Cruise Whips Out His Funny Bone
For his days of Tropic Thunder, Tom Cruise gets fat, bald and hilarious. Can we love him again? Maybe!
Tropic Thunder, the latest from writer-director-actor Ben Stiller, doesn’t open till August 13, but the trailer has been playing in theaters (and on laptops everywhere) for seemingly forever. The very funny—and often razor-sharp—big-budget film about the ridiculousness of big-budget films lampoons just about everything under the Hollywood sun. Per the previews, you probably know that Ben Stiller plays a fading action star; Jack Black, a tubby Warhol-wigged comedian; and Robert Downey Jr., an Australian method actor who undergoes an experimental pigmentation procedure in order to play an African-American soldier. All three are thrown together on the set of yet another Vietnam War picture (cue CSNY and the majestic helicopters!), where Steve Coogan is their bedraggled director.
But besides a high-powered cast, the movie has a secret, too, which Paramount and DreamWorks have been doing their best to keep under wraps until after the film opens: that a small, uncredited performance from Tom Cruise steals the whole show. In Tropic Thunder, Mr. Cruise plays Les Grossman, a bald, hirsute, foul-mouthed studio mogul with a penchant for hip-hop hip-swiveling moves. It’s an astonishingly funny and surprising supporting performance (especially considering Mr. Cruise’s last outing was in the dreadful, if well-meaning, Lions for Lambs). But producers have been trying to keep it quiet, playing up in photos the outrageousness of Mr. Downey Jr.’s blackface and Mr. Stiller’s ever expanding biceps.
In fact, when set shots of Mr. Cruise dressed in character surfaced on the Web in November of 2007, his lawyers (who seemingly have work to do all the time) threatened action, and the photos quickly disappeared. (Google it, though; some have crept back.) Even two weeks before release, no one involved in the production—not Mr. Stiller or his co-writers, Justin Theroux and Etan Cohen, nor the producers or co-stars—are willing to talk about Mr. Cruise’s performance until after the film is in theaters. Mr. Cruise’s past directors won’t even talk. (It’s a lockdown!) But we’ll say it: Once again, Tom Cruise has managed to completely flip our perceptions of him upside down and inside out. It doesn’t spoil a thing to say that the film is worth seeing for Mr. Cruise’s performance alone, or that we hope this might usher in a new era for the strange, secretive actor. Could it be that, in fact, Tom Cruise actually gets it? Is it possible that Tom Cruise has a sense of humor about being Tom Cruise? Can we love him again without also feeling creeped out?
OF COURSE, this isn’t the first time we’ve reassessed Tom Cruise. In 1999, 18 years into a career that had Mr. Cruise as the go-to American leading man, with those gleaming giant teeth, he surprised audiences with his turn as Frank TJ Mackey in Magnolia, a cold, coiled mass of furious energy, whose first three words in the film set the tone for his character: “Respect the cock.” Critics raved, and Mr. Cruise received an Academy Award nomination (his only other nominations came from 1996’s Jerry Maguire and 1989’s Born on the Fourth of July). In one supporting role, Mr. Cruise added a whole new layer to his image; he could do big box office, he could do political, and he could also do weird and indie. Next Page >
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I can just imagine the pitch: "Tom Cruise is a bear."
I think they're keeping it quiet because Tom Cruise has been killing movies lately. With all his weird behavoir and stupid comments about psychiatry and medicine, I have a hard time enjoying any performance of his anymore. I don't go to his films because just looking at him makes me angry and uncomfortable. It's like watching Paris Hilton, you wonder how someone so brainwashed got so much power.
When I heard he was in this I had second thoughts about going and it was up there in the top 3 movies I wanted to see this summer. Good they're keeping it under wraps, cause the rest of the film looks hilarious! I'd hate for it to tank because of one annoying celebrity.
I think the bad spin on Tom Cruise lately is wrong. The guy is honest about himself and the media fooled people into thinking its bad behavior. I might not agree with everything in his belief system but he has the balls to knock down misconceptions we all have for the medical industry among other things. So he jumped on a couch. Big deal. the previous comment about brainwashing should look at your own beliefs. We are all brainwashed by stuff including media conceptions about artists and acceptable religion.
