The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent: Due Diligence Is a Wait You Must Bear

Last year, Nicolas Cage made an epic comeback on the big screen as, well, himself. The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is a self-aware comedy in which washed-up, broke, and desperate actor Nicolas Cage (the character) accepts a $1 million offer to star in a movie written by wealthy megafan Javi Gutierrez (Pedro Pascal).

The problem? The CIA informs Cage that Javi might be responsible for the kidnapping of a politician’s daughter … and they want Cage to spy on him. The longer Cage spends with Javi, the more he grows convinced that his family’s life is in danger — though it turns out (spoiler alert) the real threat is Javi’s cousin.

Cage might’ve avoided the situation entirely if he (or his agent) had performed their due diligence. When you’re making a deal with a new partner, you need to look at their track record to ensure they’re trustworthy. That might not entail a CIA-level sting operation, but just look at all the celebrities who are now apologizing (and being sued) for endorsing FTX and other crypto scams.

So do your due diligence before doing business with a suspect source. Know your partners and don’t think that big names and big checks legitimize an entity. (Unless that name is Nic Cage.)

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