What’s So Wrong With Tom Cruise?
Written by Major Tom
Filed under: Entertainment News
August 23, 2006
WHAT’S SO WRONG WITH HOPPING ON A COUCH? Since when did it become disagreeable to propose to a lady whom one adores? Apparently not very agreeable if you are Tom Cruise and if you did it on a television show that was being watched by millions in America and all over the world. In fact, it had caused the severance of Tom Cruise’s very healthy relationship with Paramount, the movie company that had produced most, if not all of his successful movies from the era-defining “Top Gun” to the worldwide smash and most recent hit “War of The Worlds”.
Viacom’s (Paramount being owned by Viacom) chief Summer Redstone cited Cruise’s “recent conduct” as the main reason why the film company had to abruptly end a very profitable partnership with the top actor and had described it as “not…acceptable to Paramount” . Some talk had it this much talked-about episode in Hollywood is one clear case of You’re-Fired-No-I-Quit kind of quarrel, depending on who’s side you’re talking too. Tom Cruise’s producing partner Paula Wagner had in fact informed the press that since last week, she and the actor had already left the negotiating table and had already made initial moves for the establishment of an independent film company. But Paramount insists that Cruise’s recent antics had been very detrimental to the actor’s viability that further relations with him had to be severed. Last may, Cruise appeared on what now is a most unforgettable episode in Oprah Winfrey where he had hopped and puffed across the stage, like a very young kid, while proposing marriage to the very young and elegant Katie Holmes (too young for comfort some critics say) to whom he has his first biological child with named Suri. Internet was in fact so abuzzed in the past weeks about Cruise’s and Holmes’ first child, as netizens all over busily surfed the net for rare pictures of the baby.
I had seen that Oprah episode on a delayed telecast some months ago and I had to admit that I felt uncomfortable watching Tom Cruise in such a fashion—so hyper and so overexcited—since I’ve never seen the guy that way even in the movies he had acted in. It was so unlike Tom Cruise—Like he had a manic episode.
But on second thought, there’s really nothing wrong with expressing one’s joyful emotion, especially a very joyful and eventful one. The guy must have been so in-love with Ms. Holmes that he had acted a little offbeat. We know how sometimes people in such state sometimes act; they go overboard usually. Or maybe, Paramount’s main problem afterall was Cruise’s very deep involvement with Scientology, a modern religion that puts forward very radical ideas about man’s existence and about God. I have a feeling that it might be connected to this aspect of the actor’s personality. He had received bad press months ago for commenting negatively on the use of medication by actress Brooke shields to treat postpartum depression. Apparently, Scientology discourages the use of medication to use mental or behavioral discrepancies.
I can see a “Philadelphia” situation here where just like in that Tom Hanks movie, an individual has just lost an economic opportunity due to his beliefs or involuntary circumstance (like being stricken with AIDS or having expressed the feelings of joy extensively). Maybe we’d see some litigation to be thrown between Cruise’s side and Paramount in the coming days. Or maybe, Tom Cruise is better off without a giant movie company on his back because that way, he’d be able to make his own film, and have total control over it and then profit from it without some Hollywood moguls getting their cake and eating it too.
I think that is a really petty reason to fire someone. He is one of the most industrious actors in the Hollywood film industry and his films enriched the coffers of Paramount Pictures with billions of dollars. He is definitely better off setting up his own company where he will be his own boss and not cater to the fancy whims of the bigwigs that run the film industry.
No, I am not a Tom Cruise fan. I didn’t even watch Mission Impossible 3. But I don’t hate him either. People should cut him some slack. He is entitled to express his extreme joy in being a father and being in love with Kate Holmes.
So no I don’t think there is anything wrong at all with Tom Cruise.
Good post, btw Major Tom.
Comment by Daphne — August 23, 2006 @ 7:34 pm
he has never won an award. his co-actors have, in movies where tom was the lead character. you’d think there’s a conspiracy to slap him with defeat come trophy time.
but he rakes the moolah in. well, can’t have ‘em all.
what’s so wrong with jumping on couches, anway? i mean, i wish adults would do that more often, and feel the exhilaration of being a kid again. it makes for better, happier people.
like daphne, i’m not a tom cruise fan. he’s too good looking. like having too much sugar. but i did watch some of his films, because of the plot.
maybe this is the best thing to happen to him. i hope he starts producing movies. if an acting trophy is something he will not get, maybe he’d get some for directing or writing. maybe i’d even see his movies.
Comment by atticus — August 23, 2006 @ 8:43 pm
I agree that his “antics” have nothing to do with his work. Actually, I’ve heard that he is very professional when he’s working and he’s very friendly and generous not just to his co-stars but to the crew as well.
I’ve seen that Oprah show when it first aired and I think the problem some people have with it, (and I am talking from a woman’s point of view) is that it’s kind of an insult to the other women he had relationships with (Mimi Rogers, Nicole Kidman, Penelope Cruz). Okay, we get that he’s so in love with Katie Holmes that he couldn’t keep himself from jumping on the couch. But what message does that give to the other ladies? That he didn’t feel the same way towards them? Maybe he didn’t that’s why he didn’t last with any of them. But that is like an insult.