On dissing Tom, I personally didn't like "The Last Samurai" which is a poor westernized depiction of history, sheened up.
I don't think Tom Cruise would be the kiss of death for this movie, though he is still pretty toxic overall. That "Good Nazi" movie is going to tank like and anchor ankle bracelet.
What's going on here is an attempt to surprise audiences and salvage a huge movie star's career. Look, Cruise may have enemies galore -- and deserve them -- but there are so few bankable stars nowadays that Hollywood is loathe to lose one.
The key would be for Cruise to got to give up such tight-fisted control of the movies he appears in. That last M:I movie was HORRIBLE, and it had his fingerprints all over it. "Samurai" and "War of the Worlds," though they each had their moments, were likewise infected. Smartest thing he could do would be come back with a M:I that really IS an emsemble piece, where he's the star maybe, yeah, but is surrounded by a strong team who get to do important things too. Not sure he's there yet.
It's not so much that Cruise has said and done goofy things on TV a few times, it's that the media drones on about them forever.
I don't care about his Scientology. I don't care if he differs with Brooke Shield, or any other actor, on any subject. I don't care if he jumped on Ophra's sofa. He's no different than any other actor as far as I'm concerned. If it is a good movie, and he does a good job in his role, I will probably go see it.
How come nobody ever talks about how the perfect, amazing Tom Cruise just upped and moved on from this then doting wife, Nicole Kidman. He almost killed her with his selfishness and then moved on to a much younger woman. I can't stand the man because no decent human being could do what he did to Nicole Kidman. We all saw it with our own eyes. Hope what goes around comes around back to him. He deserves it. No matter what he does, he will never redeem himself in my eyes but I guess in our self-indulgent society what he did was okay. Go figure.
The guy is nuttier than a Snickers.
Only reason people are tooting horns over this role, is because his Hitler movie was delayed and delayed and delayed until after this bit role, so the death knell to his career would not begin its sound.
Now they are gonna hype this bit role up over the moon because it's the only decent thing he's had in years.
Tom Mapother IV may have moments of talent, but he squeezes his productions to death and every set he works on is infected with members of his Cult recruiting like crazy off his coattails.
Anyone who'd believe the world is infested with the souls of aliens who were killed by putting them on the rims of volcanos and had their souls flown on intergalactic Boeings and soothed in movie theaters, is a NUTTER. End of discussion.
Boeings?
You're the crazy one.
They were Douglas DC-8s.
Am I imagining things, or does he have "man boobs" (not the "fat suit" either!!) eeeeeeeewwww. And I really doubt he "steals" the show either. There's too many other great actors in the movie. Just hype for his next major bomb--and his massive ego.
Cruise has totally lost the plot on his big budget ego trip movies. Compare them to the Dark Knight. Bale took a back seat to the colourful villain to the benefit of the film. Can you imagine Cruise doing that?Don't think so. He is so used to putting in his smug inane grin after every line. I reckon comedy is now the only option in his career.
Give me a break about poor professional victim Nicole Kidman. Talk about a phony. Just because Tom Cruise had the dignity to keep his mouth shut about troubles in their marriage and she cried on everyone's shoulder, the general public thinks the divorce was all his fault. (Hello: Jennifer Aniston). Nicole is a selfish, self-centered hypocrite. Example: She goes on TV to comment that now she can wear high heels and then turns around and marries another shorty. Why didn't the media throw that comment back in her face. What's good for the goose is good for the gander! I hope she is a better mother to Sunday that she has been to her two other children. Time will tell. Final comment. Nicole: KEEP YOUR CLOTHES ON!
I love him and don't care what anyone else thinks or says about him.
Tom Cruise is a nut. He is crazy. He won't let his wife play in The Dark Knight but he gets to be in what ever movie he wants to suck in. Scientology is a made up religion, that was made up by a con artist. Scientology people are screwed in the head
This is just another ploy to rescue his career. I'm sure a army of consultants recommended that he take a comedic role to engender himself to the public again.
I have nothing against Tom Cruise (when he makes a decent movie again I'll go see it) but scientology is a scam and either he has been brainwashed or he is in on the money making operation.
