“I feel the need, the need for speed!”
Tom Cruise has been one of the biggest box office draws in Hollywood for past five decades.
And even at the age of 61 he is showing no signs of slowing down with another ‘Mission: Impossible’ film coming and a third ‘Top Gun’ instalment.
Have you seen these Cruise classics?
“I feel the need, the need for speed!” Tom Cruise has been one of the biggest box office draws in Hollywood for past five decades. And even at the age of 61 he is showing no signs of slowing down with another ‘Mission: Impossible’ film coming and a third ‘Top Gun’ instalment. Have you seen these Cruise classics?
The War of the Worlds
Updated Mar 4, 2024
Although it isn’t the most faithful adaptation of the classic H. G. Wells book of the same name, ‘The War of the Worlds’ is still very much a great Tom Cruise movie. The actor, who stars alongside Dakota Fanning and Justin Chatwin, turned in a great performance as Ray Ferrier, a family man who is determined to save his children from the impending alien invasion. The Steven Spielberg-led picture also proved that Tom Cruise could fit into the sci-fi genre just as well as his action movies.
‘A Few Good Men’ has one very good man in particular! The 1992 thriller, which boasts a cast that also includes Jack Nicholson, Demi Moore and Kevin Bacon, tells the story of a U.S. military lawyer who discovers there is more to a murder case than meets the eye. As well as being an all-round excellent film, ‘A Few Good Men’ is also the birth place of Jack’s iconic line, “You can’t handle the truth!”
Edge of Tomorrow
Updated Mar 4, 2024
In this sci-fi thriller, Tom Cruise brings his A-game yet again! The 2014 movie sees the actor play Major William Cage relive his demise in battle against aliens over and over again after being thrown in a time loop. After improving his combat skills with his comrade (Emily Blunt) the officer is brought closer to freeing himself from the situation. Considering Tom is experienced in action movies, the actor was less impressed when his co-star began to complain about her futuristic military costume. She recalled: “It was so heavy. The first time I put it on I just started to cry in front of Tom and he didn’t know what to do. He just stared at me. I was like, ‘Tom, I’m not sure how I’m going to get through this shoot,’ and just started to cry. I said, ‘I’m just feeling a bit panicky about the whole shoot.’ He just stared at me for a long time, not knowing what to do.”
Risky Business
Updated Mar 4, 2024
Tom’s breakthrough role also happens to be one of his best! Starring in the 1983 coming-of-age picture with Rebecca De Mornay, Tom plays a well-off teen who gets involved with a working girl with some disastrous consequences. The film contains a memorable dance scene, in which he slides into the frame wearing just a shirt and underwear! Looking back at the scene, the actor said: “I’ll never forget that night, that day that I shot that scene. Just, you know, he gave me the opening frame of that shot … [director] Paul Brickman, great filmmaker. He and I talked about it, [and] he said, ‘Here’s the choreography.’ Look, I grew up dancing in my underwear in my house, who didn’t?”
Top Gun
Updated Mar 4, 2024
‘Top Gun’ really is the highway to the danger zone! The 1986 flick tells the story of a group of ace fighter pilots who are tasked with accomplishing a near-impossible mission for their country. Starring Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer and Kelly McGillis, the movie is an absolute joy to watch, with all of the actors actually going up in F-14 jets for their scenes. Hilariously, Tom’s pilot, Commander Lloyd ‘Bozo’ Abel, revealed the actor had to reach for a sick bag when he performed a particularly difficult manoeuvre.
Mission: Impossible
Updated Mar 4, 2024
What more can be said about this instant action classic? Initially, ’Mission: Impossible’ was a TV show from the ‘60s, and many people believed that the 1996 movie wouldn’t fare particularly well – how wrong they were! Not only did the movie revive the action genre that had been beginning to flag, but it went on to generate a franchise that became a cinematic staple.
Born on the Fourth of July
Updated Mar 4, 2024
‘Born on the Fourth of July’ is very much Tom’s anti ‘Top Gun’, with it warning against military propaganda instead of promoting it. In the 1990 movie, the actor, who stars alongside Oliver Stone and Willem Dafoe, plays Ron Kovic, a patriotic man who joins the Marine Corps, but is left paralysed after an accident that changes his attitude on war. To say Tom was the stand-out highlight of the film would very much be an understatement. In fact, Tom was so good in the film, that it earned him his one and only Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.
The Color of Money
Updated Mar 4, 2024
In the 1986 film, Cruise – who appears with Paul Newman and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio – is taken under the wing of an expert scammer who introduces him to the world of pool hustling. Years later, Tom revealed that the veteran actor taught him a lesson that he has brought with him throughout his illustrious career. He said: “I am doing this scene, and I mean, I’m telling you, it’s so cold I can’t even speak. I’m in between takes, and [Paul] is in a car, and I’m running to this area. They’re trying to thaw [me]. Newman’s like, ‘Where’s the kid? Where’s the kid?’ So finally, I have this scene where he’s in the car, and I’m next to him. I look in, and I’m like, ‘What?’ He had the warm coat. He had the heater in there. It was an electric heater, He looked at me, and he’s like, ‘T-shirt? You tried your wardrobe on in the summer, didn’t you?’ I was like, ‘Yes, sir. I did.’ He’s like, ‘Watch and learn, kid. Watch and learn.’ I never forgot it. I literally never forgot it.”
Mission: Impossible – Fallout
Updated Mar 4, 2024
Even though it’s the sixth movie in the franchise, ‘Mission: Impossible – Fallout’ is arguably the best in the series. The movie, which sees Tom return as Ethan Hunt alongside his team – which includes Benji (Simon Pegg) Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames) and Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson) proved the franchise still had plenty of gas in the tank. With outstanding action set pieces and masterfully portrayed villain, played by Henry Cavill, all wrapped together by a gripping story, ‘Fallout’ is perhaps one of the best action movies of all time. Even so, there is one Tom Cruise film that is even better.
Top Gun: Maverick
Updated Mar 4, 2024
‘Top Gun: Maverick’ truly is a cinematic triumph. The 2022 movie is the long-awaited sequel to the 1986 picture, and it masterfully built on every aspect on the original, whilst retaining its charm. Perhaps the best part of the film is the fact that there is very little CGI, and all of the stunt work seen on screen was done for real, making the whole experience deeply immersive and will no doubt have every audience member on the edge of their seat. Cruise returns as Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell , and is joined by a phenomenal supporting cast that includes Bradley ‘Rooster’ Bradshaw (Miles Teller) Jake ‘Hangman’ Seresin (Glen Powell) and Penny Benjamin (Jennifer Connelly). Once all the characters, story and effects are added together, you are left with a near-flawless experience. In fact, ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ is so good, it may very well be considered one of the best pictures ever. Period.
