‘A’-List movie stars have the ability to immerse themselves into a role and ‘become’ a character – bringing icons to life and giving films the believability necessary for a memorable viewing experience.

Al Pacino as Tony Montana in “Scarface,” Jim Carrey as Charlie Baileygates/Hank Evans in “Me, Myself, and Irene,” and Anthony Hopkins as Dr. Hannibal Lecter in “The Silence of the Lambs” are a few that spring to mind.

Even more impressive a skill than that of becoming another person, is the ability of one well-known actor to actually make the characters become him.

He is none other than Nick Cage, who could, quite possibly, be one of the best and worst actors of his generation (if that is even possible). Cage’s persona exists somewhere between ham-fisted intellectual and often-uninspiring sarcastic rebel – a black hole that has proved capable of sucking in any role, no matter how high-flying it may be.

Sometimes it works, as in “Raising Arizona” – where Cage plays quirky petty criminal turned baby snatcher H.I. McDunnough. The hapless criminal with a heart of gold and a surprising intellect is hard not to like.

Sometimes it doesn’t work, as in “Lord of War.” Ukrainian-born gunrunner Yuri Orlov should not, in any way, resemble Cage. Yet, somehow, the eastern-European accent and heartless demeanor that Orlov deserves gives way to the emotional absence (which isn’t that bad) and the hackneyed wit of Nic Cage. “Lord of War” was an awesome movie, despite the fact that the dealer of death reminded me of a faux-badass dude from SoCal with some guns and a good sales pitch.

It seems no role can avoid the Cage singularity phenomenon; perhaps, not even an animated voiceover. Maybe that makes him great, though it mostly annoys me. Hey, at least he’s got one more facial expression than Ben Affleck!