In lighter news, wtf was Nicole Kidman wearing at SAG awards

[Crackpot]

Just because he can act doesn't mean he always acts. I find most of the stuff he's in to be brain dead action but given the chance to act he can and can well. (BTW Another role he knocked out of the park was Valkyrie) personally I don't much care for the man and even less for his beliefs but In the end it really only hurts me if I let that prevent me from enjoying a movie.

[Guinevere]

I despise TC. His attempts to smear, hurt, and humiliate Brooks Shield when she was suffering from post-partum depression was disgusting. I've never gone to the theatre to see a movie of his again since then -- and I did think he had talent. Just saw A Few Good Men again last Sunday (on cable, not my choice but I rolled with it). I'd forgotten that he was pretty darn good in it.

[Big RR]

I'd forgotten that he was pretty darn good in it.

was he objectively good, or just good compared to Demi Moore?

[Crackpot]

Ouch!

[Long Run]

I can't help thinking that scientology has something to do with his success.

It didn't help establish him as a star since according to wikipedia, he got involved in 1990. By then, he had been in The Outsiders, Risky Business, Top Gun, The Color of Money, Rain Man and Born on the 4th of July. Those all showed his popular appeal and also his acting range. So, it is hard to see how scientology helped him since most of his work since 1990 have been consistent with his earlier work -- a mix of action with the occasional serious role. He keeps getting movies because he remains a box office draw. He is also a good example of why no one should ever pay attention to anything a movie star has to say about anything other than movies.

[Big RR]

I prefer to think of a darker reason for his success involving L Ron Hubbard from beyond the grave. It's a lot easier than thinking his "talent" drew people in.

[BoSoxGal]

It's not really talent though - talent is someone like John Hurt, or Anthony Hopkins . . . or if we want to talk American actors (in his generation), Liev Schreiber or Nicolas Cage or Joaquin Phoenix or Kevin Bacon or the late Philip Seymour Hoffman.

Cruise is glib and superficial, with a 'pretty' face/smile. That's what draws the women, and the action is what draws the men.

A Few Good Men was a great movie mostly due to Sorkin's excellent writing, Cruise's range wasn't much, although he captures the arrogant attorney stereotype pretty well - many of them are glib/superficial so he's a great fit.

His glibness/superficiality is perfect for a cult-con like Scientology, too. I'm sure he's been responsible for attracting many gullible people into the fold & ruining their lives.

[Guinevere]

I'd forgotten that he was pretty darn good in it.

was he objectively good, or just good compared to Demi Moore?

She was cringe worthy. But he held up in his scenes with Nicholson.

And I never thought he (Cruise) was terribly attractive or likeable. He did do a good job with Sorkin's dialogue. Not everyone can carry that off without coming off as overly smug and condescending (see e.g Newsroom).

[oldr_n_wsr]

He is also a good example of why no one should ever pay attention to anything a movie star has to say about anything other than movies.

Ditto.

[Jarlaxle]

Risky Business, et al. made Tom Cruise a star. I suppose the panacea offered him by that sick cult might account for some of his drive, but the talent was there before he became a Scientology freak.

At this point, I'm betting there are many people (not just me) who refuse to watch his films anymore; I haven't watched one since he ridiculed psychiatry and folks who find usefulness in it. He makes me ill to look at so why waste the ticket price? I might have missed some decent movies but ah well.

I avoid his movies for an entirely different reason: he can't act.

[oldr_n_wsr]

I caught him playing Jack Reacher.
Not the mental picture I got of Jack Reacher when I read the books.
But then again, very few mental images I got from reading books (any books that were made intomovies) matched the movies image.

[Jarlaxle]

Not even close...mostly, because Reacher is 6'5" and 260+lbs of muscle. Tom Cruise is...neither.

[Scooter]

In a similar vein, who wore it better, Ivanka or the goat roti:

[MGMcAnick]

Scientology: A "religion" invented by a schlock science fiction writer. Unbelieveable in more ways than one.

[Econoline]

There are several different versions of the story, but SF author [take your choice: John W. Campbell, Robert A. Heinlein, Lester Del Rey] is said to have told L. Ron Hubbard, "Ron, you'll never make much if you keep writing science fiction. If you want to get rich, you should start a religion."

[BoSoxGal]

In a similar vein, who wore it better, Ivanka or the goat roti: