Minds change.

I watched it agian after that, and it struck a chord with me. Still WAY too long, and Cruise is terrible, but the atmosphere and direction make up for it. Also, the last film released to really "feel" like that, if you know what I mean.. the golden age of cinema... 70's-80's.. compare it to films nowadays, they wouldn't MAKE a film like that. So, while it is technically kind of a bad film, I can appreciate it more in retrospect and probably will grow to do so more in the future.

The pace of EWS is similar to other Kubrik's, notably 2001, and Shining. I love this about Kubrik.

And I am still baffled that so many here, even several who like EWS, think Cruise is terrible. LOL at me all you want, but how can anyone deny his immense talents?

I'm someone who generally likes TC but isn't a fan of EWS. Yes, I think he's a talented actor but I don't think Kubrick is the kind of director who'd get the most out of him - atleast in a project like that. I think it would've been the same for any actor.

As an actor, he's about average. As a person, he's annoying, which comes across on the screen. And he usually is in movies I don't give a shit about anyway.

Your perception of someone you don't even know shouldn't influence your critical evaluation of their work. Otherwise not much could be deemed worthy.

Okay. So, should I deem a book "good", if it's made by a technically "good" writer, even if their writing voice, and the things they say, annoy me? Of course not. And so on and so forth, forever, analogies and whatnot. My CRITICAL evaluation is that he is an average-ish actor. I try not to let that cloud the fact that I pretty much hate the guy aside from that. If I find him difficult to watch, that's that. But there are a few roles he is tolerable in.

I have never enjoyed watching Tom Cruise on the screen, way before I knew he was a scientologist or whatever most people base their hatred on. Something about him has always rubbed me the wrong way, but there's some roles he throws himself into quite well. He's pretty hit or miss, all in all.

Tom Cruise is definitely someone who a lot of people find difficult to like onscreen - although enough obviously do in order for him to be so in demand within Hollywood.

Anyone who questions his acting skills though, should re-watch him in Jerry MaGuire for which he was robbed of the best actor oscar by Geoffrey Rush for Shine.

I'm sure he's a wanker as a person and that he can be really annoying on screen, but the guy can act the socks off most of his more likeable, more charismatic peers.

I haven't read the whole of your post because I already know what you're getting at. What I mean is, sometimes annoying people produce excellent work. That's not even my opinion.

I'm willing to accept Born on the 4th of July, The Color of Money, and Rain Man as displays of a decent actor. And there are certainly good films he's in (Magnolia, Few Good Men) but I don't think his "talent" particularly stands out.

He's just downright embarassing in Days of Thunder, The Last Samurai, Collateral (playing a "tough assassin" HAHAHA; worst villian ever next to Keanu Reeves in The Watch!), Interview with the Vampire, War of the Worlds. Probably Valkyrie too, I've never seen it -- anyone wanna fill me in?

I dunno, just kinda average; maybe a bit above it...

anyone notice he's only been in like 30 films in the past 30 years through? *edit* IMDB says 35 since 1981.

EDIT 2: I guess I agree with what demonrail says though.

No, that may result in you not liking it but has no bearing on whether it's good or not. Technically, by which I mean he knows acting conventions inside out, he's very very good, but that doesn't mean you or anyone else has to like what he does.

The weird thing about Hollywood is that likeability is a massive component in terms of success. Hence you get 'likeable' actors like Bruce Willis making a fortune without (by their own recognition) being particularly good actors while Tom Cruise has managed to overcome his lack of likeability to become probably the most in-demand actor of his generation.

I think Hudson Hawk is one of the best acting roles of all time. He should've won an award for that!

good point, and I like Bruce Willis all the same, but Tom Cruise plays mostly unique characters from film to film or at least tries to, unlike Willis who is pretty much always Bruce Willis playing Bruce Willis.

Tom Cruise isn't too proud to play demeaning roles either like spending half of Vanilla Sky with a fucked up face and the despicable producer in Tropic Thunder.

As far as the "weird Hollywood thing" Tom cruise is long been working against the "build you up to bring you down" mentality. His adoration and success has absolutely peeked as an actor/entertainer even early back in his career... much to the hype and attention the media offers. After so long, they run out of interesting and admirable things to report and photograph, so they just turn any incident into negative or drama..... it's called "spin". Apparently the media got bored with him at some point and would look for criticism in every little thing. All the little puppets and media androids collectively turned on him, likely without even knowing why. The media can make anyone look noble or demonize anyone as they please. Cruise got boring while just keep making successful movies, so enter the interest-spin-drama in his personal life.

I think that's absolutely true although, to be fair, Cruise has hardly helped matters with his public championing of Scientology, etc.

He's also quite a controversial figure in terms of his position as a big league Hollywood 'player'. It's not widely publicised that he's actually co-head of United Artist studios, which gives him serious industry clout. So any public image (good or bad) has to be measured against the vested interests of those beneath him in the Hollywood chain.

