Top Tom Cruise Movies

by Danielle Callesen

Tom Cruise seems to be more acknowledged for his 2005 meltdown on The Oprah Winfrey Show and his devoutness to the controversial realm of Scientology than for his acting accomplishments, past and present.  Is it that easy to overlook the fact that Cruise just happens to be one of the top 100 movie stars of all time?  Can we be so quick to disregard that his mere presence in a film easily encourages box office success?

It appears that many of us may be in dire need of a reminder as to why Tom Cruise earned our respect and theatre-going loyalty in the first place.  From 1990-2000, he was nominated for three Oscars and won three Golden Globes.  Appearing in 36 films with at least ten more projects on the horizon, Cruise shows no sign of slowing down, and why would we want him to?

By revisiting five of Tom Cruise’s most outstanding performances, I think we can all regain renewed fondness and appreciation for an actor who should always hold our favor.

Born on the Fourth of July (1989)

Nominated for an Oscar and recipient of a Golden Globe for his passionate portrayal of Ron Kovic, Cruise impressed the world over in Oliver Stone’s return to the Vietnam War era.  Cruise poignantly transforms from a young man, proud and eager to fight for his country, into a wheelchair bound antiwar activist.  As Kovic accidentally kills one of his own men and is paralyzed from the waist down courtesy of a bullet wound, Cruise takes us on a painful journey as we witness a man deteriorate into an inebriated wreck.  Cruise’s profoundly emotional performance enables us to remember that Born on the Fourth of July is not merely a film itching to make a statement on war; it’s about the collapsing ideals of a country and of the men who inhabit it.

Interview with the Vampire (1994)

Cruise’s performance in Neil Jordan’s take on the Anne Rice novel is a statement to just how versatile he is as an actor.  What’s interesting about Cruise even being casted in the film is that he was unwanted.  Avid fans of Anne Rice’s novels and Anne Rice herself claimed they hardly approved of Cruise’s placement in the film.  After Anne Rice and all the other skeptics viewed the film, they quite quickly retracted their Cruise bashing.  Cruise not only managed to prove convincing as creature of the night Lestat de Lioncourt, but he made the character oddly charming and convincingly dangerous.  Cruise’s Lestat fits comfortably well in this dark gothic horror, evoking fear, humor, and intrigue in all who encounter him.

Jerry Maguire (1996)

Cruise again was nominated for an Oscar and won a Golden Globe for his portrayal of sports agent Jerry Maguire.  Many can argue that Cuba Gooding Jr. stole the show here, including the Oscar, but Cameron Crowe gives us a side of Cruise we’re not too accustomed to seeing—comic.  Cruise masterfully delivers his lines with excellent timing and throws physical humor into the mix, clearly putting all of himself into the performance.  Needless to say, it pays off.

Magnolia (1999)

Cruise as Frank T.J. Mackey yet again proves his versatility as a performer and his skill, earning another Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination.  Paul T. Anderson’s Robert Altman-like film has a lot going on from raining frogs to characters breaking into song (Aimee Mann’s “Wise Up), but the film seems to permit its actors to give some of their best performances.  As a misogynistic motivational speaker, one would find it exceptionally effortless to loathe Mackey as he energetically tries to pump up his male audiences with the testosterone they seem to be so devoid of.  But Cruise delivers a delicate sensitivity alongside Mackey’s abhorrent personality traits. When Cruise’s Mackey finally emotionally breaks down at his dying father’s (Jason Robards) bedside, it’s difficult not to break down with him.

Vanilla Sky (2001)

I realize that this movie isn’t Mission Impossible or The Last Samurai, but I feel Cruise’s performance in Vanilla Sky is highly underappreciated.  The first mark against this film is that it is a remake of Open Your Eyes (1998), so people naturally attack Cameron Crowe’s attempt at tackling the complexly themed dream material.  What this film manages to do beautifully is establish a dreamy, trance-like tone via cinematography and a quietly stunning score by Nancy Wilson.  The film is penetrating, thought provoking, and imaginative, and we’re guided throughout by Cruise’s heroic stature.  He handles his character of David Aames with flawless ease, and takes us on a compelling exploration of longing, desperation, and the kind of possibility found only in dreams.

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