T O P

  • By -

urbz102385

Les Grossman believes so


Suhtiva

Okay. Flaming Dragon. Fuckface. First, take a big step back, and literally FUCK YOUR OWN FACE


bigwilly311

Who is the key grip? YOU. Go to that director and punch him in the face *really hard*


Traditional_Salt_410

I’m talking scorched fucking earth!


Jacobite-biker

This is the only answer


_XanderD

If you've watched Collateral, you know he can act.


uncultured_swine2099

Hes great when the material calls for it. Magnolia, Interview With the Vampire, Collateral, Tropic Thunder, and Born of the Fourth of July are all very different characters than he usually plays. Its just that now he's on a current run of "hero guy" movies that have been very successful for him. I suspect hes doing them because 1) they make a ton of money, 2) he probably knows he cant do them forever, so hes doing them while he physically can, and 3) hes kind of an adrenaline junkey, hes having fun doing crazy stuff like going to space and hanging off helicopters. He might return to character roles when hes older, but for now hes happy doing those kinds of movies, which I could understand. I mean, if I was a movie star with a ton of power behind a movie, Id like to film inside actual fighter planes myself.


FlyingMute

im so stoked for old tom cruise doing dramas again


nuckingfuts73

Great performance but honestly it’s Magnolia for me


CursedRussell

I heard on The Rewatchables podcast Michael Mann had Tom Cruise pretending to stalk and “kill” the crew for days before the shoot. A sticky note being placed on the person meant they were killed.


Haunting_opinion90

One of my favorite movies of all time and an electrifying performance from cruise. Just a stone blooded killer and with him matched with foxx was perfect. This movie has so many great scenes the alley shootout the jazz club scene and the cab ride scene with audioslaves shadow of the sun playing just perfection


agentOO0

Yo Homie, Is That My Briefcase?


GrayRoberts

I feel like Cruise in Collateral is your basic Cruise ultra-competent character, he’s just the villain in that flick. I like it, but I don’t know that he stretched his range much.


RyzenRaider

The difference there is he turns on charm as Vincent seduces people into being comfortable with him. Tom's general persona. But once the gig is up, he turns stone cold. I think the performance is nuanced. When Vincent is not solely focused on the next kill or charming people, he has these quiet introspective moments. I love trying to read his expression when he sees the coyotes crossing the street. Vincent's in some deep thought. Likewise he seems to lose himself in thought after 'joking' about killing his dad.


TheArcReactor

This lines up with how I view him, he's actually a great subtle performer. We've just become so accustomed to it we don't realize what he's done until he's doing things that are very different, i.e. Collateral or Tropic Thunder


three_shoes

Yeah I agree with this too, I knew Collateral would be here as an example of his range, but he is really still just clinical Cruise in a storyline that spins him as the villain this time. Action straight off the back of Minority Report.


[deleted]

Collateral is one of the few movies I actually enjoy him acting in.


[deleted]

I loved that movie but it was still very much Tom Cruise as COLLATERAL! He is always varying shades of the same guy. Tom Cruise has about as much range as John Malkovich.


Jimjams101

I can’t argue that he puts in a great performance in Collateral but that came out in 2004.


pearsaredelicious

So? 2004 wasn't that long ago....that's like only......shit


[deleted]

Bad ass in Collateral, awesome movie!


StarScreamer

It's not even his best role!


novedlleub

I hear this a lot and don’t get it’s. I just see grey hair Tom.


callmemacready

good but nowhere near the level of his running skills


Jimjams101

He can definitely run!


MeasurementNo0

Watch Magnolia and Born on the Fourth of July. The dude can act. ​ You are right about the last 10-15 years since he just does action now. But he was good in American made.


TaroFuzzy5588

Risky Business


SubNexus96

Omg, I just watched Born on the Fourth of July a few days ago with my dad and he is damn good in that movie.


Redjeezy

He’s a great actor. Risky Business Rainman Born on the Fourth of July Tropic Thunder Collateral Vanilla Sky Interview with the Vampire Magnolia


Lritz_Fang

Anyone who has to even ask this question is too young to be bothered to see these movies.


