Nicolas Cage in Four Roles

What if you get a second chance to live your life? "Family Man," which opened in Korea on Dec. 30, explores paths not taken. Jack Campbell (Nicolas Cage) has it all － wealth, a Manhattan penthouse, a fast car and a goddess for a girlfriend. One morning, Campbell wakes up and finds his identity has changed. He now lives in the suburbs with his former college sweetheart (Tea Leoni), has two children and drives a mini-van.

Moonstruck (1987)

Directed by Norman Jewison. Starring Cage, Cher, Olympia Dukakis, Vincent Gardenia and Danny Aiello.

In this bittersweet comedy, Cher stars as Loretta, an Italian-American widow in her late 30s who decides to marry an old friend, Johnny (Aiello). Her feelings for him are tepid at best, but he at least offers security. When Loretta's fiance is called to his dying mother's bedside in Italy, Loretta finds solace with his estranged younger brother, Ronny (Cage). Eventually, sparks fly.

Mr. Cage's performance in the film earned him a Golden Globe nomination and boosted his reputation as leading man.

Leaving Las Vegas (1995)

Directed by Mike Figgis. Starring Cage, Elisabeth Shue and Julian Sands.

In this poignant love story based on the novel by John O'Brien, Mr. Cage stars as Ben, a Hollywood agent whose life crumbles after his wife leaves him.

With no hope remaining, Ben heads to Las Vegas to drink himself to death. There, he meets Sera (Shue), a prostitute with a heart of gold. In order for Sera to be with Ben, she must promise to never ask him to stop drinking. Sera agrees and resigns herself to his self-destruction.

The actors give an intense performance as the ill-fated couple, and Mr. Cage won a Best Actor Oscar for his performance.

Face/Off (1997)

Directed by John Woo. Starring Cage, John Travolta, Joan Allen, Alessandro Nivola and Gina Gershon.

Hong Kong director Woo's stylized touch is everywhere in his third English-language action feature. Tightly choreographed violence with bullets, explosions and flying bodies are enough to make the adrenaline surge.

Mr. Cage and Mr. Travolta play a good cop and an evil terrorist swap identities. FBI agent Sean Archer (Cage) is obsessed with capturing his son's killer, Castor Troy (Travolta).

Archer's thirst for revenge is finally quenched after their confrontation leaves Troy in a coma. But the respite is short-lived. Troy has hidden a bomb somewhere in Los Angeles, and only he and his brother Pollux (Nivola) know where. Archer undergoes a face transplant and enters prison as Troy to talk to Pollux. Meanwhile, the real Troy wakes up and puts on Archer's face.

by Joe Yong-hee