He's shit. He mostly acts in shit movies. No reason to get a headache about it.

"You're doing it right!"

That asinine statement automatically makes you a wanker as a person, which is no surprise. You wanker.

thanks

the film is about tom cruise in his first scientology orgy.

I really like Eyes Wide Shut, one of Kubrick's best movies for sure (and without a doubt the best role Tom Cruise has ever had). I love the whole mood that the movie creates. It's very dreamlike, not too long at all (and well, I'm one of those that often complain that movies that are longer than say two hours usually are too long). Fantastic movie.

Tom Cruise is a one trick pony. I am amazed that some people actually think he's a good actor. His comic timing sucks, if he did a remake of Ol Yeller I'd bet no one in the audience would be brought to tears. You want a good actor give me Gene Hackman, Robert Duvall, Forrest Whittakker, Denzel Washington, Anthiny Hopkins these are guys that can act. Cruise is mr cool pretty boy that its and he sucks at that as well

I love it as well

forest whitaker is amazing.

Eyes Wide Shut is definitely my favorite Kubrick film

ha ha ha haaa-- yes

tom cruise has 2 faces:

1) boyish display of orthodontic work



2) cranky/earnest/dumbfounded (multipurpose) frown and prognathic jaw



that about covers his acting range

of your list, forrest whittaker is my favorite--- he's fucking awesome

Forest Whitaker is average at best. Plus he was in Battlefield Earth: A Saga of the Year 3000. One of the worst movies ever made.

People say the silliest things from time to time don't they?

Fuck it, Ima just gonna start posting images, just to piss off you haters who decide to click here.

All I know is, I just watched TOM CRUISE: INSANE MAN OF THE YEAR, a stolen scientology awards tape thing. It was better than any of his movies.

yes

see if you can endure all 6 minutes of it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cc_wjp262RY

a bonus for you :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqcpajehvYg

YOU DON'T KNOW THE HISTORY OF PSYCHIATRY.

I do!

I don't think anyone here is saying he's not as crazy as a coconut. He is about as nutty as they come..... 1. doesn't effect how I think of him when acting in films, 2. who gives a fuck.... is there anyone in hollywood who is legitimately sane? How boring would it be if everyone was a cut off the good old wholesome american mold.

Admittedly, I know nothing about Scientology and don't really want to, just like any other form of organized religion.... but, confronting a news anchor about his strong opinions against antipsychotic medications is far from despicable.... again, it's typical media demonizing collectively creating half witted animosity towards him.

He could go away and hide in some reclusive mountain mansion and count his billions, but he chooses to risk his reputation, knowing that he will offend more people than he'll inspire but just because he wholeheartedly believes he's seeing harmful practices to his fellow beings. God forbid he has a personality and opinion.

his rants about the use of meds is really no less offensive than Jenny McCarthy speaking out about vaccines and autism. Whether you agree with either one of them, is kinda irrelevant to how despicable they are as a person.

I STILL cannot understand how what he did on Oprah is such a huge deal. I JUST DON'T FUCKIN GET IT. Dude dances on a couch to express happiness.....why is this so monumental in the history of our world?

But this thread is about The Greatness Of EWS:

Are you kidding? Dude was fucked up. No one acts like that. Watch some of his Scientology interviews too. Dude is clearly insane. He doesn't know how to properly talk, or move. Stilted and weird and manufactured and alien like. Very bizarre. Worst of all, he was excited about his loving for the hideous Katie Holmes.

To be honest, I don't know why people think Eyes Wide Shut is such a long movie. Maybe because it ends releatively abruptly and a lot happens in it, but I thought it was a bit short.

As for whether or not I can count myslef among the Eyes Wide Shut Appreciation Society, I've seen 6 Kubrick films (2001: A Space Odyssey; Dr Strangelove, Or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb; Eyes Wide Shut; A Clockwork Orange; The Shining; and Full Metal Jacket), and while I thought the shower lady scene in The Shining was a bit gross (mind you, not until he looked in the mirror), I can't think of one I haven't loved in some capacity.

I am probably the only person in the world who doesn't completely love Dr. Strangelove. Don't get me wrong, it's good, but I don't worship it like most people do.

GeneticKiss, watch The Killing sometime... it's Kubrick's best!

I think A Clockwork Orange is one of the first films I ever watched obsessively. Love that movie. Though my appreciation of it has lowered quite a bit since seeing FUNERAL PROCESSION OF ROSES and seeing how many shots Kubrick lifted directly from it; it's edited and filmed almost exactly the same. It still holds up, you know, it just doesn't feel as mindblowing as it once did.

You're clearly batshit fucked up, so how can you have the gall to say Tom Cruise is fucked up? :rolleyes:

Um, okay.

There's nothing worse than the flagrant hypocrisy of batshit insane fuck-ups on the net accusing people in the public eye of being the same.

Then, why do you do it?