Why Does Everyone Hate Tom Cruise?
A few days ago, I twittered about The Last Samurai and how much I love it. The response from the Twitter-verse and Facebook was a resounding “UGH – I hate Tom Cruise.”
So I thought I’d remind you all what Tom Cruise has done for us over the last 25 years.
In 1986, he starred in Top Gun. Everyone knows and loves this movie. And everyone has quoted it. He showed us what cool looks like.
In 1988, he starred opposite Dustin Hoffman in Rain Man. Rain Man, people! Nuff said.
In 1990, Tom decided to revisit Top Gun but this time on the ground with racing – Days of Thunder. And as a testament to how awesome Tom and Top Gun are, the movie worked!
In 1992, Tom joined up with Nicole again for a Ron Howard film called Far and Away. A good film in the vein of classic epic westerns.
That very same year, Tom gave one of his best performances in one of the best films ever made – A Few Good Men. Another tremendously quotable film.
In 1993, Tom followed that one up with The Firm. The late Sydney Pollack directed one of the best suspense-thrillers ever made. I love how Tom’s character slowly begins to see how screwed he is. And I love seeing him claw his way out. Classic film.
In 1996, Tom played Ethan Hunt in Mission: Impossible. Although I hated the fact that the filmmakers messed with the Jim Phelps character, this movie is so much fun.
Also in 1996, Tom played a sports agent with a conscience in Jerry Maguire. I came late to the Jerry Maguire fan-club. I saw it for the first time about 4 years ago and instantly loved it.
In 1999, Tom took on a role opposite of what he usually plays in Magnolia. No one can deny the brilliance of that film and Tom’s performance.
In 2002, Tom paired up with Steven Spielberg to make Minority Report. And the result was a fresh take on futuristic movies and a fun ride.
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Up to this point, everyone seemed to still like Tom. But then he got a little crazy, jumped on a couch, converted to scientology, and killed public opinion about him. But so what. He’s still a great actor who plays tremendously like-able characters.
Which brings me back to The Last Samurai. It was made in 2003. The movie is an awesome epic that feels like a David Lean movie from the 60s. If you haven’t seen it: WATCH IT!
On the same note, I have to mention Mission: Impossible III. Directed by J.J. Abrams, it’s a fresh take on the Mission:Impossible series that you should all check out. J.J. didn’t steer us wrong with Star Trek, did he? So give it a chance. There are some amazing gadgets (that we all missed in the latest Bond movies.) Don’t let the 2nd movie ruin the 3rd one. We can all just pretend the 2nd one didn’t happen. I’m hoping we’ll get a M:I:4.
We can all agree that Tom is kinda nuts. But he does great work (for the most part – not sure what he was thinking with War of the Worlds. I never even saw Eyes Wide Shut.)
I’m sure the guy who works on your car is a little strange but you don’t care because he gets the job done. Your hair stylist probably has a streak of pink in her own hair but you trust her to give you what you like. All I’m asking is that you cut Tom some slack and remember all the joy he’s given us over the years.
On a side note: As a Christian, I don’t believe it’s right to boycott Tom because of his beliefs. It would be my very great privilege to work with Tom one day. I’m not going to shut him down because of his “religion.” Who knows, if we treat him with the same kind of love and compassion that Jesus would, he might just find Christianity a more fulfilling way of life.
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Anyone care to comment on all this? What Tom Cruise movies did I miss that you love? Who else can we all appreciate even though they’re a little nutty?
I have to mention his hilarious role in Tropic Thunder. It made me forget “Crazy Tom Cruise” and like him again. Although I have to admit, War of the Worlds, though really terrible in plot, was actually a good role for him. Sure, he starred in the film, but rather than play the character that the entire plot hinges upon, he played a deadbeat dad on a quest for redemption.
I can agree on both points. Both very different roles for ol Tom.
I’ll totally go with you on The Last Samurai. That film was brilliant.
And Jerry McGuire was good because of him (but also the amazing supporting cast).
And I loved Far and Away and Minority Report.
But I think most everything else he’s done has been kind of because of everything around him, not necessarily because of him. I’m not against Tom in general. I mean The Last Samurai was the first film I’ve seen him in where HE was the reason the film was great. But Minority Report was about the world and the action, Far and Away was the romance and the setting.
He’s a good stock action hero in the Mission Impossible films, but nothing amazing. (In MI:3, it’s Phillip Seymour Hoffman who steals the show, in my humble opinion.)
I didn’t dig The Firm. It seemed like a stock performance. Same thing with Rain Man and Top Gun. They’re fine films, and he’s good. But again, nothing great.
I just think in general, that it’s not a hate of him as much as a seeming overvalue of his ability. Again, Samurai shows it’s in him. We just don’t see it all that often for the hype to match the man. Again, only my opinion, but I think that’s it. And the internet hates everyone, so there’s that.
Haha. The internet DOES hate everyone. Hype is a funny thing. There is a sweet spot where you can have everyone love you but if you get too much of it, people start to hate you. Weird.
two words! church of scientology and oprah