movie doesn't necessarily mean that it's good. There are some movies that I liked, but were either average or worse in terms of film quality and cinematography. Guyver 1 & 2, Mortal Kombat, Robocop 2, the first Ninja Turtles movie (film critics ripped that movie apart, too), etc.

We have differing opinions on what defines a good movie, though.

Yet, the media judges every movie based on popular vote. Not saying that you're wrong, but the entertainment business set it up that way.

@black_wreath:

Your relationship with art is a personal one, its merits are subjective and not to be determined by popular vote.

So, I can say my random scribbles on a paper is better than the Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa, or Michael Angelo's Adam's Creation because definitely better than those paintings because I say so? I can say Lil Wayne's Rebirth [please follow link] is the best rock album ever, because I say so?

Art maybe subjective, but c'mon - we all know general censuses, plays a role in what's seen as good and bad.

Cage stomps.

I like the fact Nic is winning.

Honestly? Cage.

https://youtu.be/j_WDLsLnOSM

Scarlett Johansson actually is a decent actor. Cage pics more goofy roles which gives the percepetion of him being a bad actor sometimes but he is actually pretty good. If anything stalemate.

Based on the gifs in the OP, Scarlett Johansson

Scarlett, by Lost In Translation alone. I'm hearing she outdid herself in Marriage Story and that it was 100% scripted, but I haven't watched it yet.

This shouldn't be close, as Nic Cage has some roles that are downright iconic but the man has become a parody of himself. Scarlett is quickly catching him and from all accounts she holds her own opposite Adam Driver in Marriage Story. Looking forward to that one.

SJ has two powerful reasons to be on this poll.

@anthp2000: I thought Lost in Translation was a great movie but I don't remember her performance. What did you think was so good about it?

@infantfinite128: yeah, been a while since I watched the entire film, but I think it's actually my favorite to date if I'm being honest. Definitely somewhere at the top; it's what a classic indie film should be.

As for Johansson's performance, I remember Coppola saying she casted her because she had encapsuled the subtlety required for the setting and the character or something along those lines. I think that one of the greatest aspects of the film is the quiet, artistic subtlety, and she really did manage to pull that alongside someone like Murray. By subtlety I'm mostly referring to the fact that the film isn't as theatrical as an indie film can be, but it draws you in the story with a very low-key, realistic, yet incredibly powerful feeling; that's what Scarlett did as Charlotte for me. You could see the disappointment written all over her face in the first act, you could see the expressions of her acting like a student of life and a good friend to Murray's character in the second act, and she was genuinely happy having fun with him during a playful night in Japan, with a good bit of romantic tension in the air, but just enough for it to not be sexual. And there's that iconic final scene. Her performance is backed up by very strong direction and a fantastic co star, but I still think very highly of it contributing to this movie.

Also worth noting that she got away with playing a 25 year old woman at 17.

@anthp2000: Thanks! I appreciate the extensive post.

What is its competition for your favorite movie? I'm looking for recommendations.

@infantfinite128:

All time iconic classics like 'The Green Mile' and 'Dead Poets Society' are up there. They're hard to top, and they're stuff that'll go down in history like The Godfather imo.

I'd also recommend 'The King's Speech', which is fairly recent. It has hints of soft comedy, but it's a great example of a film using a decently accurate depiction of a historic event for a powerful message, or rather an insight on the forming and advance of a social relationship - friendship. Plus it's interesting to look at the depiction of the 1980's U.K. from the eyes of the royal family as a sidenote.

Honeatly, there's a bunch of indie films I want to catch up with this year, finally found myself having free time in college. I find myself going through random filmographies - mostly from the later 90s to early 2000s - at this point. The classes I took last year on theatrical studies really made me appreciate cinema on another level.

@anthp2000:Thanks for the recommendations. Kings Speech is one of my favorite movies from recent years.

The Godfather is the film I hold in the highest regard. It's one of the reasons why the 1970s was my favorite decade of films, but I'm now leaning towards the 1950s.

Enjoy your film watching!

When Scarlett's on her A game (not Black Widow), she's pretty good. I'd say she's better.

ScarJo... Nic is horrible, lol.

Scarlett.

Prime Cage was great and I voted for him.

But his the recent movies I had the occasion to watch were awful...