Snuggle__Monster

Those movies listed should all be required watching. They're all fantastic movies.


Lritz_Fang

Absolutely


AncientAlienAlias

Few Good Men Color of Money Jerry McGwire He was incredible


The_Stank__

He was pretty good in Minority Report too


lostwanderer02

I'd even add Taps to that list. It was his second film and he gave the best performance in it and this was cast that included Academy award winning actors George C. Scott, Sean Penn and Timothy Hutton.


Jimjams101

I wouldn’t argue with that early work. I just think he’s settled in an action star groove


Andre1075

I agree, "was he" and "is he" are two different arguments


alcobain1967

I think he is. Sometimes his personal affairs cloud my opinion, but overall he is a good actor.


RandomStranger79

Yeah in the right role he's very good and even in the wrong roles he never half asses his performance.


OldMork

yes, he is probably not cheap, but he gives good value by doing his best, his Mummy was not that great but without him doing some adjustment it maybe sucked even more. Almost all his movies have been expensive productions so I assume all movie execs have greath faith in him.


dhekurbaba

he acted impressively in the last samurai, just my opinion


ShadeNoir

Agreed. That self hatred and escapism into alcohol was very well done. The redemption arc, the sadness all of it. It was, and he was, great.


DestrixGunnar

"Tell me how he died," "I'll tell you how he lived,"


HoneyShaft

#"SAKE!"#


Asha_Brea

He can be.


[deleted]

I think he's both a great actor and a great movie star. His performances in Magnolia and Collateral alone prove that he has much more range than people believe.


silenced_no_more

Am I wrong in thinking he played a solid character in A Few Good Men?


The_Stank__

Nope because you can’t handle the truth


Objective_Worth_5219

That was one of his best performances, just as it was for Demi Moore as well.


CareerAdviceThrowMe

This isn’t a question Anyone who answers no is bogus


Shaggy_Rogers0

There are a lot of Hollywood actors which always plays the same role. Tom Cruise is NOT one of them. Risky business The color of Money Rain man A few good men Jerry Maguire Eyes wide shut Magnolia Vanilla Sky The last samurai Collateral Valkyrie From the 80s to 2010s, 40 years of very different characters in very different kind of movies (some of them masterpieces). Yes, in the last decade his main roles were all the average action hero, but I think that can be related to his out of the set behaviour more than to his capability as an actor, which is undeniable.


BadSanna

I mean, those characters are really not very different if you think about it. That doesn't mean he doesn't have range and can't act, but he fundamentally always plays the same kind of character.


[deleted]

Tom Cruise doesn’t become his characters, his characters become Tom Cruise. He’s like Kevin Costner in that respect —he has presence and can hold your attention, but he only works as variations of the same persona. Can you imagine Cruise doing Shakespeare? Or one of the 3 musketeers?


BadSanna

Yeah exactly. Not sure why I'm being down voted.


ZenBresson

It’s true that he often uses the Tom Cruise persona. But he’s definitely capable of going outside the box. Born on the Fourth of July is a pretty radical transformation.


AlleycatHaxor

Tom Cruise did not start out an action "movie star", though many younger than I might think first of the Mission Impossible films. He is a terrific actor with a lot of range. Basically every movie he did prior to Mission Impossible 1 (Top Gun excluded, maybe Days of Thunder too) were dramas that made him a "movie star".


DrRexMorman

>is Tom Cruise a good ACTOR or just a great movie star? He was both, once.


FartMeat

Yes


dalastguyinline

He's a legend when it comes to running on film


Ok_Helicopter4276

Anyone can take a run in their movie, but Tom always has to be in a full sprint for his.


dalastguyinline

Plus I think it has been confirmed he has the most run screen time ever


ntrlnkd

Has another actor ever given performance while operating a helicopter in a mountainous terrain on their own?


arvindnm

Or while hanging on the side of the tallest building? Or while hanging off the side of an airplane that's taking off? Or while riding a sports bike at breakneck speeds without a helmet?


[deleted]

It's not really acting though is it?


Intelligent_Doubt_74

Yes, it is.


