Tuesday, March 31, 2009

What Happened to Tom Cruise?

I just watched the last 40 minutes of Jerry Maguire, Tom Cruise's 1996 hit that also starred Renee Zellwegger in what I think was her first big role (and she was fetching!). You cannot watch this movie and NOT like Tom Cruise. He did not appear to be acting...not in the least. I guess some would say that is truly great acting.

The Color of Money....Days of Thunder...A Few Good Men...Mission Impossible....The Firm....Magnolia....the 1990's BELONGED to Tom Cruise. He made hit after hit, he was a real live movie star, and he looked like a decent guy to have a beer with.

Along came the Scientology, the Oprah appearance, the Matt Lauer interview, the Brooke Shields criticism--the turn of the century was not good for Tom Cruise. He's a cartoon character now, a puffed up version of a comic book character control freak.

I wonder if he'll ever be able to return to a regular guy who makes great movies?

4 comments:

Travolta said...

CW, stop being an SP.

Goldwater's Ghost said...

"the 1990's BELONGED to Tom Cruise."

You could say the same of the 1970s and Burt Reynolds, or the 1980's (and the better part of the 1990's) and Harrison Ford. It's the passage of time - he had a good run, now it's time to step aside and let the Shia LeBoufs of the world take their rightful place.

Mudge said...

If you are looking for people who are unmoved by his performances, sign me up. What happened to him is that he is a product of Hollywood. That should say it all.

Anonymous said...

Let us not forget Top Gun and the always watchable ...Cocktail!

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