June 30, 2010
Thinking of Tom
I’ve been watching this trailer alot. Not intentionally, it’s just that when watching World Cup on ESPN3, it is consistently showing. Over and over I thought to myself, “Huh…this movie looks ok.” The reason for thinking this, I’m ashamed to say, is because in the year 2010, we love it when Tom Cruise is crazy. I mean, we love it when all stars go crazy whether they be corrupt Disney folks to the old, repeat offenders. But it goes without saying that Tom Cruise holds a special place in our heart. One can’t speak of jumping up and down on a couch without invoking the thought of Tom Cruise, after all.
My guilt is eased a bit after reading this wonderful NPR article. Strange though, because the premise isn’t about Tom Cruise the nutter, its about Tom Cruise the goofball. But it is spot on. There was a while there where Tom Cruise had the golden touch to any movie. Whether it was the looks, the fact that he made it look to easy, or the fact that he gave us all an excuse to bust out “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling” at karaoke bars everywhere, Tom Cruise wasn’t someone that seemed like he could fall from grace. But the fall seemed to come and seems insurmountable. Which is a shame. I want to genuinely believe when I see things like this incredibly vulgar scene from Tropic Thunder that this is a guy who can take a joke and laugh at himself.
Maybe, maybe not.
The numbers are showing that the people ain’t buying in. Maybe it is just being dominated by Toy Story, whatever saga of Twilight they are on now, or dare I even say Grown Ups. And as a quick aside, Toy Story 3 was AMAZING, I dare say the best of the series. Best “third” movie of all time? It just might be. But I digress.
I am willing to say that, for better or for worse, I’m willing to give Knight and Day a shot. I’ll wait til it’s in the cheap theaters perhaps, but this reminds me of the Tom Cruise I miss. A simpler time of slap bracelets, pogs. A time of “Show me the money!” and “Did you order the code red?” And I hope the rest of you can give the guy a chance to be that ridiculous guy that, if you are honest with yourself, you have to admit had a certain appeal back in the day. Maybe it will be horrible. Probably will be. But I for one am happy to see Tom Cruise trying to play this card. Valkyrie wasn’t going to work, I felt confident in that, and MI:4 shouldn’t work. It seems like a good play to me, so well done Mr. Cruise. Keep smiling that smile.
