The Horror of Tom Cruise – ComingSoon.net

While many critics are currently slamming Universals first entry in their proposed Dark Universe series of interconnected monster movies, director Alex Kurtzmans The Mummy, some of those scribes are citing this as the worst Tom Cruise movie ever. Others are using Cruises presence in what is ostensibly a horror movie as a negative, like dramatic or serious performing is beneath the veteran actor. This is a common problem Cruise has had with film snobs and select critics since he was in his career infancy. Praised for parading around in his underpants in 1982s erotic teen comedy Risky Business, Cruise would get slammed time and time again for rolling the dice and progressing his pretty boy persona, parlaying his box office success by inserting himself into many serious films and working with an onslaught of A-list auteur directors.

Its a shame that Cruises detractors seemingly willfully forget his blistering turn in Oliver Stones Born on the 4th of July. Its criminal that Dustin Hoffman got the love for Barry Levinsons Rain Main and Cruises performance the heart of the film was ignored. Its terminally lame that people forget that Cruise never coasts on his mainstream fame and always aims to hone his craft, taking detours into indie fare (Magnolia) and broad comedy (Tropic Thunder). Hes one of the great action heroes (the Mission Impossible and Jack Reacher movies) and hes a sure hand at sci-fi (Edge of Tomorrow is a certifiable masterpiece and Cruise carries it all). Maybe people cant overlook the whole Scientology thing, I dont know

So here comes The Mummy and, whether you love it or dont (our first review was indifferentbut expect more reactions from our other writers this weekend), its misguided to pick on Cruise as the films flaw. Cruise is a marvel really, a performer who has owned Hollywood for decades and yet is fully committed to experimenting and defying expectations. And when it comes to horror, hes no stranger. In fact, the handful of horror and dark fantasy films hes appeared in are that much better for his presence.

Join us for a moment and cycle through these five fantastic fright films that feature Cruise as both monster and monster hunter and in fine form.

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The Horror of Tom Cruise - ComingSoon.net