Tuesday, September 4, 2012

TOM CRUISE

I am not sure what I want to say about Tom Cruise or where my fingers are heading, as I mull over my up and down feelings about this very famous, "hot" actor.

Hot topics get my fingers dancing, like Tom and Katy -- they were very hot news two months ago. Now they're sort of lukewarm. We've certainly wondered about them, ever since Tom jumped up and down on Oprah Winfrey's couch, declaring how much in love he was. If he was "acting"-- it was very convincing. Even now, we're still interested in tidbits about how she's doing and who he's dining with, or possibly dating.

I think we get strong opinions about celebs, based on an instinctive reaction we get, the very first time we see them -- it’s sort of like falling in love.

Cruise in his underwear, dancing, grooving delightedly, celebrating his freedom, his sexuality in “Risky Business” -- that so many friends were saying “he’s great,” turned me off. I don't go with what my neighbors think, but I couldn’t help myself -- I liked him -- he was cute -- and in the next film, the next, and the next -- well, I liked him more.

After “Top Gun,” “Born on the 4th of July,” and “Rain Man” -- films in which Tom revealed fascinatingly different aspects of the heroes he was playing -- I knew if the movie starred Cruise, it would be a good movie.

What’s a "good" movie? For me it’s one that gives me visions/impressions of people and sometimes places -- a drama that stays with me, like an adventure.

Okay, I have to say loud and clear -- Tom Cruise is not a Cary Grant -- one of my “number one” favorite actors -- a great-looking, always charming leading man, lovable, and humorous, even when what he played was villainous.

No, Cruise is not a number one favorite actor. I’m not sure why.

It’s not the rumors about Tom’s gayness -- hey, there have been rumors about Grant as well. Maybe it’s Tom’s passionate devotion to Scientology, though another one of my “number one” favorites is the magical, amazing John Travolta, who supports Scientology, and there’s “gay” talk about him also.

Scientology intrigues me and irritates me -- quite a few friends of mine (and actor friends of my husband, John Cullum), have become Scientologists, yet what they praise doesn't jibe with what I learned from friends who quit, and what I gleaned from reading the book by the founder of Scientology, L. Ron Hubbard.

Anyhow, Tom's excessive zeal for his religion bothers me, though the powerful visions he gave me from the films I mentioned earlier, plus "Color of Money," "Days of Thunder," "A Few Good Men," "The Firm" -- are favorite films that I’ve seen and enjoyed again, and again, and Tom Cruise is, most definitely, a superb actor.

Right now, with recent impressions from his "Mission Impossible" films, which, despite raves, mostly bore me, and Cruise in "Rock of Ages," which opened a few months ago after a huge PR build up, that praised his performance to the skies -- well -- he wasn't thrilling. The film was disappointing, got mostly negative reviews, and hasn't done well at the box office.

Is he slipping? Is he over the hill? Has he lost his looks? No. But it bothers me that Cruise and his PR people have been over selling his lengendaryness.

So why am I writing about him, and mentioning Travolta and Cary Grant as "number one" favorites? Well... maybe it's because Cary G and Travolta, no matter what they do, I grab it and hold onto it -- that’s all I think of -- that’s all there is as I’m watching the film and going with them wherever they go, as whatever they’re doing is unfolding.

Cruise is an extraordinary major, top talent. But ... well... I wish he’d stop trying to sell me on that, and be, just be what he is.

Here's a clip from "Rock of Ages." It was fascinating to see Tom as a rock star, but I somehow sensed in this role what I felt about Tom/Katy -- that maybe he was working too hard. What do you think?



6 comments:

Dede said...

Hi Em!

I actually loved the movie. It was a mindless music filled movie from an era where I actually enjoyed listening to music.
As an actor, I think Tom Cruise is superb. As an individual, I feel that both Scientology and his inner circle have molded him into someone that I am not highly fond of.
Your post always compel me to return to your blog. Keep them coming!

Poet_Carl_Watts said...

I've met Tom. His sister is married to my x son-in-law. His niece graduated from the school I worked at for many years.

Tom is open, friendly, calm and confident.

I can spot a "gay" a block away going the other direction and Tom is not gay. Low toned people like to try to tear down successful people. They will call them "gay" to try to tarnish them and their success.

Think back who made less of you and John when you were doing the best? Who were your most unfair critics? You might enjoy my article #WhoHasRIGHT2INSULT_U? http://www.carlwattsartist.com/Who-Has-the-RIGHT-to-INSULT-You.html

Tom is a raving success. For Tom, I don't think a hill exist for him to be over. He will be succeeding for a very very very long time.

Bet you knew I'd have a good opinion of him. But this is not just opinion. I know.

Have a great creative day :-)

carola said...

I have enjoyed him in most of the movies of his that I have seen. He's a little bit of a one-note actor, but he does a good job with his character. The publicity stuff and the scientology stuff is just crazy and ridiculous. I don't like it.

Unknown said...

I have always had mixed feelings about Tom Cruise as an actor. I really loved him in "Rain Man" and a few other films, but in general I find him uninteresting as an actor.

I wish he would come out of the closet. The same for Travolta. Cruise and his sham marriages are really annoying...we all know they are shams.

Scientology is a scary thing. I believe it's a cult. I know very little about it. What I do know is quite weird. But these people are totally into it and so live and let live.

Like you, I adored Cary Grant. I don't think he ever made a bad picture. And as far as his ambiguous sexual inclinations...well..I could care less as well.

Maureen Jacobs said...

Tom Cruise is not on my list of favourite actors, however, he does well in all of his roles. He is a versatile actor who works very hard at everything he does. My favourite role of his was his smallest, of Les Grossman, in Tropic Thunder. Simply the best role of his life. He made me laugh and I enjoyed his portrayal of such an asinine guy.

Mr. Cruise has not earned my favourite actor nod because my fave is Mr. George Clooney, however, everything thing he touches turns to gold.

Maureen
( whose a/c is finally working again!)

Unknown said...

I see Tom Cruise as two very different people.

The first , an actor, I like. Well I guess I like his work.


The second, based on what I've seen and what I know of scientology, I don't like...not at all. Now I know I don't know him, but there a few things I don't agree with. I don't like the way he kept his adopted children away from Nicole Kidman and I do think he was very controlling of Katie. I don't think her leaving him would have been so cloak and dagger otherwise anf I don't think her Dad would have felt the need to sack all the people that surrounded her. I know all this was just from the media but I know how full on scientologists can be.

My grandson's father is into scientology and he has told my grandson some very strange things, like none of us are properly educated because we are not in the scientology. That our catholic religion is all lies, that Santa and the Easter Bunny are total lies. That his teachers at school don't know what their talking about.


I don't totally blame Tom Cruise for the person he's turned out to be, I think he's been brain washed. Just my personal opinion and I'm probably very biased.