Tom Cruise has committed the unforgiveable crimes of being enthusiastic and opinionated and uncynical when correct behavior demands that we sit down, be quiet, watch TV, and consume. God forbid that we should actually accomplish anything. Tom Cruise lives life big, and makes his mistakes in public. He has put his foot in his mouth, asked forgiveness and been forgiven. He's a doting dad to three children. He has not skipped a beat in his movie career. All this despite being boiled in oil for dinner by the press in a seemingly obsessive, sadly comical attempt to see what damage they can inflict. So unattractive. This article, on the other hand, is a breathe of fresh air. I think I've liked every movie I ever saw Tom Cruise in. And I love Ben Stiller. I'm gonna see this one.
I love TC and think the media has given him a really bad rap. Do we really know that he was responsible for Katie Holmes not starring in the Dark Knight? Do we really know why he and Nicole Kidman's marriage broke up? The guy has been making entertaining movies for years, he's a good dad, and most people in Hollywood say he is a loyal and generous friend. He has provided opportunities for many young actors. So why all the spite? It seems that to be cool and accepted by the public nowadays you have to be on drugs and throw phones at people.
He is in his 40's we all get man boobs.
Even if Scientology is made up, we have freedom of religion so can anyone judge.
Aren't all religions made up? I don't think Grog the caveman was putting on a tie and putting stones in the offering plate on Sundays. Someone had to create our religions.
He's an actor. You try to do your best in each film and sometimes it doesnt work out. Sometimes you even get in a funk for a while. Why bust his chops...that's life.
No one knows what goes on between he and Katie. Why she didn't take the Dark Knight job is pure conjecture.
Totally agree.
oops to my previous comment.
No I don't totally agree! I was trying to leave a comment of agreement about the self-indulgent society we live in. True religion was created by God and not man, but you and Tom certainly have the right to believe what you want.
oops to my previous comment.
No I don't totally agree! I was trying to leave a comment of agreement about the self-indulgent society we live in. True religion was created by God and not man, but you and Tom certainly have the right to believe what you want.
I'm excited about this movie. I love Ben Stiller and I would love to see the funny side of Tom Cruise.
One thing I've noticed: Whenever there is a mention of Tom Cruise in the media, it brings out comments against his religion of Scientology. I've checked this with a good friend who is a linguist, and he confirmed that the anti-scientology blogs are all written by a maximum of maybe 3 different people. So it looks like there are 3 people who don't like Scientology. The vagueness of the Internet makes it look like more. Hmmm.
All religions were created by man. It doesn't mean there's no God, but God would not have created religions. Come on.
Give God more credit than that.
I wish Tom Cruise the best - he seems like a nice guy and I do plan to see the movie.
http://www.ezlink.com/~perry/CoS/Theology/barwell2.htm
"Scientology is not a religion in any sense, 'except as a matter for soliciters and accountants.' It is a 'religous angle", as Hubbard called it in his letter to O'Brien."
Hubbard never saw it as a religion. He saw it as a tool to destroy everything involved with Mental Health. The whole of psychology, psychiatry, and all the academics that go along with it. Heck, the ultimate goal of Scientology is to literally enslave any practitioner of mental health who refuses to adopt Hubbard's "tech".
"I've checked this with a good friend who is a linguist, and he confirmed that the anti-scientology blogs are all written by a maximum of maybe 3 different people."
Stop astroturfing, we know you're a Scientologist.
Everyone has the right to choose their own path providing it does no harm to others. The press has shown disgusting behavior in sticking their nose into the personal behavior and beliefs of others.
Thing is, his path does plenty of harm to others. read about it here - www.youfoundthecard.com
Yeah, the press only publishes the truth..
Saw this at Comic Con at the end of July and all I can say is this: Regardless of what Tom Cruise has done OUT of the studio, his performance in Tropic Thunder is effen AMAZING!! He DOES steal the show-or, at the very least, the awesomeness level he achieves is LARGER than the role he was given. Way Larger.
That man can dance in any ghetto club and not get shot.
AND why exactly were people creeped out by Tom Cruise? What a bunch of sheep! Just because someone has different religous views doesn't make them creepy. Start by minding your own business and then you wouldn't feel so creeped out by his way of life and beliefs. And for the record, he was right about America being drugged up. Not every little overactive boy needs Ritalin.
I've always thought Tom Cruise was funny. I hope this next stage in his career does include some comedies. It's a good look for him.