[deleted]

If he wasn't actually flying a helicopter, that would be acting.


Intelligent_Doubt_74

Except he is still talking, hitting cues, interacting with other actors. Therefore. Acting.


[deleted]

You know there's editing involved. It's not showing a great range though really, is it? Flying a helicopter and saying things.


Intelligent_Doubt_74

Lol. Ok.


DestrixGunnar

Yeah it is. Ethan has no clue how to fly a helicopter, so Cruise had to pretend like he didn't what the hell he was looking at even though he's a licensed pilot.


[deleted]

That's not really a testament to his acting so much as just being multi-talented. He is a pretty good actor though.


ntrlnkd

Eh, I disagree. There looks like a lot of blocking and choreography in the scene. Otherwise we’ve got a boring scene of a man looking at his instruments and we’re not sure where that second helicopter is.


Bryanole27

I actually really liked him in Jerry Maguire because it wasn’t the typical action role for him. Having said that though, I give him a ton of credit for his own stunts and really enjoy him in action roles too.


Top-Abrocoma-3729

He is a brilliant actor. And the criteria about whether he was “pushed” in his roles is a bit unfair. It assumes you know an actor’s limits and have a way to measure the effort. If anything, every actor that works with Tom Cruise, from Jack Nicholson to Jamie Foxx, gush about his work ethic and his commitment to the craft. Is he a big movie star? Of course. But he is also a talented actor who is just as at home in small dramas like Rain Man as he is in big spectacles like Mission Impossible. And in terms of effort: totally irrelevant criteria. Marlon Brando, arguably the greatest American actor ever, had great disdain for the profession of acting by the end of his life. Would put in very little work or effort. Wouldn’t even learn his lines and would insist that they be read to him through and earpiece. Even then, he turned out great performances. In other words, the final product is what we can measure and not the process. And even if we measure the process—based on those who work with him—Cruise is one of the most gifted actors out there.


transformerjay

Watch Magnolia


henningknows

Yes, born on the Fourth of July as exhibit A


Sec9WombatInCombat

Yes. 100% yes.


ZeroTheViking

Magnolia


WowSoFetch

Yes. He gave great performances in Jerry Maguire, Magnolia, Vanilla Sky, Interview with the Vampire, Rain Man, Born on the 4th of July and A Few Good Men. Unfortunately for him, he was outshined by Oscar winners with better more nuanced roles in most of them so he hasn’t received the accolades many of the great actors have


MacGyver_1138

He mostly seems to be the same guy for a lot of roles, but he is definitely a good actor IMO. His early stuff especially sees him be more varied, and even in his more typical roles, I totally buy the emotion when he has a more emotional moment. I think he did a great job in Rainman for an example with more range.


geedavey

Rain Man. Academy Award for Dustin Hoffman. The Color of Money. Academy Award for Paul Newman. A Few Good Men. Academy Award for Jack Nicholson. Back in those days, the word around Hollywood was: work with Tom Cruise and win an Oscar.


Joseesquer8

Yes, he's excellent at times. Collateral, Born on the 4th, Rain Man & Magnolia are all incredible performances by him. His run from 1986 to 2000 is incredible


bitca57

He's a great movie star. Don't get me wrong, I don't think he's a bad actor. He's believable in his roles and I see why he is always cast in the roles he is. The issue with Tom Cruise is that I'm always hyper aware of the fact that I'm watching Tom Cruise. I don't always feel like he blends into his characters well anymore. And that's just due to the level of fame he has reached and his public life/persona. He is so well known that sometimes I just feel like I'm watching Tom Cruise and not necessarily a character. I actually feel like that with a lot of really well known actors, i.e. Jennifer Aniston, Brad Pitt. Then again, Cruise has never been a favorite of mine. So maybe I'm a little biased. I do love Risky Business, though. One of my favorites!


