Moonstruck | Photo courtesy of 20th Century Fox
Wicker Park may be continuing its inevitable path towards total gentrification, but some residents are trying their very best to keep eccentricity alive in the neighborhood. The latest example of this? Wormhole Coffee is helping put together a summer long Nicolas Cage film series that starts tonight.
Wormhole sponsors the Wicker Park portion of the city-wide
Movies in the Park summer film series and the last several years have each have unique theme. One year focused on the works of Winona Ryder, another year was all about Jeff Goldblum, and so on. This year will showcase the spectacular lunacy of Nicolas Cage films in a new series they’ve named the “Summer of Cage.”
They’ve managed to amass a pretty solid selection of choices for this. If you’re looking for early 2000s bonkers action movie Nic Cage, you’ve got Gone in Sixty Seconds. In the mood for late 80s romantic weirdness with a healthy serving of Cher? Moonstruck is for you then. We’re also kinda excited about the complete absurdity that is National Treasure.
So, why a film series dedicated to Nicolas Cage? “He’s a lovable madman,” a representative from Wormhole told us via email. “We enjoy his movies because he so clearly enjoys his movies.” We agree. Whether he's freaking out and yelling out the ABCs at somebody or somehow making the line "Put...the bunny...back in the box," sound equally ridiculous and threatening, Cage's bizarreness is hypnotically joyful.
The complete lineup is listed below. Summer of Cage starts tonight with Moonstruck. All screenings are at Wicker Park (the park itself) at 1425 N. Damen Ave. Admission is free.
Moonstruck - June 15 at 8:30 pm
Raising Arizona - June 29 at 8:30 pm
National Treasure - July 6 at 8:30 pm
The Wicker Man - July 20 at 8:15 pm
Gone in 60 Seconds - August 24 at 8 pm