the good Nic Cage movies (or roles)
Raising Arizona - already mentioned
Valley Girl
Vampire's Kiss
Birdy
Adaptation
Leaving Las Vegas
Red Rock West
Wild at Heart
Rumble Fish
(most of) Moonstruck
something happens to some actors - the hit a 'try' wall or something - Steve Martin was the funniest person on screen for an incredible run of movies, then he hit a wall and went into some slump and hasn't made a good movie in maybe 15-20 years