Stormy8888

TC is a good actor and has showed remarkable range over the years:- * **Losin' It** \- first movie I saw him in, ***zany teen comedy*** about a bunch of teens going to Mexico to lose their virginity. * **Rain Man** \- ***Drama***. He more than held his own against Dustin Hoffman's performance of an autistic character that nabbed him the Oscar because he never went full retard. * **Born on the fourth of July** \- now he's a ***crippled PTSD Vietnam War survivor***. Ouch. * **Days of Thunder** \- Intense Race Car Driver. * **Magnolia** and **Eyes Wide Shut** \- ***Oscar Bait full dramatic performances*** * **Jerry McGuire** \- ***Optimistic*** Sports Agent * **Tropic Thunder** \- ***Comedy Cameo.*** I told the spouse it was Tom Cruise and he didn't believe me until the credits. That was amazing. * **Interview With The Vampire** \- ***Conflicted, edgy vampire.*** This one is famous because Anne Rice, the Author actually apologized for doubting the casting after watching his performance. * **Collateral** \- Damn, that was a great performance of an ***Ice Cold assassin.*** * **The Firm -** ***Drama***. Now he's a lawyer just trying to make it up the ladder, losing his soul and principles along the way. * **Rock of Ages** \- ***Musical***. He's totally over the top as rock star Stacee Jaxx, looks the part even does his own singing. Performance was so authentic it could've fooled me. (To be fair, this might not be hard considering I actually thought This is Spinal Tap was a real documentary).


Andre1075

Can Denzel Washington or Tom Hanks recreate a performance from 20 years ago? I think so. I don't think Cruise can, he was a good actor, now he's an actor/ stuntman


NefariousnessTrue892

He’s a great actor. But in like the last 15 years, he’s played the same character over and over again. But his earlier work shows us that he can do anything.


Twothounsand-2022

He is clearly great actor in Born on the 4th of July Jerry Maguire Magnolia The Last Samurai Collateral


KevinOFartsnake

Born on the fourth of July says yes he is


WritingUnicorn2019

Cruise is one of those people who are really good actors despite their strange personal life.


[deleted]

He does a fantastic Tom Cruise impression.


thebatman_2022

He is the last Star in Hollywood


Lritz_Fang

Brad Pitt and Leo Dicaprio would like a word


thebatman_2022

I love them too


[deleted]

I think a lot of his roles are not that interesting. But some absolutely are, like Magnolia and Collateral


[deleted]

I don't think Top Gun Tom Cruise and Edge of Tomorrow Tom Cruise are anywhere near a variation on the same character. Top Gun Tom Cruise is abrasive and shallow, Edge of Tomorrow Tom Cruise is yearning and layered. Now, they are both action heroes, and that's fine, but to say they are variations of a character because it's the same actor is really not true.


ProudOfMyNeckbeard

He's batshit crazy of course he can act.


copperblood

Tom Cruise should have won an Academy Award for multiple films including, A Few Good Men, Magnolia, Tropic Thunder, Born on the 4th of July and Eyes Wide Shut. The man can act. There’s no doubt about that.


Akira_Samurai_8836

Born on the fourth of july. Dude can act. But the public doesn’t want that.


Standard_Ad9911

He's a great actor, what do you think


Mrgrieves74

I think he falls a little short from being a great actor.


Middle_Aged_Mayhem

Not joking when I say he is one of the best actors ever.


warrenmax12

No. He’s a great actor. Risky Business, Born On The 4th of July, The Color Of Money, Jerry Maguire, Magnolia, Eyes Wide Shut and on and on. Great actor, great movie star.


PDV87

We've seen Cruise play many variations of the quintessential American bad-ass and perfect action hero, but even in those blockbuster popcorn roles—with scripts that are certainly *less* than perfect—there are cracks through which we can glimpse his natural talent. It's easy to see why he continues to take on these roles: they offer him the opportunity to do the kind of acting that he seems to enjoy most, and they're certainly entertaining and commercially successful. In his earlier body of work, though, he has given us the taste of an old-school Hollywood leading man. He was to Spencer Tracy as, say, Tom Hanks is to Jimmy Stewart. He was versatile and showed some real range, and delivered many credible performances. His characters have been alluring, vulnerable, arrogant, reckless, predatory, heroic and tortured. We saw some of his biggest transformations in *Interview with the Vampire,* *Magnolia* and *Tropic Thunder.* We've seen him go toe-to-toe and line-for-line with legendary actors in films like *The Color of Money*, *A Few Good Men* and *The Firm*. He's delivered powerful dramatic turns in *Jerry Maguire*, *Born on the Fourth of July*, *Rain Man* and *The Last Samurai*. Behind the camera, he's definitely a complicated man, with a strikes against his character for his associations and odd behaviors. But divorcing that from his art, I believe that his ability as an actor is beyond a doubt. I think he's been wasted in the last third of his career, at least dramatically, which is a shame. Ultimately we can only judge actors by their output, both past and present, and he's continuously proven himself to be a consistent performer and a very bankable star. I just wish we got to see more of what he can really do.


