A word, in fairness, about Tom Cruise

Poststructural Pub
1

I still don’t know what to make of this guy and, outside of his movies, I don’t like him one bit. But, I’ve conceded that I think he’s a good actor and underrated as an actor. He is, after all, in one of my very favorite movies, “Magnolia.” I’m glad he apologized to Brooke Shields.

When his unpleasant behavior was at peak, I didn’t want to see his movies because I don’t like the idea of putting even one dime in the pocket of this kind of individual. So, I hadn’t seen MIssion Impossible III and hadn’t cared to. I didn’t like the first one in the series very much and I don’t even REMEMBER MI II, except I’m sure I saw it.

But, through the miracle of slightly dubious use of electronics, I was able to watch MI III tonight and, of course, I didn’t put one dime in Tom Cruises’ pocket. And, I got to see Philip Seymour Hoffman as the villain, and he is sublime. I’ll probably send him a dime in the mail

So. Anyway:

Good movie, I must say. Exciting and a very fine example of the action genre, which is a tired genre. Really, first rate action stuff and, in fairness, I must say I thought Cruise was excellent in it. Ving Rhames, in addition, is too cool for words.

2

I don’t dislike Tom Cruise so much as I dislike what Scientology has done to Tom Cruise.

Whenever I want to see a Tom Cruise movie (which hasn’t happened lately), I go to the theatre, and pay for something else, so the theatre isn’t out any money, and just watch the Cruise movie instead.. It’s an imperfect solution, but there you have it.

3

He was in Rain Man. That’s gotta count for something.

4

The first film I saw Cruise in was Taps. I originally went to see it because I thought Timothy Hutton was such a fine actor. Cruise stood out as someone to watch for. I have not liked him in anything else since, although I have liked some of his films for various other reasons. The MI series are good for SFX.

djm

5

Tom Cruise, Tom Cruise… hmmmmm… nope, doesn’t ring a bell…

6

Dale, please assure me that this post isn’t going to lead you to use that very scary avatar of Mr. Cruise again.

7

I have to agree, I think Tom Cruise is a very good actor, and MI III was very enjoyable.
I always think of Minority Report when I think of him, as I really enjoyed that movie as well… And Rainman was classic…

I don’t think Tom Cruise’s antics offscreen are something that would make me protest his movies… nor would anyone else’s antics, for that matter.

And Phillip Seymour Hoffmann ~ I’d watch him in anything *( even Magnolia :stuck_out_tongue: ) He was especially good in The Talented Mr Ripley


M

8

Rain Man was an AWESOME movie–I watch it just to see the outstanding job Dustin Hoffman did.

To give credit where credit is due, Tom Cruise is an excellent actor…whether I like him as a person or not. To be honest, I don’t bother listening to anything said about celebrities whether it be verbal, written, or reported. Too many are either publicity stunts or hype or just flat out malicious rumors.

Don’t really have much interest in the lives of celebrities anyhow…they put on their pants one leg at a time same as everyone else–and I have my hands full keeping up with my own life.



And I don’t go to theaters hardly ever anymore—but that’s economics. I just can’t see paying the high prices they charge when the movie will be out on cable year after next.

9

How could you forget this?

10

I’m still in the Anti-Cruise group. In my opinion, he’s an egotistical sap and I won’t send him a dime. To be fair, I feel the same way about Charleton Heston (although he doesn’t need or care about my dime). Since his NRA presidency I simply can’t watch any of his movies–including Will Penny, which was one of my all-time favorite westerns.

Susan

11

Tom Cruise - okay journeyman actor - not Hall of Fame material.

We’re a funny society. We expect too much from people. I want actors to act well, but I don’t care about their politics or religion. I want politics to be honest and thoughtful, but I don’t they can whether or sing or play football. I guess I have low standards and, maybe, lower expectations. For people that I only know because they’re famous or celebratries all I want is for them to do their thing well, entertain or enlighten me, and, I suppose, avoid jail time for crimes against people.

I have higher expectations for family, friends, neighbors, co-workers and Chiff and Fipple.

If I had a daughter I’m pretty sure wouldn’t want Tom Cruise to be the father of her child.

12

I hated the first one because of what they did to Jim Phelps (and Jon Voight was a crappy Jim Phelps anyway), and I never saw the second because I was still PO’d about the first. But the kids wanted to see the third one, so I watched it with then a week or so ago.

It’s an improvement over the first There’s still too much James Bond stuff and things blowing up, which is not what the original series was about. But the caper in the Vatican was classic MI – get in, get it done, get back out, and leave no trace of what you did. You could fast forward to where it starts, watch it, then take the disc back to the store, but then you would miss Philip Seymour Hoffman and Ving Rhames.

