Once again Luke Y. Thompson (AV Club) has given us an exclusive film review you’ll find only here at the Bunker. Our association with Luke goes back more than 20 years, to a now defunct publication, New Times Los Angeles, where he was one of the very few reviewers in the country who actually liked John Travolta’s
If it’s a choice between Ethan Hunt and Indiana Jones no contest. I met Cruise through Scientology and I met Harrison Ford through his manager Pat McQueeny. My impressions were quite different. Ford was humble, mature with a wry sense of humor and Cruise was ever the Boy Scout, serious with a false sense of humility. As someone who has worked in films for 40 years I have respect for both actors. With Ford I have fond memories of the many iconic films he has done in diverse roles. Movies that have been key markers in my life.
With Cruise I have a few good memories of roles he has done mixed with sadness that his talent has been wasted on so many vacuous action films. The reviewer eludes to the idea that if Cruise actually stopped trying to be the ever youthful uber Scientology OT and actually played a role reflecting his age he might be interesting to watch. I agree.
My oft repeated view regarding creative people who still cling to Hubbards lies; SCIENTOLOGY KILLS CREATIVITY. Tom, it’s never to late to leave the cult.
And IMHO that will be your ultimate MISSION IMPOSSIBLE!
I could see Miscavige pushing Cruise to do more movies till the end of time. “Keep going, Tom! We have to show everyone you are super human and it comes from Scientology!”
It’s always alarming to watch a performer become a parody of themself. I’ve never believed any character the man has played. Even with his “best” performances (TJ Mackey and Ron Kovics), I always see him behind his character’s facades, strenuously practicing his craft. He always comes off as Tom Cruise being the best Tom Cruise he can possibly be, at least in his own mind.
Once more, Luke has been sharpening his critical knives on the Algonquin Round Table. Not only has the M:I franchise nuked the fridge, it's jumped the shark. 🦈
It is just sad to me what the cult of Scientology has done to TC. I remember when he was young, he actually was a good actor. Nowadays, to me, he is just no longer believable, which is SO important for me in a character. Everything he does totally seems like acting, yes, even his running. Hard to get into the movie when the lead character doesn’t seem able to. I never got through the last MI movie. It’s like watching someone pretending to be human, if that makes any sense. Anyway, just my opinion.
Esai Morales has done many interesting TV shows and movies. I love actors who do the Outer Limits and Twilight Zone. Can he carry the movie?? Why not, Cruise's Ethan Hunt is just a caricature and his running skills are legendary. Esai is at least 5 inches taller than Cruise so he wins the 'I can look over people at parades' contest.
Luke has used the Force to nail the latest MI stuntmageadon.
Luke Y. Thompson has written a marvelous review. It was compulsively readable. I hunger for this kind of critique in the film industry. Someone with wit AND wisdom.
If I were Tom Cruise, and read this review, I would shrivel like a salted snail. Even though Luke Y. Thompson is appreciative of Cruise's acting skills, I don't believe that is Cruise's mission.
Tom Cruise never got his final high-security MI orders. The INT Base in Hemet has procured agents to dispose of all of the operators before the messages could be delivered. I was one of those operators.
Someone smart enough with resources I don't have must get through to Cruise. Tom needs help. The world needs help. The future generation must be saved. That's your mission if you accept it.
If it’s a choice between Ethan Hunt and Indiana Jones no contest. I met Cruise through Scientology and I met Harrison Ford through his manager Pat McQueeny. My impressions were quite different. Ford was humble, mature with a wry sense of humor and Cruise was ever the Boy Scout, serious with a false sense of humility. As someone who has worked in films for 40 years I have respect for both actors. With Ford I have fond memories of the many iconic films he has done in diverse roles. Movies that have been key markers in my life.
With Cruise I have a few good memories of roles he has done mixed with sadness that his talent has been wasted on so many vacuous action films. The reviewer eludes to the idea that if Cruise actually stopped trying to be the ever youthful uber Scientology OT and actually played a role reflecting his age he might be interesting to watch. I agree.
My oft repeated view regarding creative people who still cling to Hubbards lies; SCIENTOLOGY KILLS CREATIVITY. Tom, it’s never to late to leave the cult.
And IMHO that will be your ultimate MISSION IMPOSSIBLE!
I could see Miscavige pushing Cruise to do more movies till the end of time. “Keep going, Tom! We have to show everyone you are super human and it comes from Scientology!”
Tom Cruise is all Miscavige has.
Well, they have each other, don’t they?
Sunny, yes regarding public figures Tom is Davey’s last Hurrah.
It’s always alarming to watch a performer become a parody of themself. I’ve never believed any character the man has played. Even with his “best” performances (TJ Mackey and Ron Kovics), I always see him behind his character’s facades, strenuously practicing his craft. He always comes off as Tom Cruise being the best Tom Cruise he can possibly be, at least in his own mind.
Once more, Luke has been sharpening his critical knives on the Algonquin Round Table. Not only has the M:I franchise nuked the fridge, it's jumped the shark. 🦈
The only cruise movie I liked was Rain Man. And yeah, I’d still watch Battlefield Earth over any M:I movie any day of the week.......
It is just sad to me what the cult of Scientology has done to TC. I remember when he was young, he actually was a good actor. Nowadays, to me, he is just no longer believable, which is SO important for me in a character. Everything he does totally seems like acting, yes, even his running. Hard to get into the movie when the lead character doesn’t seem able to. I never got through the last MI movie. It’s like watching someone pretending to be human, if that makes any sense. Anyway, just my opinion.
Esai Morales has done many interesting TV shows and movies. I love actors who do the Outer Limits and Twilight Zone. Can he carry the movie?? Why not, Cruise's Ethan Hunt is just a caricature and his running skills are legendary. Esai is at least 5 inches taller than Cruise so he wins the 'I can look over people at parades' contest.
Luke has used the Force to nail the latest MI stuntmageadon.
Luke Y. Thompson has written a marvelous review. It was compulsively readable. I hunger for this kind of critique in the film industry. Someone with wit AND wisdom.
If I were Tom Cruise, and read this review, I would shrivel like a salted snail. Even though Luke Y. Thompson is appreciative of Cruise's acting skills, I don't believe that is Cruise's mission.
Tom Cruise never got his final high-security MI orders. The INT Base in Hemet has procured agents to dispose of all of the operators before the messages could be delivered. I was one of those operators.
Someone smart enough with resources I don't have must get through to Cruise. Tom needs help. The world needs help. The future generation must be saved. That's your mission if you accept it.