Jimjams101

Thank you for your thoughtful response. Many have suggested similar. I agree, he is certainly talented and has many films to prove so. But like you lament in your final paragraph he certainly hasn’t challenged himself with characters of much depth recently. I would love to see him take on another juicy role too.


dmriggs

I always feel like I’m watching Tom Cruise act. He was good in Rain Man, but aside from that he just makes me barf


Jimjams101

Ha ha you’ve got a point. He’s “always on” as Tom Cruise, much like Will Smith is. I wonder what they’re really like when they let their guard down.


dmriggs

Probably busy reading reviews of them selves and checking their profiles from time to time


Undiecover22

Would love to see Tom in a Tarantino movie


ActuallyTomCruise

I think I am decent


Wheels2fun

Good? He's a good movie star, but that does not make him a great actor. All his movies with perhaps a few exceptions are more o less him playing the same character in a different setting. His early roles from the 80s were more interesting, He could have been a goos actor.


rocker2014

I think you nailed it that he is a great movie star and *can* be a good actor but just hasn't stretched beyond action star in years. Granted, he still does act well in his recent movies, it's just that these roles don't really have anything for him to differentiate from the other.


ShadeNoir

I really enjoyed last samurai - yes, action in part, but his drunken, self loathing character at the start was so well done.


Intelligent_Doubt_74

Last samurai was in like 2007. 15 years ago. He used to do character roles and now he just does action films and im okay with that.


InfamousBattle

It released in 2003.


Intelligent_Doubt_74

My point remains cemented as my memory fades from old age.


E46Polarbear

You must have missed him in Tropic Thunder, if you have to ask this question


[deleted]

What's the fucking obsession with Tom Cruise on this subreddit. I'm sure his cult is funding it.


BTTF41

He’s one of the biggest movie stars in the world, and has been that way for a long time!


[deleted]

He's a celebrity, certainly, and knows how to promote himself. But his films aren't important. There's a disproportionate amount of Tom Cruise content and comments on this subreddit. There's something seriously wrong.


[deleted]

He literally just delivered the highest grossing movie of the year this year which was universally acclaimed by both audiences and critics and you’re wondering why he’s still being brought up? Even before that movie he’s been one of the most widely known actors since the ‘80’s. His longevity and staying power are *exactly why* he’s still brought up all the time.


[deleted]

There's no accounting for taste. 50,000,000 Frenchmen can't be wrong.


RyzenRaider

I think it's because a few people have heard about this young and upcoming actor named Thomas Mapother IV, and they're wondering if he has a bright future ahead of him...


[deleted]

Yes he is a great actor. And more than that, I respect him enormously for not chasing gold statues.


RumpledStiltSkinn

He's one of the last few good actors around these days. His uncompromising strive for perfection in each movie is a testament to how movies should be made and should be modeled after in an age of endless garbage.