On a related note, a DVD edition of the first season of the television show becomes available in five days. It’s on my Santa list. None of the interchangeable female leads in the movies can hold a candle to Cinnamon Carter.

And a reminder: The first season did not have Peter Graves as Jim Phelps. The MI leader was Dan Riggs, played by Stephen Hill.

13

I’m really surprised that MIIII was decent. I had heard nothing about
it, so I thought no one saw it. After the uninhibeted crapfest that was
MI2, I wasn’t going to touch it with a 10 foot poll (which is where
you ask 5 people about their shoe preferences).

14

Dale, did you just admit to pirating movies? :laughing:

Arrrr! Shiver me cable modems!

15

Born On The Fourth of July

Terrific actor. Superb craftsman.

Perhaps I’m not aware of enough but
I’m not sure of anything he’s done that merits
the level of hostility folks express toward him.
He was so in love that he jumped up and down
on a sofa on TV to show it! Oh No!

As mentioned he apologized to Brooke Shields.

You know, highly creative people aren’t always
going to be so unkinky. Consider Russell Crowe.

16

this brings us to two other dilemas. Woody Allen and Mel Gibson. Allen is less a problem because he’s not making a lot of good movies anymore, but Gibson–what to do about Apocalypto? It’s supposed to be pretty damn good, but Gibson’s apology and rehab didn’t sell me on anything more than the fact that his damage control was in full effect. I know he’s not the first anti-semite to ever make a movie I’d want to see, but once we know…

17

…if you’re into Mel’s vision of glory through getting the utter crap beat out of oneself, which seems to be his ongoing theme whether in a religious context or otherwise. I guess the thing is that I’m not into bodily destruction the way he is. I used to think he had a certain roguish appeal in Lethal Weapon and other earlier work though.

18

…if you’re into Mel’s vision of glory through getting the utter crap beat out of oneself, which seems to be his ongoing theme whether in a religious context or otherwise. .[/quote]

As Jesus did.

You have, in fact, a flawed, tormented, creative fellow,
who has a powerful religious vision and who also
is anti-semitic. And it’s all bound up together.

Humanity, anybody?

19

Do you hate him, 'cause he’s pieces of you?

20

Interesting set of varying standards regarding the basic dilemma of famous people engaging in self-destructive behavior. We forgive self-destructive acts by popular figures and politicians all the time. How about Mike Wallace throwing meatloaf at a guy when he didn’t get his way or that gal who battered the maid with a cell phone? We actually honor the ones who do themselves in and make them cult heroes…

I like Mel Gibson’s work and appreciate that he’s trying some very different things in movie-making than much of Hollywood. Like any celebrity, I don’t know him a bit underneath the public persona, so I have no idea whether he’s a regular guy, etc…

I wish I could say that most people don’t bear some xenophobic feelings towards a particular set of people, but actually they do. Yes, I now know that Mel has a capacity to loathe Jewish behavior and perhaps the people themselves. He ironically joins the many ranks of self-loathing Jews I have met.

I learned more negative things about American Jews from a cranky Jewish professor (not to mention all the comics and writers) than in all the Aryan screeds and soundbites.. Being from a small town with few Jews, it was an eye-opener. If I was to quote her here, you would be disgusted at me, so I won’t. It’s taken me years to process the issues she created in my young mind.

Anyway, he took a ton of heat from many Jews in showbiz over his Jesus flick. So, a few years later, he gets bombed and his residual reaction comes pouring out. That was my take on it anyway. He rebounded with Apocalypto. I am planning on seeing it, because I am willing to pay to support this filmmaker who goes to such great lengths to present an esoteric artistic effort on an ongoing basis. I loved hearing Aramaic in the Jesus movie. I don’t know if it was pronounced correctly, but its the only time I have or will likely ever hear it, and every language has its sonic interest to my ears and brain. I don’t think I could sit through it again, because of the pain of it, but to me, that movie was a greater accomplishment than many other films on the subject.

To me, he is forgiven. I think of Tom Cruise much differently. Though one could say hooking up with Scientology is self-destructive to the soul, it’s different than going on drinking and drug binges. If you feel that Scientology is very destructive to the human psyche, his evangelism for it could be seen as unforgivable, more than just wrappin’ his car around a tree or screaming various types of obscenities…

I think he proves what I suspect about Scientology, that they “clear” themselves from self-criticism and other leftover issues (like morality, guilt, charitable impulses) to the point that they become nakedly self-centered, almost to sociopathy. But that’s as close as I want to get to psych talk, as its banned here.