Not that I don’t like Katie Holmes. Actually I am a fan of hers. I’ve watched her in Dawson’s Creek and I’ve seen her mature in her movie roles.
Comment by niceheart — August 24, 2006 @ 3:12 am
Didn’t know of this news — Paramount severing ties with Tom Cruise; one of the most bankable assets in Hollywood these
days.
Enjoyed his “Risky Business” movie a lot; whereas “Born in the 4th of July” and “Rain Man” were all right. Didn’t see his other films.
His coach jumping antic and Scientology affiliation are much too lame to be cited as excuses by Paramount to release him from a contract. I suspect there might be something more to the story that neither party wants to divulge publicly.
Comment by eric — August 24, 2006 @ 8:01 am
I don’t think that Oprah episode had anything to do with his severance with Paramount. If anything, it even endeared him to a lot of people. It’s his connection with the Scientology group and his somewhat erratic behavior(like his tiff w/ Ms Shields)at times that made the bigwigs at Paramount worry.
Comment by snglguy — August 24, 2006 @ 8:33 am
To Daphne: That’s what I think Daphne and no doubt, Paramount will miss a lot of things
going on as Cruise is now out of their camp. That means a lot of money in terms of lost
box-office sales.
To Atticus: I had thought that he should have won that best actor award for his role as a
prodigal son in the movie Magnolia but he was just unlucky that Michael Caine was a strong
contender that year. I think it’ll be not long that he may win himself an Oscar…
To Niceheart: That’s very possible since you know, maybe its a face-saving antics after a
rollercoaster affair with Penelope Cruz and a very bad divorce with Nicole Kidman; there
were so much bad blood in that split. I was perhaps thinking that too initially.
To Eric: Oh, I really enjoyed “Risky Business” too when I was young that I think its one of the first foreign movies that I actually watched; until now I can’t believe that it was Tom Cruise that played a young kid there.
To snglguy: That Brooke Shield comments really earned him a lot of bad press. He should have not made those. About the Scientology thing, its possible that Paramount was waylaid by this since he kept on talking about it all the time, om Oprah, on HBO interviews; its very possible that this cause have played a major factor in this present debacle. Although I think now that money matters must have been the main culprit, like who gets more and who gets lesser.
Comment by Major Tom — August 24, 2006 @ 10:27 am
I think his deep involvement with Scientology really affected his relationships. I’m even happy that Nicole Kidman is out of his life.
Just before Katie Holmes gave birth, he told the media he’d eat the placenta! That for me confirmed there’s something wrong with this guy. It’s like he had this coming.
Comment by ipanema — August 24, 2006 @ 2:29 pm
A agree with some of the opinions voiced here. I do not think there is anything wrong with professing love for someone. I just didn’t like the way he criticized Brooke Shields. Post-partum depression will not just go away. Some cases even go as far as the mom committing suicide. As for scientology, every person has the freedom to choose his/her religion. But please, do not impose it on others. I just did not like the way he went on TV on the Today Show and almost fought with Matt Lauer regarding his beliefs. Instead of attracting followers, he totally turned off most of the viewers.
Comment by ladybug — August 24, 2006 @ 4:54 pm
To Ipanema: Did he actually said that? Geez, now that’s what I mean by being “unusual”. I am sure this kind of comments would turn off as many fans as possible and Paramount may have not like that idea…
To ladybug: At times I thought it looked that way, him seemingly imposing on his beliefs on others that he shows some extraordinary persistence when he talks about it.
Comment by Major Tom — August 25, 2006 @ 4:28 am
Scientology is such a weird religion. I also read on the Internet that because of this, he does not allow Katie Holmes to cry out in pain while giving birth to their child. What a sadistic religion!
Comment by Toe — August 25, 2006 @ 8:18 pm
To Toe: Its sort of that way Toe…Scientology is something that this generation would not be able to accept as easily. Sometimes I’d wish Tom Cruise wasn’t in that thing since I did liked his persona and movies…But to each his own.
Comment by Major Tom — August 25, 2006 @ 8:30 pm
i havent seen nor heard of this. but as almost everybody thought, i dont see any wrong professing one’s love to somebody in that manner. he might have overdone it. actors and actresses should always think that they are being watched closely by viewers, audiences, or fans. but about Paramount responding with a decision like that, it’s unreasonable.
Comment by bing — August 26, 2006 @ 8:18 pm
To Bing: It is such a mystery Bing, I guess every little thungs had add up to what Paramount objects too, that so-called unacceptable conduct. Maybe its just about the money and they are just citing some other cause to make it look like it is not.
Comment by Major Tom — August 27, 2006 @ 10:44 am
mukhang may attempt na rin siyang i-rescue public image niya. nabalita na nag-apologize siya personally kay brooke shields dahil sa minsan niyang inatake ang paggamit ng aktres ng anti-depressant drugs.
Comment by mong — September 5, 2006 @ 11:07 am