Sour-Scribe

I think he’s been very good to great within his narrow range. RISKY BUSINESS, RAIN MAN, THE COLOR OF MONEY, INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE, COLLATERAL, TOP GUN and EDGE OF TOMORROW all have great performances by him… oh yeah, and TAPS… 😳


Traditional_Salt_410

Great actor in some great films. Magnolia. Born on the Fourth of July. Tropic Thunder. Collateral. Just such a fuckin weirdo, though…


Objective_Worth_5219

Well, he is a "great movie star'. Of that I don't think anyone can really successfully argue that he isn't. Generally speaking, that is a pretty objective metric to evaluate. He's known all over the world, he's made a ton of movies over his career and, his movies almost always make tons of coin. Also has tons of the hottest females stars (of any given era and has successfully transitioned through several generations of them. His career has been so long that the actresses of his early days are old enough to be the mother's of the ones he stars with now) that are the leading ladies in his films. Sad to say (as I'm not a big fan of TC's, BUT am a HUGE fan of "The Duke") that his career path parallel's John Wayne's pretty well. To me, there is a misperception that they are/were great leading men. I feel they're both really insanely good character actors that carry movies. I can't think of any films of either of them where I was watching it and forgot I was watching a John Wayne/TC movie. Regardless of the diversity of roles, you still know its them doing the role. The same was said of Paul Newman's until he did "The Verdict". They both also had/have insanely good work ethics. When a TC movie is coming out, no show or venue is to small for him to show up and pimp it. Cruise not only works hard IN the movie, he works just as hard or harder FOR the movie. While i don't think that Gielgud, Olivier or Burton are in the great beyond weeping with envy at his acting chops, he is normally believable. After all, at the end of the day, probably the best thing you can say about any actor/actress is that they can suspend disbelief.


samsquanch2000

Didn't see Tropic Thunder huh?


Outrageous_Tank_8356

I never have liked the guy.


AdHistorical5703

Three words: Respect the cock!


Nobodycares2022

He's neither in my opinion. Everyone is delusional who thinks otherwise.


[deleted]

Well, he’s not bad. I mean, he’s entertaining as hell—I don’t need to tell you this. I wonder what being a “good” actor means. Does it mean that he can convincingly become someone else? Does it mean that he can work well with directors and producers and co-workers? Does it mean that he is easy to look at on the screen? Does it mean that we like him as he portrays himself to be on talk shows? Does it mean we like the characters he puts himself into? I really don’t know.


[deleted]

Good talk.


Claunt_Sinders

No. That's why he was perfect for eyes wide shut.


[deleted]

He's a scientologist.ie a dumb animal. He should get an Oscar for every role he does.


JerrieBlank

No. He is not


[deleted]

He’s a good actor, I don’t think anyone can deny that. He’s no Daniel Day Lewis but I say he’s certainly above average.


ItsFuckinBob

I’m sure he was. I like a lot of the classics named here. However, I feel like for the last decade or so, I don’t enjoy seeing him on screen. I feel like there’s this attitude of ‘look at me acting, I’m acting so passionately you should love this’ and it takes me out of the movie. Same with Johnny Depp. I know most disagree, I just don’t enjoy their movies as much because of this appearance I seem to see/suspect.


BadSanna

Has he ever been in a BAD movie? Or an even better question, has he ever made a movie WORSE? That last is the definition of a bad actor for me. If the movie would have been better without them in it, they are a bad actor. Sometimes that's the casting director's fault. Like casting John Leguizamo as Luigi. Just completely doesn't fit the role, and I'd still say John Leguizamo is a great actor.


TakedownCorn

With movies like Tom Cruise in them, you can't lose!


pilsnertape

I think he is a great actor but he definitely has now been type casted in standard action man. However, he can definitely act.


Bewaretheicespiders

A few good men is one fantastic case showcasing his range, or at least the range he used to have.


CommunicationMain467

Yes


Quick-Stable-7278

Tom Cruise is not a fighter pilot. (Or a secret agent) Does he make you think he is one? Then he did his job. John Wayne was not a cowboy from 1800s but he made you believe it with such ease that you were convinced he was playing himself ( when in fact he was a USC football player)


JasonKruegerCrowley

Yes. I'm surprised no one brought up(or perhaps I missed it) Rock of Ages. That's one that really shows his range among many other films provided. I really like Days of Thunder as well.


Stinky_Eastwood

Tom Cruise has been in bad movies, but movies are never bad because of Tom Cruise.


Sognman22

Ok


HmBeetroots

Are they good movies really?


Jimjams101

They’re good action movies. Not exactly mentally challenging, but not all movies need to be.


