I have to admit, Top Gun Maverick warmed me back to him after a long period of sort of "Cruise apathy" where it's like - okay, he's involved in this crazy cult thing, I can't support that.

Well, as has been discussed on this board - the Mission Impossible movies are next level bad ass. I won't not see a Tom Cruise movie because of the Scientology thing.

What are y'all's thoughts on Tom Cruise today? Despite the Scientology stuff and his few wacky episodes, I don't seem to recall him being super loud mouthed and woke like some of the more recent superstars are.

We watched the original Mission Impossible tonight, and then Tropic Thunder. Can't help it, love Cruise.

Thoughts?

He's definitely still a hardcore Scientologist, as his primary residence is in Clearwater, Florida, where the Scientology headquarters is located, which he lives super close to. They even had the final auditions, with Cruise, for Rooster - between Miles Teller, Glen Powell, and Nicholas Hoult - AT the Scientology headquarters in Clearwater, as Paramount flew them all out there at Cruise's request (meaning he may very well have been in the middle of some weird Scientology sh*t and didn't want to make the otherwise easy trip to LA for whatever reason). So he's still VERY much into it all, I just think he knows his career could be over if he ever seriously mentions or publicly discusses his involvement again, given how bad the optics on Scientology have become in the past decade or so (where it's gone from "weird" to basically "evil").

I also have it on good authority that Katie Holmes either doesn't allow Cruise around their daughter, Suri - or - Cruise doesn't see her due to Scientology constraints, because of how they look down on or maybe even forbid members from seeing/spending time with non-Scientologist family members. Either way, they're estranged.

So, all that said, my personal theory is that because Cruise can't really talk about Scientology publicly anymore, and doesn't ever see his only biological child (who is somehow now a teenager), which I'm sure kills him deep down, he basically now commits every waking moment of his life to making massive, big-screen spectacles, almost as a way to cope with his current situation. Which is incredible for us, and I love his commitment for purely selfish reasons... but at the same time, I *do* wonder how long he can keep all this up before we get another "couch jumping" moment, and he either kind of starts to lose it again, or fully snaps.

Saw The Color of Money the other day.

Forest Whitaker, Paul Newman, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio

If you want something to do, go back and watch The Hustler with Newman and Jackie Gleason. Then watch the sequel, Color of Money.

Color of Money has to be one of the greatest sequels of all time.

That scene with Forest Whittaker and Paul Newman is one of the best scenes of all time.

Whittaker managed to upstage Paul Newman in his own movie. Was a great scene.

It's crazy, and sad, the hold that cult must have on him, for him to not even be able to see his child. He's probably the one person who could bring Scientology down completely if he were to see the light.

It's insane that Miscavige's wife is still "missing".

Tom Cruise is what he's always been: Great actor who gives 110% & a total whackadoo.
Ignore what actors say or do off-screen & you'll enjoy movies more. (There are some ones who are great IRL, but it's a good general policy)

I pretty much despise him. And I think his movies suck especially mission impossible and top gun. The only movie I really like him in is a few good men. And of course his Tropic Thunder cameo.

double aught said:

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It's crazy, and sad, the hold that cult must have on him, for him to not even be able to see his child. He's probably the one person who could bring Scientology down completely if he were to see the light.

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At this point the conspiracy theorist in me believes they have dirt on him that would destroy his career or worse. Only way I could see someone being kept from their daughter and staying silent about Scientology.

BenFiasco14 said:

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I have to admit, Top Gun Maverick warmed me back to him after a long period of sort of "Cruise apathy" where it's like - okay, he's involved in this crazy cult thing, I can't support that.

Well, as has been discussed on this board - the Mission Impossible movies are next level bad ass. I won't not see a Tom Cruise movie because of the Scientology thing.

What are y'all's thoughts on Tom Cruise today? Despite the Scientology stuff and his few wacky episodes, I don't seem to recall him being super loud mouthed and woke like some of the more recent superstars are.

We watched the original Mission Impossible tonight, and then Tropic Thunder. Can't help it, love Cruise.

Thoughts?

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yes he is part of a pretty bad cult religion

but personally he seems to be a super professional guy who treats people with respect

One of the more bizarre double life things going.

Few people have given their all like that guy has when it comes to his acting. I will watch ANYTHING that guy does because at a minimum it will be entertaining. It might exist but I can't think of a single movie he's done offhand that I didn't enjoy. He should go down as one of, if not the most, consistently bankable and watchable actors of all time. I'm actually sitting here pissed off that we have yet to see the new Top Gun and that I missed it in IMAX. I will forever harbor anger at my wife over this.

And then there is his Scientology stuff. I don't even know what to make of that. I think Mimi Rogers got him into that mess? I don't recall and I can't fathom what keeps him there. Maybe he's actually working against them on the inside and is running his own real life Mission Impossible to bring them down.

And then he makes a movie about how he did it. How f'ing awesome would that be?

