While this weekend’s “Knight & Day” is on the early track towards being a bomb (or at least to be totally fair, it’s underwhelmed so far) and is surely not Tom Cruise’s finest work by a long shot (though it does have its charms), the picture does remind us that the while an international star, the consistently maligned actor (perhaps for his personal Xenu beliefs and pitbull-like handlers) is a) a much better, harder working actor then he is generally given credit for and b) generally a much more compelling one when he’s taking roles that subvert his all-American, good-looking hero mien (now if only James Mangold’s action comedy would have stuck to its guns and let Cruise stick to his insane character for the entire film instead of copping out midway through).
“Magnolia” (1999)
Before his second divorce, TomKat-foolery and jumping on Oprah’s couch incident, Tom Cruise was a star. Best known for action packed dramas and pithy rom-coms, Cruise proved himself as an actor with his performance in Paul Thomas Anderson’s ambitious third feature-film where he played misogynistic self-help author Frank T.J. Mackey. Cruise scored a Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination for his rich multi-layered portrayal of Mackey, whose catchphrase “tame the cunt” was haunting when uttered. Frighteningly authentic, Cruise was able to balance the dichotomy of an intolerant sexist, and at the same time a wounded boy thanks to his unloving father who ditched him and his mother years ago. As his character comes to terms with his ailing father, which would be Jason Robards’ last role, we watch Cruise show the true depth of his range, and it’s gripping. Later, thanks to the many media scuffles Cruise has gone through, you might wonder if “Magnolia” was actually an acting performance or the first time Cruise ever let his true self shine through. We’ll never know and this is probably why it’s so damn successful.
“Tropic Thunder” (2008)
Ok, while the idea of an entire Les Grossman film is a little much (this idea works because like the dynamics of a middle eight in a song, more is less), but the otherwise underwhelming “Tropic Thunder” was greatly bolstered by the actor’s image-demolishing turn as a tumescent, bald, hirsute f-bomb dropping dbag film producer (modeled after Joel Silver). Sure the amazing dialogue (or amazing litany of creative vulgarities) helped, but Cruise definitely sold the character, swung for the fences and connected with his greasy, slimebag portrayal (surely he’s been around enough of these power-hungry, megalomanical characters before). The fact that Cruise out-funnied and out-acted Robert Downey Jr. playing an Australian thespian playing an African American character in skin-modified method-acting dedication (what a missed opportunity that was) was not lost on discerning viewers either.
Obviously, "Magnolia" is the best work he's ever done. I think "Mission: Impossible" 1 & 3 are a good deal superior to "Minority Report," which is sleepy and drab and philosophically confused. Honestly, I'd take "The Firm" and "A Few Good Men" over most of these.
Totally agree with 'Magnolia' and, yeah, 'Rain Man'. I guess these are the only Tome Cruise films I ever watch… Simply because I don't really like action movies and well… Tom Cruise. But his performance in Magnolia is awesome!
I love Minority Report!
why pile on tom cruise? because 'knight and day' numbers aren't good? sounds like a bunch of bullshit to me. the moment you start rooting against talented actors and a good director (both of which are featured in 'knight and day') you can fuck yourself for all i care. this BLOG entry is pointless and fucking stupid. cruise has always been a good guy and made 5 careers worth of fun and at times excellent films.
fuck you.
"The Most Tolerable Works of Tom Cruise"
goddamn. the fucking nerve of a nobody.
You should probably try actually reading the piece before crapping your pants.
I like all the films featured but I do think it is somewhat unnecessary to basically send off Tom Cruise because of one bad Wednesday.
oooh, some poor Cruise fan got kicked in the mangina.
Seriously, you guys go pretty soft on him here (though you seem to be apologists throughout), but uhh, yeah, try reading some of you other whiners.
EYES WIDE SHUT
um cameo in the abysmal vaccuous and tortuous tropic thunder over lead role in eyes wide shut? doesn't just working w/ kubrick bump him up a little?
Not bad, not bad. I agree with the Eyes Wide Shut comment though. No more love?
tom cruise is hammy, sure, but so's somebody like nicolas cage (they both pretty much go for broke in their respective scorsese pictures). it's what they're asking for when he's offered a role. the good news with his blockbusters not doing so good is maybe he'll finally come off his high horse and start doing reasonably priced films with more actor-focused filmmakers. i'd love to see him in a duplass film
eyes wide shut is arguably Kubrick's best film. its pretty spectacular.
You didn't like Eyes Wide Shut and you think The Color of Money is better than Casino? You guys are crazy man… crazy… but I still like you.
"eyes wide shut is arguably Kubrick's best film."
Ah…no.
BTW, in Top Gun, Maverick was a NAVY pilot, not Air Force.
I'll be the first to go on record and say Cruise should've won the Best Actor award over Day Lewis. His performance in Fourth of July is flawless. Just look to the scene when he gets kicked out of his parents house, or even his speech at the end.
Oh yeah, and you guys forgot to mention Coctail.
Where's "Interview With the Vampire" ? Miscast on paper, he was a kick ass Lestat anyway.
i can't believe how spot-on i found this list to be. it would have been easy for you to remove one from the top gun/jerry maguire/rain man popcorn triumvirate and snuck critical fav Eyes Wide Shut in there (which i would have done as i think his performance is easily one of the most compelling parts of the film), i still give you points for not taking that slightly more obvious route.
Lions for Lambs?
There are people who like Eyes Wide Shut? I love Kubrick, but holy shit was that movie awful.
Agree with the first commenter, that Cruise's more populist works were his best.