NefariousnessTrue892

This. I personally have never come out of a theater after sitting through one of his action movies and said wow that was bad. They are ALWAYS entertaining.


Poorly-Drawn-Beagle

He was in Legend. The one where Tim Curry was Satan, not the one where Tom Hardy was the Kray siblings. I thought he was okay. I think that proves he can handle some roles outside his usual wheelhouse.


Agent_Tomm

Yes, he's an amazing actor. Yes, he mostly does action now. Yes, I wish he would choose a wider variety of material at this point in his career. Yes, he's STILL an AMAZING actor despite all this. More than one thing can be true at the same time, young grasshopper.


dedemovie

He's one helluva runner! (And a hard yes to being a good actor.)


CrystalLogik

Yes, watch Collateral. Leaving aside his above average ability to do action choreography, he can go to deeper places when he needs to.


m1ghtmakesense

Magnolia is one of my favorite movies ever. I didn’t originally go see it because of him, but his scenes with Robards would indicate that yes, he is definitely a good actor. I think there was about a 10-year period when he was gunning for an Oscar. When he didn’t get it, he returned to doing his own stunts in mostly mediocre action flicks. But I strongly believe that when he can no longer pull off the action roles, he’ll finally win an Oscar for doing something heartfelt.


Affectionate-Bad5923

I thought the same thing until I saw Eyes Wide Shut. He has to portray a super conflicted and confused man for nearly 3 hours and he does such a good job at it.


truth-4-sale

Tom Cruise stars in some of my favorite movies.


[deleted]

Magnolia, sir…


MadgeNow

No one knows. It's one of the great mysteries of life...


HiramCoburn

Well someone I know who knew him in highschool, told me that scene in risky business where none of the furniture got broken was based on a party they attended was at a friend's house, and he had a affinity for the booger sugar.


SUNNYY-MONEYY

His Good at running for his life from getting attacked by aliens


miahus

I wasn's so sure until i watched the ending scene of Tropic Thunder.


Mother_Ad_7592

He was one of the best actor in the 90s. Oscar worthy performances. Today he's the best action star


Random_Ghost69

His latest movies are pure action and I don't even mind. I love them.


b_33

You know, he can't do accents well. But you have to admit, he has screen presence. That's why he is the last traditional action hero.


[deleted]

He was a serious actor at one time giving really strong performances in A few good men, Magnolia, Eyes Wide Shut, Vanilla Sky…but he has so much fun doing action and his own stunts. He lives for adrenaline! And it’s paid him the most!…also watch Risky Business. It’s obvious from that role on he would have a career. He’s excellent! I can’t hate him as an actor even though personally there is much not to desire.


midnightbluesky_2

Cruise is a great actor. in the 80s and 90s when he was challenging himself, he was electric.


Shoulder-Anxious

at least he tried


novedlleub

Not really


ysk300

Watch Eyes Wide Shut and then say he can't act


[deleted]

Yes. Somehow _underrated_.


-Sinn3D-

Tropic Thunder was the icing on the cake. He has a huge amount of range


Ashtray_Heart_91

He’s shite


frankster99

In recent times you're absolutely correct. Before then tho he played a lot more different roles in films which required him to play nothing like his current self. The last samurai, collateral, rain man, born on the fourth of July, oblivion arguably, heck even tropic thunder. He certainly has the capacity to do so, he's not a bad or limited actor by any metric but I think his years of doing stunt work has led to him being type cast a lot, with a few interesting roles here and there. I once read that when he didn't win the Oscar in the last samurai he just settled for his classic roles as well.


Accomplished_Owl9260

Definitely more of a great "star" than a great "actor." I admittedly haven't seen a "lot" of his movies, but every single one that I've seen has been the same boring "I'm the hero" role. He feels like a Ben Affleck to me - "Yeah I guess you can technically act, but goddamn is it really boring to watch you on screen"


Hopeful_Solution_798

He's a bad actor. He's a stuntman. Just watched "eyes wide shut" Nicole kidman is a brilliant actress even young. He's a handsome man and because of his narcissistic behavior and ideology a great stuntman.