That movie would only be awesome if he does his own stunts…..maybe scale the Scientology building only to dive off after blowing up all their E-meters

I really don't care about the Scientology thing and never jumped on the Cruise-hating bandwagon. I think he has more good movies than bad (may be around 80/20), and is one of those actors that will immediately get my attention when a new movie is announced.

When it comes to Hollywood elites, I bet there are less than 5% who I would actually like if they opened their mouths to talk about their lives and beliefs. The rest of them, I tend to like the ones who just go to work and do their damn job. Really, as long as an actor isn't overtly political and/or woke, I can like them.

Looking at his movies, I can't name a single actor with more of an impressive last 20 years. The Mummy is the only movie I would consider "bad". The rest range from entertaining to amazing. The Last Samurai is one of my favorite movies of the last 20 years.

My perspective is they can have their beliefs and personal or political agendas. We all do. The only time it really affects me is when they pretend to have it all figured out and call me a POS for having a different set of beliefs. They are no longer entertaining at that point & I have no reason to give them my time or money.

Milwaukees Best Light said:

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I just wonder how much longer they can keep trotting him out in action films? Dude is getting up there in age. And, do they have nobody else?

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I think he will keep making movies until he physically just can't do it anymore

YouBet said:

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One of the more bizarre double life things going.

Few people have given their all like that guy has when it comes to his acting. I will watch ANYTHING that guy does because at a minimum it will be entertaining. It might exist but I can't think of a single movie he's done offhand that I didn't enjoy. He should go down as one of, if not the most, consistently bankable and watchable actors of all time. I'm actually sitting here pissed off that we have yet to see the new Top Gun and that I missed it in IMAX. I will forever harbor anger at my wife over this.

And then there is his Scientology stuff. I don't even know what to make of that. I think Mimi Rogers got him into that mess? I don't recall and I can't fathom what keeps him there. Maybe he's actually working against them on the inside and is running his own real life Mission Impossible to bring them down.

And then he makes a movie about how he did it. How f'ing awesome would that be?

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STARRING … Tom Cruise as…

TOM CRUISE!

The Scientology movie sounds like a South Park bit

Just for the fun of it, I looked up all Tom Cruise movies that have been released since he jumped on Oprah's couch in 2005 and the leaked 2008 Scientology video where he was spewing all this giberish....

Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
MI: Fallout (2018)
American Made (2017)
The Mummy (2017)
Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (2016)
MI: Rogue Nation (2015)
Edge of Tomorrow (2014)
Oblivion (2013)
Jack Reacher (2012)
Rock of Ages (2012)
MI: Ghost Protocol (2011)
Knight and Day (2010)
Tropic Thunder (2008)
Valkyrie (2008)
Lions for Lambs (2007)
MI: III (2006)
War of the Worlds (2005)

The 2 bolded movies are the only ones to score below a 6.0 on IMDB.....for comparison sake virtually all Mission Impossible movies are a 7-something and Maverick was an 8.6 (highest on this list).....

Pretty incredible....

Tom Cruise and Leonardo DiCaprio... I don't care how batsheet crazy they are in real life - I won't ever stop enjoying their movies.

Defending Tom Cruise has been a hill I'd die on. He became THE actor to hate on but he's such a force in the industry and consistently devotes himself to the roles he takes on. He's been in a lot of movies I love. Yes Scientology is creepy and bizarre and his involvement in it has been very high profile, but just think of the dozens and dozens of lesser actors who are absolute scumbags in their personal lives. Hollywood has no shortage of self-worshipping, entitled ****ers.

American Made definitely the best of those. I really enjoyed that movie.

I don't have anything personal against Tom Cruise, but I did enjoy watching him repeatedly get killed Ground Hog-esque in Edge of Tomorrow.

MAROON said:

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I've honestly never seen any of the MI movies. So those are worthy of a watch? Trying to avoid spontaneously combusting in Texas right now- so avoiding going outside.

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Absolutely. The first 3 are a bit dated (still fun, but expect some hokey ness)- but 4-6 are some of best action movies in the last few decades.

BenFiasco14 said:

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YouBet said:

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One of the more bizarre double life things going.

Few people have given their all like that guy has when it comes to his acting. I will watch ANYTHING that guy does because at a minimum it will be entertaining. It might exist but I can't think of a single movie he's done offhand that I didn't enjoy. He should go down as one of, if not the most, consistently bankable and watchable actors of all time. I'm actually sitting here pissed off that we have yet to see the new Top Gun and that I missed it in IMAX. I will forever harbor anger at my wife over this.

And then there is his Scientology stuff. I don't even know what to make of that. I think Mimi Rogers got him into that mess? I don't recall and I can't fathom what keeps him there. Maybe he's actually working against them on the inside and is running his own real life Mission Impossible to bring them down.

And then he makes a movie about how he did it. How f'ing awesome would that be?

---

STARRING … Tom Cruise as…

TOM CRUISE!

The Scientology movie sounds like a South Park bit

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And you would watch it!