Tom Cruise is one of the biggest movie stars out there, keeping alive a century-old studio system that has been overcome by a combination of franchise filmmaking and streaming. His unique charm and daredevil stunts combined to create the most exciting and memorable blockbusters of our era.
Off-screen, Cruise is elusive. He is secretive about the details of his private life, even when he makes the occasional effort to seem like an ordinary guy, he ends up sounding like an A.I. When asked which team he was cheering for at a Giants-Dodgers game he attended, he replied, “I’m a fan of baseball.”
Much of his early success as an actor, in the 80s and 90s, was predicated on a certain charm. Around the turn of the century, he complicated that image by appearing in more challenging films. He has since moved away from romance and drama, instead firmly placing himself in the world of the action-adventure genre. His performance tends to emphasize his easy-going attitude and powerful athleticism, but he still retains a touch of the charm from his younger years.
One of the most defining features of the last decade of his career is his incredible quality control. Recent Cruise films have an uncommon degree of ambition and enthusiasm that is rare in today’s landscape. You get the sense he treats every movie he does as if it were the most important one.
His devotion has most certainly paid off. “Top Gun: Maverick” hit the 1-billion-dollar mark in just the first week. Throughout that movie, Cruise insisted on keeping everything as real as possible; demanding a minimum of computer-generated effects, forcing himself through flight training, and encouraging his co-stars to train with him. While it’s true that it would probably be easier to do this in front of a green screen, that’s not Cruise, he cares too much.
But the most spectacular part of his dovation is his loyalty to the traditional cinematic experience. Cruise has remained clear that he would not make a movie for Netflix or Amazon Prime, “I make movies for the big screen,” he explained. His interest in preserving that original experience makes those who still care about cinema and fear for its future, feel invaluable.
Link:
Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/04/movies/tom-cruise-top-gun-maverick.html?searchResultPosition=1
Off-screen, Cruise is elusive. He is secretive about the details of his private life, even when he makes the occasional effort to seem like an ordinary guy, he ends up sounding like an A.I. When asked which team he was cheering for at a Giants-Dodgers game he attended, he replied, “I’m a fan of baseball.”
Much of his early success as an actor, in the 80s and 90s, was predicated on a certain charm. Around the turn of the century, he complicated that image by appearing in more challenging films. He has since moved away from romance and drama, instead firmly placing himself in the world of the action-adventure genre. His performance tends to emphasize his easy-going attitude and powerful athleticism, but he still retains a touch of the charm from his younger years.
One of the most defining features of the last decade of his career is his incredible quality control. Recent Cruise films have an uncommon degree of ambition and enthusiasm that is rare in today’s landscape. You get the sense he treats every movie he does as if it were the most important one.
His devotion has most certainly paid off. “Top Gun: Maverick” hit the 1-billion-dollar mark in just the first week. Throughout that movie, Cruise insisted on keeping everything as real as possible; demanding a minimum of computer-generated effects, forcing himself through flight training, and encouraging his co-stars to train with him. While it’s true that it would probably be easier to do this in front of a green screen, that’s not Cruise, he cares too much.
But the most spectacular part of his dovation is his loyalty to the traditional cinematic experience. Cruise has remained clear that he would not make a movie for Netflix or Amazon Prime, “I make movies for the big screen,” he explained. His interest in preserving that original experience makes those who still care about cinema and fear for its future, feel invaluable.
Link:
Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/04/movies/tom-cruise-top-gun-maverick.html?searchResultPosition=1
